Our Commercial Litigation team works closely with clients to offer keen insights and expert advice in tough situations. We are known for our ability to problem-solve by cutting through complexity and considering unusual contexts.
We resolve commercial disputes for the insurance sector and also provide legal services that are complementary to the insurance industry.
More broadly, we act across the range of commercial litigation including contract, tort, statutory breaches and partnership disputes including large-scale commercial disputes. In this space, our team has acted for the highly regulated financial services sector, the public sector and the construction, professional services, entertainment and healthcare industries and for a range of listed and non-listed companies. We also have extensive experience in commercial litigation and dispute resolution that involves directors and officers.
Richard Leder
Head of Commercial Litigation, Melbourne
P: +61 3 9604 7940
E: richard.leder@wottonkearney.com.au
Expertise
+ Class Actions
+ Litigation, Investigations and Inquiries
+ Media Law
Recent work
Members of our team were engaged by an international logistics provider to defend an alleged breach of contract claim brought by one of its consultants in the Supreme Court of Victoria.
In this matter we provided analysis of a complex third-party logistics service agreement and the initial advice provided by the client’s internal legal team. We provided detailed prospects advice, maintaining that the defence strong, the non-recoverable costs of defending the litigation warranted a commercial settlement of the claim.
Our recommendation to resolve the matter outside of the court also allowed the client to preserve its commercially sensitive negotiations with other service providers at the time. Our strategic approach and advice on this matter achieved a settlement in the weeks before trial.
Amanda Beattie was part of the team that successfully defended Colonial First State Investments Limited in ASIC civil penalty proceedings regarding alleged breaches of the conflicted remuneration provisions. This matter involved complex issues of statutory construction and a contested hearing in the Federal Court. It is currently under appeal.
Amanda Beattie was part of the team that defended Healius (formerly Primary Health Care) in Federal Court proceedings and the subsequent appeal regarding Part 8-1 of the Income Tax Assessment Act. She was brought into the team to lead the litigation aspects of the matter and worked closely with Senior Counsel on the trial strategy.