Wayne is a leading litigation and insolvency expert, with over 25 years' experience, specialising in large and complex commercial disputes in all jurisdictions, including commercial arbitrations.
These disputes have incorporated insolvency related disputes, shareholder and partnership disputes as well as major construction and intellectual property litigation.
Wayne’s focus is on delivering the best possible commercial outcomes when it comes to litigation and dispute resolution, and clients appreciate his strategic approach and quick identification of issues.
His clients include well known international corporates, manufacturers, building companies and many of Australia’s leading accounting and insolvency firms. Specifically, Wayne has developed very strong relationships within the insolvency industry and has acted in a number of high profile insolvencies from a variety of perspectives. He has also acted for a number of clients in relation to large complex litigation matters.
Wayne has been recognised in The Best Lawyers in Australia in Litigation every year since 2016 . He is also recognised as a Recommended Insolvency and Restructuring Lawyer 2024 in the Doyle’s Guide to the Australian Legal Profession and is ranked in the 2025 Legal 500 Asia Pacific Guide for Restructuring and insolvency.
He is a member of the Melbourne Central Insolvency Discussion Group and is a regular presenter at various insolvency conferences nationally and is the co-author of the PPSA Survival Guide for Insolvency Practitioners.
'The 'highly effective and efficient' Wayne Kelcey is in charge at Hall & Wilcox.'
- Acted for PwC as liquidators of Koonawarra 41 Pty Ltd. Koonawarra, in its capacity as trustee of a trust owned land with a residence in Clayton, Victoria. After investigation, PwC discovered that the residence was being operated as a rooming house with at least nine occupants. The rooming house was unlicenced and did not have a permit under the relevant laws.
- Acting for PwC as administrators for Godfreys Group Pty Ltd and eight related companies. At the date Godfreys Group entered administration, it had 141 stores in Australia and New Zealand and employed more than 600 staff. The Godfreys Group also had 28 franchisee stores. The matter is particularly complex given the complicated structure and franchising arrangements and owing to the high value liabilities.
- Acting on behalf of Hodaya Holdings Pty Ltd, the plaintiff in proceedings in the Federal Court of Australia. The proceedings concern a dispute between Hodaya and its joint venture partners in relation to a mixed use residential and retail land development at Glen Huntly with an initial contract value of $32,900,000.
- Advising Ericsson Australia Pty Ltd in relation to the voluntary administration and subsequent deed administration of one of its subcontractors and suppliers, Netcomm Wireless Pty Ltd. Netcomm’s United States parent company DZS Inc has entered Chapter 7 liquidation in the United States, which required consideration of the impact of that process in Australia.
- Acted for PwC as liquidators of The Hastie Group in a litigation which commenced in 2014 until March 2024. The Hastie Group was a publicly listed company, operating a global construction services business employing over 7000 people with revenue of over $1.8 billion per year. Following its collapse in 2012, we conducted public examinations and were instructed in separate proceedings commenced against various directors and auditors for respective breach of their duties, which subsequently resolved. The liquidators also brought claims against 16 of Australia’s largest building groups, arising from major and iconic construction projects across the country.
- Acting for the liquidators in the investigation of the collapse of the Pacific Services Group. The Group operated as an electrical and communications contractor and manufacturer of switchboards across the eastern seaboard of Australia, employing 650 employees at 12 sites with an excess of 100 active projects. All claims have now been settled, many as a result of successful mediation.
- Acted for a defendant in proceedings commenced by the liquidators of the former Walton Construction Group. We assisted the client by providing detailed advice as to prospects, evidence and liability, drafting an amended defence, appearing at interlocutory applications in the lead up to trial and conducting formal negotiations which ultimately led to a confidential settlement.
- Advising in an ASIC funded investigation in relation to a disqualified liquidator and unlawful phoenix activity across a number of unrelated corporate entities.
- Acting for government regulatory authorities including Insurance and Care NSW (icare) and the Australian Taxation Office, on thousands of recoveries.
Awards and Recognition
The Legal 500 Asia Pacific
2023 and 2025 | Restructuring and insolvency
2022 & 2024 | Restructuring and insolvency and Dispute resolution: litigation
Best Lawyers in Australia 2016-2024
Litigation
Doyle's Guide to the Australian Legal Profession 2021-2025
Insolvency & Restructuring Lawyers (Victoria)