Barry Dean

Barry specialises in regulatory, reputational (including defamation and privacy) and media law and has appeared as junior counsel in some of Australia’s highest profile defamation proceedings. He routinely advises individual and corporate clients throughout Australia (both potential plaintiffs and defendants).

His practice at the Bar also encompasses commercial and other civil disputes, administrative and disciplinary hearings, and white-collar criminal defence and prosecution. Barry has particular expertise in civil disputes involving criminal allegations. He has appeared in white-collar criminal proceedings for accused, offenders and appellants, both individual and corporate, and as crown prosecutor including on a multi-week jury trial.

In addition to frequent appearances in Courts throughout Australia, High Court, Court of Appeal, Supreme Courts, Local Courts, District Court and NCAT, Barry has appeared at ICAC multiple times; appeared at the Football NSW tribunal; served as tribunal member for Basketball NSW and served as member on the Occupational Therapy Council of NSW.

Before coming to the Bar, Barry practised as a solicitor for eight years, first at Mallesons and then at ASIC, across a range of commercial, regulatory and litigious matters.

Practice Areas

Administrative Law
Banking, Securities and Insolvency
Competition and Consumer
Corporate and Commercial
Media, Defamation and Privacy
Regulatory and Criminal Law
Equity and Trusts

Selected Matters

Media & Defamation

Turner v Nampijinpa Price (FCA, Wheelahan J, reserved October 2025) Defamation claim in respect of Senator Nampijinpa Price’s media release. Appeared with P Gray SC for the respondent Senator Nampijinpa Price.
Ward v Radio 2SM (NSWDC, September 2025) Defamation claim against Radio 2SM by then politician over comment said by John Laws about then pending criminal charges against him. Proceedings dismissed by consent. Appeared unled for the defendant Radio 2SM.
Lehrmann v Network Ten [2025] FCAFC 173 ( Wigney, Colvin and Abraham JJ) Appeared with S Chrysanthou SC on the appeal for the second respondent Lisa Wilkinson.
Goo v Kim (DCNSW, Andronos DCJ, May-September 2025) Judgment for the first plaintiff in defamation against three defendants for different publications including both online and flyers with damages across the matters totalling $388,000. Appeared unled for the first plaintiff.
McGarry v Mangano (WASC, Palmer J, reserved April 2025) Defamation claim in respect of statements a councillor made in council meetings. Appeared with S Chrysanthou SC for the defendant former Councillor Mangano.
Harris v Moorhead (FCA, Owens J, April 2025) Defamation claim in respect of YouTube video. Judgment for the applicant by consent with apology and matter otherwise settled on confidential terms. Appeared unled for applicant.
Pendali v Nationwide News and ORS (FCA, Perram J, March 2025) Defamation claim in respect of a series of print and online newspaper articles, podcasts and videos. Proceedings discontinued with orders noting a clarification from the publishers about why they were removing the matters and that the matter otherwise settled on confidential terms. Appeared led by S Chrysanthou SC for the applicant.
Deeming v Pesutto (No 3) [2024] FCA 1430 – claim in defamation by Victoria MP against the leader of her party in respect of five publications – appeared led by S Chrysanthou SC for the applicant, Ms Moira Deeming MLC.
Lehrmann v Network Ten Pty Limited (Trial Judgment) [2024] FCA 369 (Lee J) – claim in defamation for interview broadcast on The Project – appeared led by S Chrysanthou SC for the second respondent publisher, Ms Lisa Wilkinson.
Peros v Nationwide News and ORS (WASC, Tottle J, March 2023) Defamation claim in respect of podcast where third defendant Harvey Norman was a sponsor of the podcast. Proceedings against the third defendant dismissed by consent. Appeared unled for the third defendant Harvey Norman.
Kumova v Davison (No 2) [2023] FCA 1 (Lee J) – claims in defamation about posts on the Twitter social media platform – appeared led by S Chrysanthou SC for the applicant Mr Tolga Kumova.
Palmer v McGowan (No 5) (2022) 404 ALR 621 [2022] FCA 893 (Lee J) – claims and cross-claims in defamation over public statements made by each party – appeared led by P Gray SC for Mr Clive Palmer.
Bazzi v Dutton (2022) 289 FCR 1; [2022] FCAFC 84 (Rares, Rangiah and Wigney JJ) – appeal against judgment in defamation in respect of publication on Twitter – appeared led by P Gray SC for the appellant publisher Shane Bazzi.
Herron v HarperCollins Publishers Australia Pty Ltd (2022) 292 FCR 336; [2022] FCAFC 68; (2022) 292 FCR 490; [2022] FCAFC 119 (Rares, Wigney and Lee JJ) – appeal against judgment dismissing claims in defamation in relation to book – appeared led by BW Walker SC and S Chrysanthou SC for appellants Mr John Herron and Dr John Gill.
Porter v Australian Broadcasting Corporation [2021] FCA 863 (with B Walker SC); [2021] FCA 1036 (unled) Hearings to implement and enforce confidentiality related to the settlement of a defamation claim by the former Attorney General. Appeared first with B Walker SC and then unled for the applicant Christian Porter.
Barilaro v Shanks-Markovia (No 2) (2021) 287 FCR 597; [2021] FCA 950 (Rares J) – interlocutory application to stay or dismiss proceedings in defamation in relation to Youtube stream because of parliamentary privilege – appeared led by S Chrysanthou SC for the applicant Mr John Barilaro who was the respondent on the interlocutory application.
Kumova v Davison [2021] FCA 753 (Flick J) – interlocutory claim for journalist privilege by publisher in defamation claim over his source for posts on the Twitter social media platform – appeared led by S Chrysanthou SC for the applicant Mr Tolga Kumova who was the respondent on the interlocutory claim for privilege.
Stead v Fairfax Media Publications Pty Ltd (2021) 387 ALR 123; [2021] FCA 15 (Lee J) – claims in defamation by a venture capitalist against Australian Financial Review and columnist –– appeared led by S Chrysanthou SC for the applicant Dr Elaine Stead in the proceedings.
Bailey v WIN Television NSW Pty Ltd (2020) 104 NSWLR 541; [2020] NSWCA 352 (Meagher and White JJA, Simpson AJA) – appeal against judgment dismissing claim in defamation in respect of news broadcast – appeared led by S Chrysanthou for the respondent publisher WIN Television.

Other Matters

Houston v Sheils [2026] NSWSC 93 (Dhanji J) – application to set aside notice to produce for inspection in proceedings claiming millions of dollars for damaged or lost property. Appeared unled for the defendants and applicants on the motion.
ICAC (May 2025) – appeared for witness in private examination.
Special Commission of Inquiry in the Offending by Wayne Astill (McClellan AM KC, November 2023 to January 2024) – appeared for a regional director of Corrective Services NSW.
R v Weiss (NSWLC, Fitzsimmons LCM, Nov 2022) – appeared on sentence for company director charged with falsification of books under the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth), suspended sentence delivered. Led by P Strickland SC.
R v Chand (NSWDC, March 2022) – appeared unled for law clerk charged with mortgage fraud. The prosecution was no billed by the DPP and the charges dismissed based on representations from Mr Dean.
ICAC Operation Aero (September 2020) – appeared for witness in public hearing.
De Belin v Australian Rugby League Commission Ltd [2019] FCA 688 (Perry J) – application seeking relief for misleading or deceptive conduct, unconscionable conduct, tortious inference in contractual relations, and restraint of trade in respect of conduct implementing a no-fault rule banning rugby league player from playing in the NRL competition – appeared led by M Einfeld QC on trial for the applicant Jack De Belin.
CMB v AG (NSW) (2015) 256 CLR 346; [2015] HCA 9 (French CJ, Kiefel, Bell, Gageler, and Keane JJ) – offender appeal against successful Crown sentence appeal. Appeared led by C Loukas SC (later Loukas-Karlsson J, ACT Supreme Court) and GA Bashir SC for appellant CMB.