Best Lawyers in Australia for Litigation
Darrell Jardine is a Brisbane-based lawyer at HopgoodGanim, where he advises clients across hospitality and tourism law, insolvency and reorganization law and litigation. His work spans commercial disputes, distressed business matters and regulatory issues affecting operators in the hospitality and tourism sectors. He is known for providing clear, practical advice that reflects both legal risk and commercial realities. Darrell regularly acts for business owners, insolvency practitioners and c...
Paul acts for Commonwealth Government agencies, statutory authorities and private sector employers. Paul joined Thomsons in July 2025, bringing with him deep Commonwealth client relationships built over an extensive career. Paul’s practice spans all aspects of employment and industrial relations, WHS governance, administrative law and government procurement. He advises on enterprise bargaining, individual and collective workplace agreements, discrimination complaints, investigations of ...
Stephen advises major domestic and international corporations, including major automotive companies, infrastructure operators and franchise networks. Clients include Mitsubishi Motors Australia, Acciona and the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), for which Stephen is the firm’s principal liaison partner. He has served as a member of client compliance and safety committees at board level. Stephen’s practice covers large and complex commercial disputes, competitio...
Jon Erbacher is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Professional Malpractice Litigation, Sports Law and Litigation. Jon practices law in Brisbane, Australia Best Lawyers has recognized Jon Erbacher since 2021. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which Jon Erbacher is held by other lawyers.
Stephen came to the Bar in 1998, taking silk ten years later. His practice ranges across all areas of public law, with a particular emphasis on Constitutional Law, Judicial Review, International Law and Revenue Law. He also practices extensively in Native Title (in which field he is a co-author of the leading textbook) and in regulatory pricing and economic matters. Stephen has an extensive appellate practice, having appeared in the Full Court of the High Court in over 70 proceedings (not cou...
Amanda Brady is an Associate Director in Cowell Clarke’s Dispute Resolution team and has been practising in this area since 2010. Amanda has many years’ experience in the resolution of general commercial and contractual disputes, building and construction disputes, and several insolvency, private client and estate disputes. Amanda has been involved in both small and large scale litigious matters. Her clients include individuals, small businesses, large commercial and construction ...
Matthew Hawke is Special Counsel in Cowell Clarke’s Building, Construction & Infrastructure and Dispute Resolution teams. Matthew has broad experience in construction advice and disputes (including construction contract drafting and advice), compulsory acquisition disputes, and the construction industry security of payment regimes across Australia. When not working in the construction space, Matthew supports clients in negotiating or litigating their general contractual, misrepresen...
Matt McDonald is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area of Litigation. Matt practices law in Melbourne, Australia Best Lawyers has recognized Matt McDonald since 2024. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which Matt McDonald is held by other lawyers.
Rob Comazzetto is the Managing Director of Cowell Clarke and a Director in the firm’s Insolvency and Reconstruction team. Admitted as a lawyer for over 30 years, Rob has worked both in industry and legal practice and continues to sit on the board of several companies. The experience which Rob brings from being involved in commerce is reflected in his practical approach to issues and the often stressful situations faced by clients. He always focuses on finding a resolution that maximises...
Jacob (Jake) is a member of Hall & Wilcox’s commercial dispute resolution team, practising predominantly in general commercial litigation. Jake acts for clients in a wide range of contractual disputes, corporations and equity matters, insolvency proceedings, disputes with regulators, class actions, environment and sustainability disputes, trade practices and tax litigation. Jake specialises in legally and factually complex disputes and litigation, with a particular focus on disputes...
Hector West is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Alternative Dispute Resolution, Insolvency and Reorganization Law and Litigation. Hector practices law in Perth, Australia Best Lawyers has recognized Hector West since 2026. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which Hector West is held by other lawyers.
Peter Leech is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Insolvency and Reorganization Law and Litigation. Peter practices law in Adelaide, Australia Best Lawyers has recognized Peter Leech since 2026. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which Peter Leech is held by other lawyers.
Khory is a highly experienced litigator, negotiator and strategist with over 30 year’s experience. He provides wide-ranging issues management and conflict advice to corporate and government decision makers at the highest levels. Khory has advised clients across a multitude of industries including energy, resources, finance, building and construction, government, health and education. He advises clients on commercial and industrial disputes and disruptions, strategic risk and issue manag...
Ben acts for clients across a diverse range of industries including mining, technology, medical and life sciences, building and construction, automotive, retail, food, and secondary and higher education. Ben also acts and has acted for major franchisors including G.J. Gardner, Lenard’s, Ray White Real Estate, Hog’s Breath Café, Domino’s Pizza and Refund Home Loans. He is based in Brisbane and advises national and international clients across the Federal Court of Austr...
I have worked with Tim for almost two decades, the last 7 years within Croftbridge. I am proud to have helped build a firm of like-minded lawyers who genuinely care about each other and the clients they work for. Although I practise in general commercial dispute resolution, I spend most of my time working on contentious trust and estate matters. This includes Family Provision Act claims and proof of will proceedings. I have appeared for plaintiffs, defendants and executors on complex estate d...
Our Methodology
Recognition by Best Lawyers is based entirely on peer review. Our methodology is designed to capture, as accurately as possible, the consensus opinion of leading lawyers about the professional abilities of their colleagues within the same geographical area and legal practice area.
The Process
Best Lawyers employs a sophisticated, conscientious, rational, and transparent survey process designed to elicit meaningful and substantive evaluations of the quality of legal services. Our belief has always been that the quality of a peer review survey is directly related to the quality of the voters.
