Tony Ross

Tony accepts briefs in all areas of law.

Prior to coming to the Bar, Tony served in the Australian Defence Force for 16 years, predominantly as an Army Officer. He is now in the active reserves.

In 2022, Tony was Tipstaff to the Hon. Justice M.J. Slattery AM AM (Mil) RAN of the Supreme Court of New South Wales (Equity Division).

Tony received his Juris Doctor from the Australian National University and his Bachelor of Business from the University of New South Wales at the Australian Defence Force Academy.

Tony has broad experience working in the Defence and National Security community. His writing on foreign interference has been published in the Federal Law Review.

Matthew McGirr

Matthew is a highly regarded junior counsel, with a wide-ranging practice primarily focussed on commercial law, common law (including intentional torts), superannuation, property law, construction, strata, and general equity. Matthew regularly appears in all Federal and State courts and tribunals. Matthew will accept briefs in all areas of law.

Prior to being called to the bar, Matthew was a solicitor for over 7 years. Immediately prior to the bar, Matthew was a Senior Solicitor at the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA), where he advised APRA in relation to several high profile contentious and non-contentious matters.

Prior to APRA, Matthew practised at law firms Herbert Smith Freehills and Gilbert + Tobin. During this period, Matthew acted for some of Australia’s leading companies, including Westpac, CBA, Bupa, Telstra, JP Morgan Australia. Matthew also worked on a number of class actions and commissions of inquiry.

Matthew has also worked as a policy adviser and lawyer at the Australian Institute of Company Directors, where he worked closely with governments, directors, and stakeholders important legal policy issues, including the insolvency safe harbour reforms.

Matthew graduated from the University of Sydney with a Bachelor of Arts with Honours in history. Matthew then graduated from the University of NSW with a Juris Doctor with Honours.

Paul Menzies KC

Paul has over 45 years experience as a Barrister, having first been called to the Bar in 1973. Prior to this, he practised as a Solicitor for 5 years in Sydney and London. He has always had a diverse practice, appearing as an advocate at both trial and appellate level, including the High Court, in administrative, commercial, criminal, professional negligence, common, insurance and commercial law.

Paul took Silk in 1988 and has been acting as an accredited mediator since 1995.
Paul accepts instructions as mediator, arbitrator, and advocate in mediations and domestic and international arbitrations, in Australia and internationally. He has been a Member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (UK) since 2009.

He is a practitioner in the international commercial courts of both Singapore and Dubai. He is a member of Blackburn Chambers in the ACT, 8th Floor Wentworth in Sydney, Southern Highlands Chambers in Exeter, NSW. He is a member of Dever’s List in Melbourne, maintains Chambers in Singapore and is a member of the Western Australian and Queensland Bars.

He appears in administrative and quasi-judicial tribunals including Fair Work Australia, the Industrial Relations Commission administrative decisions tribunals, and professional disciplinary bodies. Paul has also appeared for interested parties and as Counsel Assisting in a broad range of inquiries, including ICAC, Coronial Inquests and Royal Commissions.

Lachlan Menzies

Lachlan Menzies is a commercial litigator with more than 20 years’ experience. His practice combines large matters in collaboration with Senior Counsel, and a full range of matters unled. As well as litigation, he is briefed for transactional advice and drafting including direct briefs from in-house counsel.

A strong position, control, and success in Court are built on precision in pleadings, affidavits, written submissions and associated legal research. Close cooperation with instructing lawyers and a positive client connection are maintained through practical advice, and meetings and calls in conference. Lachlan is adept at Information Technology in legal practice and holds a degree in computer science.

Lachlan mainly practises in State and Federal jurisdictions in New South Wales, and also acts in trials and on appeal in the Supreme Court of Victoria.

Lachlan is a lecturer in the Master of Applied Law courses at the College of Law, appointed in 2009.

For further information including areas of practice, please refer to Lachlan’s CV, linked on this page.

Joel Cook

Joel is an experienced commercial litigator. He accepts briefs in a broad range of commercial and civil matters in all Australian jurisdictions.

Prior to being called to the bar in 2018, Joel was a solicitor at mid and top-tier firms in Sydney. He has a keen professional interest in corporate and personal insolvency, succession law and trusts.

Joel works closely with clients, their advisors, and key stakeholders to provide comprehensive but practical advice. His approach is pragmatic and outcome-focussed. He identifies, develops and implements strategies that achieve commercial as well as legal outcomes.

Adam Butt

Adam Butt is an Australian Barrister based in Sydney who specializes in international arbitration, commercial litigation and human rights law. Prior to joining the New South Wales Bar he practiced as a solicitor at Allens Linklaters and as a senior associate in the international arbitration team at Clayton Utz.

Adam has acted on numerous international investment and commercial arbitrations with seats in Europe, Asia, Australia, North America and the Caribbean, including several matters as assistant to Hon James Spigelman AC. He acts on complex commercial and human rights cases and regularly leads teams in Federal and state Supreme Courts, in cases both for and against the Crown. He has won major native title and Aboriginal land claim disputes across Australia, in addition to significant claims brought under the Racial Discrimination Act 1975 (Cth).

During 2020 to 2023, Adam was a finalist each year in Australia’s Lawyers Weekly Barrister of the Year Award, including winning the Award in 2021.

Adam has postgraduate degrees in law and politics from New York University and Cambridge where he placed first in several subjects, and has been a visiting scholar in negotiation at Harvard. He is also admitted as an attorney in New York. Previously, Adam worked with the judges at the ICTY in The Hague, on the trial of Slobodan Milošević, and as a permanent part time assistant to two eminent international arbitrators.

Adam is a current member of the NSW Bar Association’s Human Rights Committee. He regularly publishes and presents in Australia and overseas on ADR, expert evidence, contract and civil procedure. He has been a board member of several international ADR bodies in Australia and overseas.