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Year of Call:
2015Overview
Angus’s practice encompasses advisory and appearance work in commercial and public law matters, with a focus on complex disputes. He has particular experience in the energy and resources, banking and finance and government sectors, and in matters involving contract law, commercial equity, corporations law, competition law, administrative law and insurance law.
Prior to joining Chambers, Angus practised from Banco Chambers and One Essex Court, leading commercial chambers in Sydney and London respectively. He has substantial experience of cross-border disputes raising jurisdiction and choice of law issues and is able to represent clients throughout Australia and the region.
Angus received Bachelors of Arts and Laws (Hons) from the University of Queensland and was ranked first in his year. He attended the University of Cambridge as a David M Livingstone (Australia) scholar, graduating with a Master of Laws (Hons). In March 2015 Angus received the Ludlows Award for the highest aggregate mark in the NSW Bar Exams.
Angus was an Associate at the High Court of Australia to the Hon. Justice (now Chief Justice) SM Kiefel AC.
Experience
In addition to the cases listed, significant experience includes:
Banking
> Advising (led by S Finch SC and TL Wong) a bank in relation to its trading activities.
> Advising (led by RA Dick SC and PW Flynn) a bank concerning potential liabilities arising from the constitutional invalidity of Commonwealth legislation.
> Assisting (as pupil barrister) J Goldsmith in London Commercial Court proceedings involving a USD 50m claim on a promissory note by a Chinese stated-owned company against a Nigerian energy company.
Commercial
> Advising (led by PP McQuade QC) with respect to possible equitable relief.
> Acting (led by TL Wong) in Supreme Court of NSW proceedings concerning the exercise of an option.
> Acting (led by PJ Brereton SC and others) for the Commonwealth of Australia in Federal Court proceedings against AstraZeneca group companies on an undertaking as to damages.
> Advising (led by BW Walker SC and TL Wong) a major energy company with respect to a proposed ASX listing.
Competition & Consumer
> Acting (led) for a company in connection with an ACCC investigation.
> Acting (led by N Sharp) for the ACCC in connection with a proposed merger.
Corporations
> Acting for a shareholder with respect to possible derivative claims.
> Acting (led by PP McQuade QC) for a defendant in Supreme Court of Queensland proceedings for breaches of directors’ duties.
> Assisting (as a pupil barrister) L Emmett and J Fox in a three-week trial in the London Commercial Court involving claims for breaches of directors’ duties, accessory liability and in the torts of bribery and conspiracy.
International
> Acting (led by RA Dick SC and PW Flynn) for Weir Services Australia Pty Ltd in a jurisdiction challenge in the Supreme Court of NSW raising issues of forum non conveniens.
> Assisting (as a pupil barrister) A Malek QC, C Patton and P Dutton in responding to an application challenging the jurisdiction of the High Court of England and Wales over a high-profile claim against Mr Gennadiy Bogolyubov, a Ukrainian businessman.
> Assisting (as a pupil barrister) J Goldsmith in responding to an application challenging the jurisdiction of the High Court of England and Wales over a USD 50m claim by a Chinese state-owned company against a Nigerian energy company and to stay the claim to arbitration.
Judicial Review & Administrative
> Acting (led by A Crowe QC) for a private VET provider in Federal Court proceedings for judicial review of regulatory decisions by the Australian Skills Quality Authority.
> Acting (led by A Crowe QC and S McLeod QC) for a private VET provider in AAT proceedings seeking merits review of regulatory decisions by the Australian Skills Quality Authority.
> Advising (led by S Doyle QC) a company with respect to reviews of adjudications under building security of payment legislation.
> Appearing (led by A Bell SC and RCA Higgins) for a manufacturer and supplier of medical devices in Federal Court proceedings for judicial review of decisions by the Minister for Health (Applied Medical Australia Pty Ltd v Minsters for Health (2016) 246 FCR 555; [2016] FCA 35).
Resources & Energy
> Advising (led by S Doyle QC) a resources company with respect to issues of construction of resources joint venture agreements.
> Acting (led by P McQuade QC) in Supreme Court of Queensland proceedings involving a dispute between parties to a joint venture for exploration and development of a petroleum lease.
> Acting (led by L Rabinowitz QC and others) in a SIAC arbitration (Singapore seat) involving a USD 5.5b energy dispute under an SPA involving allegations of fraud and breach of warranty and an indemnity claim.
> Acting (led by K Stern SC) for BlueScope Steel in an approx. USD 260m claim in the Supreme Court of NSW against South32 group companies concerning the pricing mechanism under a long-term coal supply contract.
> Acting (led by AJ Myers QC and others) for BlueScope Steel in Supreme Court of NSW proceedings against South32 group companies concerning a long-term coal supply contract.
> Assisting (as a pupil barrister) D Wolfson QC and C Patton in London Commercial Court proceedings by Marathon Oil UK LLC against Centrica and TAQA group companies in connection with a joint venture in the North Sea.
> Acting (as solicitor and advocate) for a private company in an UNCITRAL arbitration seated in Stockholm against an international oil major, involving claims in excess of USD 5b.
Member
Bar Association of Queensland
Bar Association of New South Wales
Bar of England and Wales (Lincoln's Inn)
Career
2017 Call to the Bar of England and Wales (Lincoln’s Inn)
2015 Call to the Bar (NSW)
2013-2015 Associate in the International Arbitration and Litigation group of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom (UK) LLP, London
2011-2012 Associate at the High Court of Australia to the Hon. Justice (now Chief Justice) SM Kiefel AC
2011 Admission to the legal profession (QLD)
Education
2013 Masters of Laws (Hons 1), University of Cambridge
2010 Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Laws (Hons 1), University of Queensland
Awards
2015 Ludlows Award for highest aggregate marks in the February 2015 NSW Bar Exams
2013 College Prize for LLM (Jesus College, Cambridge)
2013 Jesus College Foundation Scholarship (Jesus College, Cambridge)
2010 John Hughes Wilkinson Memorial Prize for highest overall marks in the LLB program (University of Queensland)
2010 Minter Ellison Prize in Law for highest overall marks in the LLB program (University of Queensland)
2010 Virgil Power Prize for highest overall marks in 3rd and 4th year LLB courses (University of Queensland)
2010 University of Queensland TC Beirne School of Law Valedictorian
2008 Sir Samuel Griffith Memorial Prize in Law for Civil Procedure (University of Queensland)
2008 Australian Law Students’ Association National Client Interviewing Competition – Winner
2007 Walter Harrison Prize for Law of Property A (University of Queensland)
2007 University of Queensland Phillip C Jessup International Law Moot Competition Team – Australian Championship Winner, International Championship Semi-Finalist
2006 Ross Anderson Memorial Prize for Constitutional Law B (University of Queensland)
