Profile

Sarah’s experience at the bar includes:

Appellate

> Appearing in the High Court of Australia (led by G Del Villar KC, Solicitor-General for Queensland and F Nagorcka) for the Attorney-General for Queensland intervening in constitutional law proceedings involving the electrical vehicle tax imposed by Victoria: Vanderstock v Victoria [2023] HCA 30.

> Appearing in the High Court of Australia (led by P Dunning KC and M Wilkinson) for the Crime and Corruption Commission in proceedings concerning parliamentary privilege: Crime and Corruption Commission v Carne [2023] HCA 28.

> Appearing in the Queensland Court of Appeal (led by M Martin KC) for the respondent company in an appeal concerning contempt of a court order: Leigh v Bruder Expedition Pty Ltd [2022] QCA 267.

> Appearing in the Queensland Court of Appeal (led by S Doyle KC) for the appellant in an appeal concerning a development approval under the Planning Act 2016 (Qld): Robertson v Brisbane City Council (2022) 251 LGERA 302.

> Appearing in the Full Federal Court for the respondent in an appeal involving the dismissal of an application for habeas corpus: Bethell v Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs [2022] FCAFC 83.

> Appearing in the Full Federal Court (led by C Lenehan SC and C Tran) for the respondent in a migration appeal: AFD21 v Minister for Home Affairs (2021) 287 FCR 308.

Public Law

> Appearing in the Supreme Court of Queensland (led by E Longbottom KC and B O’Brien) for the applicant shipping company in judicial review proceedings challenging the imposition of $66 million of default maritime fees: Sea Swift Pty Ltd v Torres Strait Island Regional Council [2023] QSC 160.

> Appearing in the Supreme Court of Queensland (led by S Holt KC) for the applicant company in judicial review proceedings concerning the call-in of a development approval by the Deputy Premier: Austin BMI Pty Ltd v Deputy Premier [2023] QSC 95.

> Appearing in the Supreme Court of Queensland for the Attorney General for Queensland intervening in proceedings under the Human Rights Act 2019 (Qld): Palmer Leisure Coolum Pty Ltd v Magistrates Court of Queensland; Palmer v Magistrates Court of Queensland [2022] QSC 227.

> Appearing in the Federal Court for the Secretary of the Department of Health and Aged Care in judicial review proceedings concerning the pharmaceutical benefits scheme: Kippa Ring Pharmacy Pty Ltd v Secretary of the Department of Health and Aged Care (QUD177/2023) (settled before trial).

> Appearing in the Federal Court for the Attorney-General of Queensland in proceedings concerning the Extradition Act 1988 (Cth): Pauga v Chief Executive of Queensland Corrective Services (No 4) [2022] FCA 339.

> Appearing in the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia in an appeal from a decision of the Administrative Appeals Tribunal: Jarman v Glenham [2022] FedCFamC2G 733.

> Appearing in the Federal Court of Australia and the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia in various migration proceedings including:

• DXN21 v Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs (2022) 370 FLR 406 (led by S Lloyd SC).
• Bethell v Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs [2021] FCA 661 (led by C Tran).
• Bethell v Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs [2021] FCA 727; [2021] FCA 756; [2021] FCA 811.
• AQM18 v Commonwealth of Australia (VID 716 of 2020) (led by C Tran and C Ernst) (settled before trial).
• BBI21 & ors v Commonwealth of Australia (NTD10 of 2021) (led by A Yuile) (settled before trial).

> Advising government agencies, companies and individuals on administrative law, constitutional law, statutory interpretation and prospects of success of appeal and special leave to appeal.

Commercial law

> Appearing in the Federal Court (led by S Doyle KC) for the Rio Tinto Parties in proceedings concerning the effect of Russian sanctions on a joint venture: Alumina and Bauxite Company Ltd v Queensland Alumina Ltd & Ors (VID297/2022) (ongoing).

> Appearing in the Federal Court (led by D Clothier KC) for Nauru Air Corporation in proceedings concerning fiduciary duties, misleading and deceptive conduct and copyright infringement: Aircraft Structural Contractors Pty Ltd v Nauru Air Corporation [2023] FCA 993 (ongoing).

> Appearing in the Supreme Court of Queensland (led by D Clothier KC and B Kabel) for Visionstream Pty Ltd/Ventia in construction proceedings concerning breach of contract and negligence: Queensland Motorways Pty Limited v CPB Contractors Pty Limited (BS9153/19) (ongoing).

> Appearing in the Supreme Court of Queensland (led by C Jennings KC) in a dispute involving a priority deed between two registered mortgagees: Monaco Solicitors Pty Ltd v ProLend Solutions No 40 Pty Ltd (BS10102/23) (ongoing).

> Appearing in the Supreme Court of Queensland (led by B Lim) for the ASX in preliminary discovery proceedings brought by a suspended publicly listed company (Henry Morgan Ltd v ASX Limited (BS9283/22) (ongoing).

> Appearing in the Supreme Court of Queensland seeking review of an adjudicator’s decision under the Building Industry Fairness (Security of Payment) Act 2017 (Qld): Dongguan Yintec Intelligent Home Co Ltd v Arden Group Holdings Pty Ltd (BS 12808/21).

> Appearing in the Supreme Court of Queensland in an application to extend time to register a security interest under the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth): Regatta Securities No 2 Pty Ltd v Regatta Securities No 1 Pty Ltd (BS 14569/21).

Appearing in the Supreme Court of Queensland (led by D Clothier KC) for Fredon (Qld) Pty Ltd in a contractual dispute: Civex Pty Ltd v Fredon (Qld) Pty Ltd (BS 4570/20).

> Appearing in the Supreme Court of Queensland (led by M Martin KC) for the defendant companies in proceedings concerning breaches of fiduciary duties and undue influence: Lau v Lau (BS 7931/19).

> Acting in an arbitration under the Commercial Arbitration Act 2012 (WA).

> Appearing in the District Court of Queensland (led by M Martin KC) for Sirrom Corporation in proceedings concerning an indemnity under a business purchase agreement: Sodexo Remote Sites Australia Pty Ltd v Sirrom Corporation Holdings Pty Ltd [2021] QDC 308.

> Appearing in the District Court of Queensland (led by M Martin KC) for the plaintiffs in proceedings alleging negligent advice by an accountant: GP Nichols (Dental) Pty Ltd v QBE Insurance (Australia) Limited (BD2258/18) (settled before trial).

> Appearing in the Land Court (led by R Traves KC, K McIntyre and A Helliwell) for the applicants in an application for compensation under the Mineral and Energy Resources (Common Provisions) Act 2014 (Qld): Maller v Australia Pacific LNG CSG Transmissions Pty Ltd (MER084-21).

> Appearing in QCAT for Grant Daniel & Long Pty Ltd in a minor civil dispute concerning alleged breaches of the Australian Consumer Law (settled before trial).

> Advising (led by G A Thompson KC and M Hindman KC) on urgent interlocutory relief in relation to an IT contract.

> Advising (led by R Traves KC) on disputes concerning easements, development approvals and public utilities providers.

Regulatory

> Appearing in the Federal Court (led by M Hodge KC and M Ellicott) for the Commonwealth in representative proceedings alleging misleading or deceptive conduct in connection with climate change information disclosure in relation to exchange-traded government bonds: O’Donnell v Commonwealth of Australia [2023] FCA 1227.

> Appearing in the Federal Court (led by C Tran) for the Australian Electoral Commission in an urgent injunction application seeking to restrain potential breaches of the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 (Cth): Australian Electoral Commission v Kelly [2022] FCA 628.

> Appearing in the Supreme Court of Queensland (led by K McMillan KC) for the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency and the Medical Board of Australia in proceedings challenging a decision to suspend the registration of a medical practitioner: Bay v Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (BS 14178/2022) (ongoing).

> Appearing in the District Court of Queensland (led by R Traves KC) in a planning offence appeal: Deleje Pty Ltd v Butterworth [2021] QDC 328.

> Appearing in the Administrative Appeals Tribunal for the Civil Aviation Safety Authority in a review of a decision to refuse a medical certificate to a pilot: Nam v Civil Aviation Safety Authority (2022/7485) (judgment reserved).

Taxation

> Acting for the Commissioner of State Revenue in QCAT proceedings involving land tax, first home owner grants and home builder grants: Allop Pty Ltd (as trustee) v Commissioner of State Revenue; Alexander v Commissioner of State Revenue; Francis v Commissioner of State Revenue; Rollston v Commissioner of State Revenue; Wagner v Commissioner of State Revenue; Winkworth v Commissioner of State Revenue.

> Acting for the Commissioner of Taxation in Administrative Appeal Tribunal proceedings concerning a default assessment.

Pro bono

Sarah maintains a strong commitment to pro bono advice and representation. Since 2013, she has assisted clients through a range of organisations including Canberra Community Law, the South Westminster Legal Advice Clinic and most recently LawRight.

Previous experience

Sarah’s experience as a solicitor includes:

> Acting for the Commonwealth in constitutional litigation in the Federal Court and the High Court of Australia (eg Kuczborski v Queensland (2014) 254 CLR 51).

> Acting for a UK Energy Regulator on numerous high value energy, renewables and climate change judicial review and statutory appeals brought by companies and consumers (eg R (Havant Biogas Limited and ors) v Gas and Electricity Markets Authority (Ofgem)[2021] EWHC 84 (Admin).

> Acting for the UK Secretary of State for Housing, Community and Local Government in a judicial review of a high-profile planning application (R (London Historic Parks And Gardens Trust) v Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government [2020] EWHC 2580 (Admin)).

> Acting for the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth of Australia in international arbitration proceedings under the UNCITRAL Rules and World Trade Organisation dispute settlement (eg Sancheti v United Kingdom, Philip Morris Asia Limited v Commonwealth of Australia) and in Free Trade Agreement negotiations.

> Advising government agencies on statutory interpretation, constitutional law, administrative law and international law.