Rabih Alkadamani

Commercial/Equity law and Employment law.

Sue Chrysanthou SC

E  |  clerk@153phillip.com.au P  |  02 9132 5711Sue Chrysanthou SC is a leading defamation barrister whose practice also includes intellectual property matters, inquiries, breach of confidence and privacy disputes.  She was called to the bar in 2004 and was appointed Senior Counsel in 2020.  She actively participates in law reform and frequently speaks about issues relating to defamation, freedom of speech, open justice, privacy and the media.  Sue has acted in a number of key cases for plaintiffs and defendants including Rush v Nationwide News, Hanson-Young v Leyonhjelm, Herron v HarperCollins, Schiff v Nine, Lehrmann v Wilkinson and Deeming v Pesutto. As a parent, pet owner, beekeeper, baker, wildlife carer and alleged amateur breakdancer, Sue offers a range of perspectives on legal and non-legal issues.   Communications and Media Law Confidential Information Contracts Defamation Intellectual Property Privacy Law Suppression and non-publication orders Trade Practices Masters of Laws (UNSW) BComm(Media Arts & Production)/BLaws(First Class Honours) UTS Senior Counsel – 2020 Barrister – 2004  Ranked in Doyles Guide as a Leading Defamation Senior Counsel - NSW, 2026 Ranked in Doyles Guide as a Leading Technology, Media & Telecommunications Senior Counsel - Australia, 2023 and 2024 Ranked in Doyles Guide as a Leading Technology, Media & Telecommunications Senior Counsel - NSW, since 2021 Ranked in Doyles Guide as a Leading Technology, Media & Telecommunications Junior Counsel - NSW, 2016, 2019 and 2020 Received a Spotlight in the Chambers and Partners, Media & Defamation: The Bar | Asia-Pacific 2026 Recognised in Best Lawyers 2027 Release for Litigation

Richard Potter SC

Richard was admitted as a solicitor in NSW in 1991 (having practised commercial litigation in London as a UK solicitor for 8 years) and spent 14 years with DLA Phillips Fox (now DLA Piper), heading the insurance litigation Team in Sydney between 2000-2005, practising in professional indemnity, insurance disputes and media law. Richard was called to the NSW Bar in 2005 and is well regarded for his advocacy and advice work in all aspects of commercial litigation, equity, insurance disputes and media law (including advising and appearing for media publishers on issues of defamation, contempt, suppression and copyright). Richard was appointed Senior Counsel in 2020. Richard is an AMDRAS accredited mediator (2022). He brings over three decades of commercial and insurance litigation experience to his mediation practice, providing parties with insight informed by extensive courtroom and advisory work. Richard mediates commercial disputes, insurance matters, and defamation cases. His litigation background enables him to assess risk and identify practical solutions, while his collaborative approach helps parties reach sustainable resolutions. Richard lectures part-time in the LLM program at the University of New South Wales, contributing to the education of the next generation of commercial lawyers. Defamation and Media Insurance Professional Liability Commercial Corporations Equity and Trusts Channel Seven v Manock (2007) 232 CLR 245 LVMH Watch & Jewellery Australia Pty Ltd v Lassanah & Ors [2011] NSWCA 370 Papaconstuntinas v Holmes a Court [2012] 249 CLR 534 Bleyer v Google [2014] 88 NSWLR 670 Kidu v Fifer [2016] NSWSC 982 Accommodation West Pty Ltd v Aikman [2017] WASC 157 Murray v Raynor [2019] NSWCA 274 Stoltenberg v Bolton; Loder v Bolton [2020] NSWCA 45 JWR Productions Australia Pty Ltd v Duncan-Watt (No 2) [2020] FCA 236 Gough v Squillacioti [2021] NSWDC 411 Fairfax Media Publications Pty Ltd v Voller [2021] HCA 27 Dutton v Bazzi [2021] FCA 1474 Sydney Cosmetic Clinic v Hu [2022] NSWCA 1 Peros v Nationwide News [2024] QSC 80 Solicitor (UK) 1983 Solicitor (NSW) 1991 Barrister (NSW) 2005 Senior Counsel (NSW) 2020 potter@153phillip.com.au +61 29 132 5721

Kieran Smark SC

E  |  smark@smark.com.au P  |  02 9132 5713Kieran Smark SC was admitted to the Bar in 1991 and was appointed Senior Counsel in 2007. He is a leading defamation barrister but also practices in commercial, property and administrative law matters.  He often speaks on matters involving defamation and court procedure and is the author of Freedom of Information and Privacy in Australia (3rd ed, 2025, Lexis Nexis).  He has represented plaintiffs and defendants in various matters including Leyonhjelm v Hanson-Young, Greenwich v Latham and Faruqi v Hanson. Download CV here. Alternative Dispute Resolution Appellate Class Actions & Representative Proceedings Commercial Litigation Commissions and Inquiries Confidential Information Corporate Defamation Equity Intellectual Property Media Law Privacy Law Professional Conduct Property Law/Commercial/Retail & Real Property Regulatory Suppression and non-publication orders Trusts Wills & Estates; Family Provision Act; Probate Freedom of Information and Privacy in Australia, 3rd edition Senior Counsel – 2007 Barrister – 1991 LLB (Hons) University of Sydney Ranked in Doyles Guide as a Leading Technology, Media & Telecommunications Senior Counsel – Australia, 2024 Ranked in Doyles Guide as a Leading Technology, Media & Telecommunications Senior Counsel - NSW, since 2018 Recognised in Best Lawyers for Defamation and Media Law since 2021  

Julian Svehla

With over 30 years of experience in corporate and commercial law, equity, trusts, and tax matters, Julian has broad expertise across various legal areas. Julian consistently provides strategic advice and representation to both individual and corporate clients, handling a wide range of disputes at trial and appellate levels. Julian has appeared in numerous courts, including the High Court of Australia, the Full Federal Court of Australia, the Federal Court of Australia, the Federal Circuit Court of Australia, the New South Wales Court of Appeal, the Supreme Court of New South Wales, and the District and Local Courts of New South Wales. Julian also has successfully advocated for clients before the New South Wales Civil and Administrative Tribunal. Banking Bankruptcy Commercial Corporate Insolvency Equity Intellectual Property Insurance Professional Negligence Tax svehla@153phillip.com.au +61 29132 5712

Rohan Higgins

E  |  higgins@153phillip.com.au P  |  02 9132 5723Rohan has a broad commercial litigation practice and regularly appears in all courts and various tribunals across Australia. Prior to coming to the Bar in 2007, Rohan was a solicitor at Clayton Utz, specialising in intellectual property litigation. Rohan’s practice spans various areas of law, including contract law, where he appears in disputes involving breaches of contract, negligence, misleading conduct, and implied agreements. He also has significant experience in franchise law, regularly advising franchisors and franchisees on disputes related to franchise agreements, compliance with the Franchising Code of Conduct, and interpreting franchise contract terms. In addition to contract law, Rohan's practice extends to estates and trusts, where he appears in matters involving unadministered estates, executor duties, maladministration, and trustee powers. He also regularly appears in insolvency matters, including disputes under the Corporations Act and Bankruptcy Act. Rohan also advises and appears in property disputes, including issues concerning ownership, leases, and rights in real property transactions. He also has experience in alternative dispute resolution, particularly mediation, handling matters such as personal injury claims related to professional conduct.   Administrative Alternative Dispute Resolution Commercial Communications/Media Contracts Equity and Trusts Franchising Insolvency Intellectual Property Migration Professional Negligence Real Property Pesec v Zivko (No 4) [2024] ACTSC 361 Rohan appeared (led by M. Pesman SC) for the successful defendants in a complex costs dispute following an unsuccessful oppression claim. McCallum CJ made a comprehensive costs order, requiring the plaintiff to pay the defendants' costs, with specific provisions for shared representation from 11 August 2022, and rejected the defendants' application for a special costs order. View Case Classics for a Cause Pty Ltd v Grays Ecommerce Group Ltd [2023] NSWSC 967  Rohan appeared unled for the successful first defendant in a dispute concerning an online auction of a classic car. The plaintiff sought substantial damages of $1.6M to $2.3M after a technological error caused the auction to close early. Rees J dismissed the summons and crossclaim, finding that the auctioneer acted reasonably and in accordance with the User Agreement. View Case  Colin CM Moore Pty Ltd v Sivathasan [2022] NSWSC 532  Rohan appeared for the successful defendant, led by John Gooley and instructed by Goldman Law. The case involved a Licensing Agreement granting the defendant a licence to use intellectual property related to surgical techniques for phalloplasty. The Court declared that the defendant had validly terminated the agreement, dismissing both the plaintiffs' statement of claim and the defendant's amended statement of crossclaim. View Case Perry v Perry & Ors. [2021] NSWSC 1669 Rohan successfully represented the first defendant in this complex case concerning the administration of a 45-year-old intestate estate with a rural property as its primary asset. The Court ruled in favour of the first defendant, upholding the administrator’s decisions, including the use of estate funds for the maintenance and advancement of minor beneficiaries. Rohan was led by John Gooley. View Case Traderight (NSW) Pty Ltd v Bank of Queensland Limited (No 17) [2014] NSWSC 55 Rohan, led by S. Couper KC with JV Gooley and GAF Connolly, successfully acted for the Bank of Queensland in a complex trade practices and employment dispute. The matter, which ran for over 100 days, involved numerous interlocutory applications. The Bank defeated claims from 11 franchisees seeking damages over branch closures, with Ball J dismissing all claims and entering judgment for the Bank on its counterclaims. View CaseNicholas Tyacke and Rohan Higgins, I Love the Smell of Copyright in the Morning: Intellectual Property Protection of Perfumes and Fragrances (2004) 17(6) IPLB 99 Nicholas Tyacke, Tara Walker and Rohan Higgins, Can Copyright Law be Used to Protect the ‘Look and Feel’ of a Website (2007) 10(2) INTLB 14 Bachelor of Arts (ANU) 1999 Bachelor of Laws (Hons) (ANU) 2001 Intellectual Property Society of Australia and New Zealand
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