Graydon Dowd

Chief Executive Partner

Qualifications: LLB (Hons), BComm

Industries

Practices

Graydon was appointed Chief Executive Partner of Hall & Wilcox in July 2024. Prior to this appointment, Graydon has played a strategic role in driving the firm’s national growth for over 10 years, including leading the firm’s internationally recognised commercial dispute resolution team for several years.

Graydon is highly respected across the firm and the legal sector.

Graydon, as Chief Executive Partner of Hall & Wilcox, is responsible for driving the firm’s strategy, leading the firm’s partners and staff, managing the firm’s relationships with its key clients and representing the firm publicly. Graydon is passionate about the firm, its clients and its people.

As a senior commercial disputes partner, Graydon has acted on behalf of a number of national and overseas clients on large and complex commercial litigation matters and advised on all aspects of dispute resolution. He has particular expertise in contract disputes, negligence cases, regulatory matters including ASIC and ACCC investigations, coronial inquests and commissions and product liability. He has advised clients in both the private and public sector.

Experience

  • Representing Novak Djokovic in the highly publicised matter regarding the cancellation of his visa prior to the 2022 Australian Open. We advised Mr Djokovic in all aspects of the matter and represented him in three hearings held in the Federal Circuit Court of Australia and the Federal Court of Australia.
  • Acting for executives and officers of Crown Limited in relation to the Independent Liquor and Gaming Authority Inquiry in New South Wales, otherwise known as the ‘Bergin Inquiry’; the Victorian Royal Commission presided over by The Honourable Ray Finkelstein QC and the Western Australian Royal Commission.
  • Acting for an executive of The Star Limited in relation to the Commission of Inquiry into the affairs of The Star Casino in Sydney (The Bell Inquiry) and in defence of Federal Court of Australia proceedings commenced by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission against directors and officers
  • Representing the non-executive directors of Banksia Securities Limited in relation to a class action filed on behalf of debenture holders; an ASIC investigation and public examination hearings. This was one of the largest class actions run in Australia.
  • Representing Formula One team Sauber Motorsport AG team in the high profile Supreme Court of Victoria proceedings brought by a former driver in connection with the 2015 Australian F1 Grand Prix.
  • Acting for Carroll Resources and Food Odyssey in a Supreme Court of Victoria dispute relating to claims arising from the sale of the well-known Sushi Sushi business.

Awards and recognition

Best Lawyers in Australia 2016-2025
Recognised – Litigation and Product Liability Litigation
Chambers and Partners Asia Pacific 2024
Dispute Resolution
The Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2021-2024
Dispute resolution: litigation
Doyle's Guide to the Australian Legal Profession 2020-2024
Commercial Litigation & Dispute Resolution Lawyers (Victoria)
Lawyers Weekly Australian Law Firm Awards 2022
Finalist, Litigator of the Year
Lawyers Weekly Partner of the Year Awards 2019-2020 and 2022
Finalist, Dispute Resolution Partner of the Year
Lawyers Weekly Partner of the Year Awards 2019
Finalist, Litigation Partner of the Year
Lawyers Weekly Partner of the Year Awards 2018
Finalist, Dispute Resolution and Litigation Partner of the Year

Latest thinking

Dispute Resolution | 25 Oct 2022

I contributed to the purchase price – is the property mine?

The High Court of Australia has affirmed the operation of the presumption of advancement, in its recent decision on Bosanac v Commissioner of Taxation.