Profile

Examples of significant matters Shane has been briefed on include:

BANKING

> Appeal from refusal to set aside a judgment against a self-represented litigant in a long trial against a bank and mortgage broker in which fraud and misrepresentations were alleged; also appeared at the trial.

BUILDING & CONSTRUCTION

> Acted for body corporate in claim relating to use of aluminium composite panels in a 70 storey residential tower.

> Acted for builder successfully defending claim by QBCC for recovery under home owners’ warranty in relation to two unfinished houses.

> Various disputes in relation to the payment of progress claims, contractual variations, and defective work.

CLASS ACTIONS

> Acting (with C M Kenny KC) on behalf of 34,000 investors to recover over AUD 130 million invested in property in Australia by the Indian operators of the world’s largest Ponzi scheme (claimed to be 58 million investors and over AUD 9 billion invested).

> Acting (with R Anderson KC) on behalf of 3 bodies corporate and the owners of over 300 lots in a 54 storey apartment building in a claim against the builder for rectification of defects, value $130 million+

> Acting (with LA Armstrong KC) for the plaintiff group members in two parallel class actions against the Commonwealth government in respect of failures in biosecurity alleged to have caused the 2016 outbreak of White Spot Syndrome Virus in prawns and related species.  Total damages estimated at $500 million

> Acting (with CM Kenny KC) for sub-contractors in a claim against a bank in relation to the ongoing funding of an insolvent building company.

COMPETITION & CONSUMER

> Supreme Court of Queensland proceedings (led by the then H B Fraser SC) enforcing contractual restraint of trade against former partner of accountancy firm.

> Claim (with P Zappia KC) in the Supreme Court of Queensland for declaratory relief under the unwritten law that the plaintiff is not obliged to pay any sum to the defendant under a written contract of guarantee on a number of different grounds. Relief sought pursuant to s 87 of the Trade Practices Act 1974 or s 237 of the Australian Consumer Law, based on misleading or deceptive conduct or unconscionable conduct.

> Appearing (with P McQuade KC) in the Federal Court for one of the respondents in a two week misleading and deceptive conduct trial in relation to the sale of a shopping centre.  Then appearing in the Full Federal Court (unled) on the appeal.

> Various matters involving the provision of misleading or negligent financial advice, including acting in a group of over 30 claims brought against a large national retail stockbroking and wealth management firm in relation to inappropriate financial advice involving clients of modest means (many soon to be retired) making highly geared investments in equities.

CONTRACT

> Highly technical dispute in the Federal Court of Australia (led by M M Stewart KC) concerning a contract clause regulating the amount which a domestic property, as Lessor, might charge a commercial energy supplier, as Lessee for various utility and other services supplied, and further issues relating to the holding of appropriate exemptions.

> Acting in a claim by former State director of a political party (an unincorporated association) for breach of the contract ending his employment, and breach of the party’s constitution.

> Numerous matters involving former employees or contractors and breaches of restraints of trade and misuse of intellectual property.

> Matters involving claims made of misfeasance in public office and other contractual dispute with former employees of State entities.

CORPORATE INSOLVENCY & BANKRUPTCY

> Appearing in Federal Court of Australia proceedings where creditors of two related companies in liquidation applied for the appointment of a Special Purpose Liquidator under Division 90, s 90-15 of the Insolvency Practice Schedule (Corporations)

> Appearing in various cases in the Federal Court and the Supreme Court of Queensland dealing with the appointments of receivers, administrators, liquidators, provisional liquidators and trustees in bankruptcy.

> A Supreme Court of Queensland dispute (with M M Stewart KC) over proceeds of sale of land between court appointed receivers of the land and subsequent transferees of registered mortgages over that land.

CORPORATIONS

> A long running substantial dispute (briefed between 2007 and 2025, initially with G Newton KC, then both unled and leading S Gibson) between the former owners of a Nigerian telecommunications business, involving proceedings in the British Virgin Islands, the Netherlands, Nigeria, Panama and Queensland.

> Appearing in a Federal Court of Australia hearing to restrain certain members from putting resolutions to a general meeting of a company limited by guarantee.

> Acting for a Queensland peak sporting body in dispute with one of its regional organisations in relation to its constitution and shareholder rights.

INSURANCE

> Defending (with the then D O J North SC) a workers compensation claim by a contractor working for the Solomon Islands prison service pursuant to an Australian foreign aid agreement.

INTERNATIONAL LAW

> Briefed in a matter arising out of an oil spill from the MV Pacific Adventurer off the Queensland coast.

> Advising on questions concerning the conformity of duties legislation with the Chicago Convention on Civil Aviation.

> Instructed concerning the consequences for an Australian manufacturer arising out of allegations made against its foreign parent company of corrupt dealings with the government of a developing country.

> Instructed on various matters dealing with anti-terrorist legislation and its conformity with international law, particularly the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

> Appearing in matters dealing with anti-suit injunctions.

> Enforcing in the Federal Court of Australia an international arbitration award obtained in the Singapore International Arbitration Centre.

> Defending (with D Tait KC) claims made against her former employer by an Australian who was prosecuted and jailed in a foreign state in connection with her complaint that she had been sexually assaulted.

PROPERTY & LAND LAW

> Appearing (with Shane Doyle KC) in proceedings where a plaintiff sought to recover damages for loss of a commercial opportunity which is more likely to make a loss than a profit.

> Acting (with P O’Shea KC) in a substantial dispute concerning misrepresentations over land sold in Dubai with proceedings in the UAE and Australia.

> Appearing in District Court proceedings addressing whether the defendants had caused substantial interference with the use or enjoyment of the plaintiff’s land and whether that interference with the plaintiff’s land was unreasonable.

> Numerous matters involving commercial leases and sales of land, mortgages, and the lodgement of caveats.