Hamish is an experienced commercial litigator, helping public and private sector clients navigate financial services disputes, reputational claims including defamation, and complex corporate and trust disputes.
Clients value Hamish for his pragmatic and responsive approach, and his ability understand their objectives and commercial considerations when formulating legal strategy. In the litigation context, he leverages efficiencies from AI where appropriate and understands that positive client outcomes do not always involve a final determination by a court.
Hamish has experience managing complex commercial disputes in all jurisdictions, with particular experience in the Federal Court and Supreme Courts of Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland and the Australian Capital Territory. He is highly skilled in dispute negotiation, alternative dispute resolution, conciliation and mediation, and his experience extends to urgent relief applications, appellate matters and defence of class actions.
'Hamish has been a pleasure to work with and consistently provides pragmatic, commercially focused advice that is well balanced and thoughtful. His guidance is clear and practical, and he has a strong ability to translate complex legal issues into advice that is easily understood and actionable for both the business and legal teams. He is responsive, collaborative, and demonstrates a strong understanding of our commercial objectives, which makes him a trusted adviser.'
Deputy General Counsel
- Acting for Goldwind, a global wind turbine supplier, in response to false and defamatory publications on social media, including obtaining an urgent injunction in the Federal Court to remove and restrain publications.
- Acting for major insurers, transport and construction companies in response to defamatory publications and targeted campaigns to minimise reputational harm.
- Acting for high-net-worth individuals in defamation proceedings in the Supreme Court and District Court of New South Wales, the County Court and Supreme Court of Victoria and the Federal Court.
- Acting for a global supplier of medical equipment in defence of preliminary discovery proceedings in the Queensland Supreme Court concerning alleged defamatory publications.
- Acting for the Chief Executive Officer of an ASX-listed company in relation to defamatory posts made to a shareholder web forum, including an application for preliminary discovery to identify prospective defendants posting anonymously.
- Issuing and responding to Concerns Notices on behalf of individuals and small and large businesses.
- Acting for businesses targeted by aggrieved former directors, employees and shareholders including through review forums such as Google Reviews, ProductReview and Trustpilot.
- Acting for individuals defamed on Facebook, LinkedIn and other social media platforms.
- Acting for individuals defamed or otherwise misrepresented in publications by mainstream media, including national tabloid and broadsheet newspapers and national television programs.
- Advising State and Territory Government Departments, Local Councils, sporting organisations and not-for-profit charities in relation to the management of defamation risk.
- Undertaking pre-publication risk analysis for social media campaigns, podcasts and editorials including fora major consumer advocate group on a pro bono basis.
- Acting for Vanguard in relation to an ASIC investigation and subsequent civil penalty proceedings in the Federal Court concerning 'greenwashing'.
- Acting for Aware Super and its Chief Executive Officer in defence of proceedings commenced in the Federal Circuit and Family Court concerning asserted breaches of obligations.
- Acting for several fund managers and responsible entities in response to ASIC surveillance activity, including its review of private credit in Australia.
- Acting for Invest Blue (now Ironbark Advice) in proceedings commenced in the Federal Court concerning breaches of restraints by former advisors.
- Advising and acting for trustees and fund managers of wholesale and retail investment funds in relation to compliance issues, the management of risk and reporting of serious breaches to ASIC including the formulation of remediation plans.
- Advising and appearing for clients at compulsory examinations conducted by ASIC, APRA and the ACCC.
- Acting for financial advisors in response to proposed action notices issued by the Financial Services and Credit Panel, including appearing as an advocate for respondents in hearings convened by the Panel.
- Acting for individual investors in relation to the provision of negligent financial services advice, including in proceedings commenced in the Supreme Court of Victoria.
- Acting for Australian Financial Services Licensees in relation to claims made by clients and investors, including complaints lodged with the Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA).
- Acting for a global financial services business in its appeal to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal from a decision of ASIC to refuse to grant a financial services licence.
- Acting for recipients of creditors' statutory demands, including bringing successful applications to set aside demands in State and Federal Courts.
- Acting for a large property fund in the resolution of a dispute concerning the sale of a significant property asset in Melbourne.
- Acting for a high net worth individual in the pursuit of claims concerning the existence of an express trust over shares and associated breaches by the trustee.
- Acting for shareholders in the commencement and defence of proceedings concerning alleged oppressive conduct within the meaning of section 232 of the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth).
- Acting for a large pharmaceutical company in relation to a comparative advertising campaign and alleged breaches of the Australian Consumer Law.
- Acting for a national furniture retailer in relation to an ACCC investigation into “was/now” pricing as part of a national advertising campaign.
- Acting for a key transport industry operator in relation to an investigation by the ACCC into alleged cartel conduct.
- Advising businesses in the food production and consumer electronics industries in relation to product recall obligations and processes.
- Acting for businesses and Government agencies in relation to applications for merits and judicial review of administrative decisions.
- Acting for a large agricultural producer in relation to defective construction works carried out at its major production facility in regional Victoria.
- Acting for a major manufacturer of therapeutic goods in response to allegations of trade mark infringement.
- Acting for the owner of a retail shopping centre in defence of proceedings for breach of lease commenced in the Supreme Court of the Australian Capital Territory.
- Acting for public and private clients in defence of class actions including the successful defence of class action proceedings commenced in the Federal Court against a public regulator alleging negligence and misfeasance in public office.
- Acting for an ASX-listed company in relation to proceedings commenced in the Supreme Court of Papua New Guinea.
Best Lawyers in Australia
Defamation and Media Law & Litigation | 2026,2027
The Legal 500 Asia Pacific
Dispute resolution: litigation (Leading Associate) | 2025,2026
The Legal 500 Asia Pacific
Fintech and financial services regulatory | 2024