Helen Sheridan

Melanie acts for Commonwealth government agencies, statutory entities and corporate clients. Melanie's clients operate across the full spectrum of Commonwealth activity. Her clients include Comcover, ATO and Departments including Finance, Defence, Home Affairs, Industry, Attorney-General's and Agriculture. Melanie joined Thomsons in July 2025 as part of the transition of the one of Australia’s premier Commonwealth government practices. Melanie’s practice spans litigation, dispute ...

John acts for insolvency practitioners, banks, non-bank lenders, business owners, directors and the Commonwealth Government. Clients span domestic and international proceedings, including matters involving cross-border asset recovery and contested priority disputes under the Corporations Act. John specialises in commercial disputes, corporate and personal insolvency, shareholder disputes and professional indemnity insurance. His practice covers liquidator and trustee claims, including unfair ...

Hyans acts for Commonwealth, State and Territory government agencies and commercial clients on procurement, contracts and public law matters. Hyans advises on commercial contracts, corporate governance, statutory interpretation, legislative drafting, regulatory law, administrative law, privacy and FOI matters, and procurement and probity. His practice covers all aspects of government contracting from strategy and tender design through contract award and administration, as well as legal advice...

Catherine Coles is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Family Law. Catherine, who practices law in Canberra, Australia, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Catherine is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Sarah acts for Commonwealth Government agencies and private sector clients on defence and national security matters, export control and regulation, and government procurement. She is part of the firm’s defence and national security practice. Sarah advises on defence and national security legal frameworks, export control obligations under the Defence Trade Controls Act and associated legislation, and government procurement. Her practice spans the legal architecture governing Australia&rs...

Shelley acts for local and national corporate clients across strata, development, building and construction sectors. Her clients include owners corporations, property developers, contractors, construction companies and corporate entities engaged in disputes and litigation often arising from real estate and construction activity. Shelley specialises in the resolution of corporate governance disputes, commercial and corporate contractual disputes, and residential and commercial construction dis...

Lauren Armstrong is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Insurance Law. Lauren, who practices law in Canberra, Australia, has been recognized since 2027. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Lauren is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Ian has broad experience across diverse jurisdictions and areas of law with a specialisation in commercial litigation, building and construction, and insurance law. He also has experience in professional negligence claims, leasing disputes, and personal injury. Ian is recognised by his peers in The Best Lawyers in Australia list in dual fields of litigation and insurance law. His broad experience, including his regularly acting for both plaintiffs and defendants, enables him to provide a bala...

Andrew has extensive experience in representing and providing high level, strategic and complex workplace relations advice to a wide range of Commonwealth departments and agencies over the last 15 years. This includes significant experience in litigating on behalf of the Commonwealth (generally on the instructions of Comcover) in the Fair Work Commission, the Federal Court, the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia, the Australian Human Rights Commission and the Administrative Review ...

Angela acts for Commonwealth Government agencies and departments across technology, procurement and contracting matters. Her clients include Defence and other major Commonwealth entities. Angela advises on Australian Government procurement, information and communications technology contracts, software development and licensing, data protection and privacy, business process outsourcing, IP licensing, technology commercialisation and Defence infrastructure projects. She advises on all phases of...