Profile
Year of Call:
2025Overview
Finian has a commercial and public law practice.
Before being called to the Bar, Finian was a Senior Lawyer at the Australian Government Solicitor where he acted in competition, class actions and other regulatory proceedings and investigations for clients such as the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission and the Australian Securities and Investments Commission. He also provided advice to many Commonwealth departments and authorities.
Finian previously worked at Ashurst in competition and commercial litigation. He was also an Associate to the Honourable Justice Glenn Martin AM at the Supreme Court of Queensland.
Finian holds a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Laws (First Class Honours) from the University of Queensland.
Experience
Finian’s experience as a solicitor includes:
- acting for the Commonwealth in the damages phase of a long-running and large class action arising from the 2011 Australian ban on live cattle exports to Indonesia
- acting for the ACCC in various competition law investigations and proceedings, including the ANZ/Suncorp merger authorisation before the Australian Competition Tribunal, and the trial and appeal proceedings in the Federal Court against NSW Ports
- acting for ASIC in various financial services investigations and proceedings, including several proceedings against major banks
- acting for the Australian Energy Regulator in an investigation of market participants for alleged contraventions of the National Electricity Rules
- acting for and advising a variety of other Commonwealth bodies in connection with civil penalty proceedings and other issues
- acting for Aurizon in competition law trial and appeal proceedings brought by the ACCC against it and Pacific National
- acting for large corporate clients in connection with regulatory investigations, domestic proceedings and international arbitrations.
Member
Bar Association of Queensland
Career
2020-2025 Senior Lawyer, Australian Government Solicitor
2017-2019 Lawyer, Ashurst
2016 Associate, Supreme Court of Queensland
Education
2015 Bachelor of Arts (Japanese and International Relations), University of Queensland
2015 Bachelor of Laws (First Class Honours), University of Queensland
Awards
2010-2014 Dean’s Commendations for High Achievement
2010-2013 University of Queensland Excellence Scholarship
