Profile

APPELLATE

Andrew regularly appears in superior court appeals in all areas of the law. More recent examples include:

• general commercial matters: Novadeck Pty Ltd v CK & PT Property Holdings [2025] QCA 170 (property); DGR Global Ltd v P.T. Limited [2025] QCA 122 (security for costs); Khattabi v ZZ [2025] QCA 7 (vexatious proceeding); Estate of Palmer [2023] QCA 165 (judicial advice); QNI Resources Pty Ltd & Anor v Vannin Capital Operations Limited & Ors [2023] QCA 13  and [2023] QCA 216 (Guarantee case, led by Clothier KC); Kuperman v Perpetual Trustee Ltd [2023] QCA 54 (appeal against trial judge’s refusal to grant leave to proceed); Walker v State of Queensland (2020) 5 QR 98; (2020) 92 MVR 462; [2020] QCA 137 (appeal from a civil trial conducted with a jury).

• criminal appeals: R v AGJ [2024] QCA 124; R v KBG [2024] QCA 45; R v Smart [2023] QCA 222; R v TAZ; SED [2023] QCA 137 ; R v TAY [2023] QCA 5; R v Turner [2021] QCA 270; R v Ma [2021] QCA 148; R v BDM [2021] QCA 108; R v Cummins [2019] QCA 308.

BANKRUPTCY, INSOLVENCY & RESTRUCTURING

Andrew is briefed in proceedings with direct and indirect insolvency issues. His experience is broad with examples including:

• acting for insolvency professionals in proceedings relating to their appointment or inquiries into their conduct. See, for example: Perovich v Whitton (No 2) (2016) 250 FCR 272; [2016] FCAFC 152; Sutherland v JOT Property Solutions Pty Ltd [2016] 1 Qd R 353; [2015] QSC 249 .
• general matters: Kurschinsky v Queensland Law Society [2023] FCA 1682 ; Clout (Trustee), in the matter of Warren (Bankrupt) v Warren [2023] FCA 755; Panthera Finance Pty Ltd v Spotjobs Holdings Pty Ltd [2023] QSC 208 (interpretation of a DOCA); Tall Trees Tanah Merah Pty Ltd v Trust Company (PTAL) Ltd as Custodian for LM First Mortgage Income Fund [2014] FCA 963 (led by McQuade KC).

BRIBERY AND CORRUPTION

Andrew is a leading junior in bribery and corruption matters, including foreign bribery. The matters are generally confidential or subject to non-publication orders, but examples include:

• briefed for the controlling members of a family with extensive international business interests in connection with allegations of bribing foreign public officials. The case involves some of the most serious allegations of foreign bribery in Australian history. The allegations are being litigated in multiple courts in Australia (both criminal proceedings and civil proceedings under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 – Cth) and internationally. The matter has involved extensive international cooperation and the handling of mutual assistance issues under various treaties.
• briefed for an Australian company and its managing director in connection with an ongoing investigation into allegations of bribing foreign public officials.
• briefed in various investigations into corruption, bribery, receipt of secret commissions and abuse of office, both for individuals, politicians and foreign public officials.

CORPORATIONS, JOINT VENTURES & PARTNERSHIPS

Andrew has practised extensively in disputes of this kind since he commenced at the bar. The matters in which he is briefed involve complex corporate, trust and partnership structures usually in circumstances where the relationship between the partners and venturers has broken down and generally where accusations of misconduct are involved. Current or recent cases include:

• He has acted in various shareholder disputes before the Supreme Court of Queensland. These include proceedings between joint venturers about the ownership of proprietary information used in a well-known ‘app’, between disputing shareholders relating to the ownership of real property with substantial development value and between disputing shareholders of a valuable building company.
• acting for several parties in a dispute between family members relating to multiple parcels of real property, several property developments and a construction company.
• acting in a shareholders’ dispute involving a civil construction company. Briefed with senior counsel in arbitral proceedings which settled shortly before the commencement of the arbitration.
• acted in several proceedings for relief under sections 232 and 461(1)(k) of the Corporations Act and similar proceedings in respect of joint ventures and partnerships.

COMMERCIAL LITIGATION

Andrew maintains a general commercial practice, which involves general advisory and appearance work across the spectrum of commercial law. Current or recent superior court examples include:

• acting for Perpetual Limited in proceedings in respect of allegations of misleading and deceptive conduct and tortious conspiracy causing alleged losses exceeding $100M.
• acting for a large building company to successfully obtain interim and interlocutory relief restraining publications on “TikTok” in aid of claims for injurious falsehood.
• acting for a large airport in proceedings against multiple oil companies relating to the operation and ownership of refuelling infrastructure (JUHI).
• acting for the receivers of a litigation funding business in proceedings against a law firm to recover amounts advanced by the funder.
• acting for a large logistics company in proceedings against a rail operator following the derailment of a cargo train causing loss of mineral concentrate and environmental damage.
• acting for an insurance broking firm (and its director) in proceedings accusing them of misleading and deceptive conduct, conspiracy and fraud.
• acted for the plaintiff in the proceeding to recover US$20M+ pursuant to a deed of guarantee. The proceeding was defended on the basis of, inter alia, an allegation that the secured property was sold at an undervalue. This included interlocutory proceedings involving an application for a Norwich Pharmacal order and to restrain lawyers from acting,

REGULATORY, INQUESTS & COMMISSIONS OF INQUIRY, REPUTATION MANAGEMENT

• acted in matters connected with the initial public offering of Nuix Ltd, the liquidation of the Forum Group of Companies, bank remediation processes and other confidential regulatory investigations, including competition and consumer law issues involving misleading and deceptive conduct, unconscionable conduct, cartel conduct, retail price maintenance, unfair practices and abuses of market power.
• acting in various proceedings to protect and restrain misuse of confidential information, including obtaining orders for provision of information and actions for restraint of trade.
• acting in several defamation proceedings before the State and Federal Courts, including acting for witnesses in high profile matters.
• defended (and occasionally prosecuted) many offences (including substantial criminal trials with juries) under the Commonwealth Criminal Code, Corporations Act, the Australian Securities and Investments Commission Act, the Competition and Consumer Act, the Planning Act, the Work Health and Safety Act, the Fire and Emergency Services Act, taxation legislation, local government laws and other discipline specific regulatory legislation.
• appearing for professionals subject to allegations of professional wrongdoing. Andrew has acted for barristers, solicitors, doctors and a variety of other allied health professionals during investigations, disciplinary proceedings before QCAT and in respect of associated professional indemnity issues (both coverage and liability).
• appearing at or advising with respect to the Queensland Floods Commission of Inquiry, the Barrett Adolescent Centre Commission of Inquiry, the Queensland Racing Commission of Inquiry, the Royal Commission into Misconduct in the Banking, Superannuation and Financial Services Industry, the Royal Commission into the Robodebt Scheme, the Queensland Coal Mining Board of Inquiry and in a public examination into the catastrophic explosion that occurred at the Callide Power Station in 2021. Throughout 2003 Andrew assisted Milton Griffin KC to conduct the Queensland Parole System Review No 2.
• acted for corporations that have received subpoenas to produce documents in circumstances where the entity has no other connection with the relevant proceeding. He has also been briefed for such clients in respect of other vexatious quasi-criminal proceedings initiated by private citizens.

PROPERTY

• appearing in several cases concerning the proper construction of leases and (especially those relating to energy supply under the national energy laws).
• acted in proceedings in connection with real property and commercial assets, including contracts for the sale of land or businesses, leasing disputes, and applications for relief against forfeiture, applications in respect of caveats or allegations of misleading and deceptive conduct in connection with related transactions.