Industries
Public Sector Michelle is an experienced administrative law litigator and advocate skilled in migration, citizenship, freedom of information and privacy law. She regularly acts for and advises government clients in merits review, judicial review and appellate proceedings involving challenges to decisions made by Commonwealth officers and administrative tribunals.
Michelle frequently appears as a solicitor advocate and instructs Counsel in the Administrative Appeals Tribunal, Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia and Federal Court of Australia on behalf of the Commonwealth. She provides advice to government clients on their prospects of defending administrative decisions, issues of statutory interpretation, compliance with model litigant obligations, and appropriate case strategies to mitigate legal risks and achieve policy outcomes.
Having worked exclusively in public law since 2019, initially as a paralegal then a solicitor since 2021, Michelle prides herself on her recognised ability to provide detailed and pragmatic advice to government clients on complex legal and procedural issues.
Experience
- Acting for and advising the Minister for Immigration in merits review, judicial review and appellate proceedings concerning decisions made under the Migration Act 1958 (Cth) and Australian Citizenship Act 2007 (Cth) in the Administrative Appeals Tribunal, Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia and Federal Court of Australia.
- Acting for and advising the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) in merits review proceedings in the Administrative Appeals Tribunal concerning decisions made under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (Cth) and Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) and in judicial review proceedings in the Federal Court of Australia commenced under the Administrative Decisions (Judicial Review) Act 1977 (Cth).
- Presenting Continuing Professional Development seminars to the Department of Home Affairs and National Disability Insurance Agency on topics including Migration Litigation in the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (2022), Strategic Litigation Decision Making (2021), and Administrative Appeals Tribunal Procedure (2021).
Professional Membership
- Women Lawyers Association of NSW