Aviation Law Government Practice Labour and Employment Law Shipping and Maritime Law Trade Law Transportation Law
Tom Brennan SC
Recognized in Best Lawyers since 2023 
Firm
13 Wentworth Chambers
23 Best Lawyers awards
Awarded Practice Areas
Biography
Tom Brennan SC specialises in conducting major disputes.
Recent disputes conducted by him include:
- concerning claims to foreign state immunity
- in civil aviation regulatory, commercial, insurance and leasing disputes;
- disputes with Australian federal government regulatory agencies including the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, the Australian Securities and Investments Commission, the Australian Communications and Media Authority, the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority and the Therapeutic Goods Administration;
- employment and industrial disputes;
- commercial disputes.
Firm
13 Wentworth Chambers
23 Best Lawyers awards
Overview
- English
- The Australian National University, Bachelor of Laws, graduated 1983
- The Australian National University, Bachelor of Arts, graduated 1981
- Australia, 2006
- 1984
- English
- Australia, 2006
- The Australian National University, Bachelor of Laws, graduated 1983
- The Australian National University, Bachelor of Arts, graduated 1981
- 1984
Client Testimonials
Awards & Focus
Named "Lawyer of the Year" by Best Lawyers® for:
- Trade Law, Sydney, Australia (2026)
- Trade Law, Sydney, Australia (2024)
Recognized in The Best Lawyers in Australia™ 2027 for work in:
- Aviation Law
- Government Practice
- Labour and Employment Law
- Shipping and Maritime Law
- Trade Law
- Transportation Law
Case History
Cases
- Salleh v National Archives of Australia
Through coordinated proceedings brought in Australia's Administrative Appeals Tribunal and in the High Court of Malaysia in 2023 Tom, working with Malaysian and Australian solicitors, obtained release of accident investigation records concerning the crash of an Australian Nomad Aircraft on final approach to Kota Kinabalu (the capital of Sabah) in 1976
- CALC Global Leasing v Bamboo Airways
Tom obtained the arrest by the Federal Court of two Dreamliners at Sydney and Melbourne Airports following defaults by a Vietnamese Airline in paying rent
- Commonwealth of Australia v Helicopter Resources Pty Ltd [2020] HCA 16; [2019] FCAFC 25, 264 FCR 1; [2018] FCA 595, [2018] FCA 991
Tom appeared for Helicopter Resources at trial and on appeal – application to restrain a Coroner from examining operator’s Chief Pilot on safety standards of air operations in the Antarctic when the operator has been charged with offences under Work Health and Safety law
- Work Health Authority v Outback Ballooning Pty Ltd [2019] HCA 2, 93 ALJR 212; [2017] NTCA 7, 326 FLR 1
Tom appeared for Outback Ballooning – Constitutional Law – do the Civil Aviation Act, Regulations and Orders cover the field of the prescription and enforcement of safety standards in civil aviation – exclusion of application of Work Health and Safety laws to safety of civil air operations
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