Peter Gray was admitted to the Bar in 1986, and appointed Senior Counsel in 2003. He has a wide general practice, notably in the commercial and common law fields, as well as in criminal law. He is a recognised leader in defamation and media law, and has appeared in many prominent cases in those areas. He also has extensive experience in the conduct of commissions of inquiry both state and federal. He is an experienced mediator, having conducted numerous mediations since the early 1990s. He is accredited pursuant to the National Standards and is on the panels of mediators approved by the NSW Supreme and District Courts. Alternative Dispute Resolution Appellate Commercial Commissions of Inquiry Criminal Defamation and Privacy Equity Commissioner of State Revenue v Gleeson [2024] FCA 908 – Corporations Law, Insolvency, Payroll Tax Mr Gray led John Gooley, also of 153 Phillip, for the NSW Commissioner of State Revenue in these multi-party Federal Court proceedings. The Commissioner was successful in having a Deed of Company Arrangement terminated on the grounds of injustice and that it was contrary to the interests of creditors: Corporations Act s. 445D(1)(e) and (f)(ii).   Special Commission of Inquiry into LGBTIQ hate crimes – 2022/23 – Crime Mr Gray was Senior Counsel Assisting the Special Commission throughout 2022 and 2023.   Kazal v Thunder Studios Inc (California) [2023] FCAFC 174; [2022] FCA 110 – Defamation, Injurious Falsehood, Misleading and Deceptive Conduct. Mr Gray’s clients were awarded damages totalling over $1.5 million for a series of indefensible publications on various websites and social media sites. The respondents’ appeal to the Full Federal Court was dismissed.   V’landys v Australian Broadcasting Corporation [2023] FCAFC 80 – Defamation Mr Gray appeared for the ABC, the successful respondent in the Full Federal Court. The appellant, Mr V’landys, had sued the ABC over a “Four Corners” program about cruelty to racehorses.   Duma v Fairfax Media Publications Pty Ltd (No 3) [2022] FCA 47 – Defamation Mr Gray’s client, William Duma, a Cabinet Minister in the Government of PNG, was awarded damages of $465,000, including aggravated damages, over a series of defamatory articles in the Australian Financial Review.   Bazzi v Dutton [2022] FCAFC 84 – Defamation Mr Gray appeared in the Full Federal Court for the successful appellant, Mr Bazzi, who had published a tweet about the then Defence Minister Mr Dutton. The Court overturned a finding by the trial judge that an imputation pleaded by Mr Dutton was conveyed by Mr Bazzi’s tweet.   Gould v Jordan ( No 2) [2021] FCA 1289 – Defamation Mr Gray appeared for the successful respondent, Mr Jordan, the Commissioner of Taxation, who had made some remarks referable to Mr Gould in the course of an address to the National Press Club. The Federal Court upheld Mr Jordan’s qualified privilege defence (reply to attack).   Fairfax Media Publications Pty Ltd & Ors v Voller (2021) 273 CLR 347; [2021] HCA 27 – Defamation Mr Gray appeared for Mr Voller both in the NSW Court of Appeal (105 NSWLR 83) and subsequently in the High Court. Mr Voller was successful in both appeals. Various media companies were found to be the ‘publishers’ of comments posted by third parties to the Facebook pages of those media companies.   Nationwide News Pty Ltd v Vass [2018] 98 NSWLR 672; [2018] NSWCA 259 – Offers of amends; offers of compromise Mr Gray appeared for the successful respondent in the NSW Court of Appeal. An offer of amends under the Defamation Act was held capable of acceptance by a plaintiff even after the plaintiff had made an offer of compromise (of a higher amount) under UCPR r. 20.26.   Jane Doe v Fairfax Media Publications Pty Ltd [2018] NSWSC 1996 – Breach of confidence; breach of statutory duty Mr Gray appeared for the defendant publishers who defeated claims of breach of confidence, and breach of statutory duty, arising from a newspaper article about criminal proceedings.   O’Brien v ABC [2018] 97 NSWLR 1; [2017] NSWCA 338 – Defamation Mr Gray appeared for the successful defendant, the ABC, both at first instance and on appeal, in defamation proceedings about a ‘Media Watch’ programme.   Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse – 2013 to 2017 Mr Gray was leading counsel for a large institution over the five-year course of the Royal Commission.   Khalid v Legal Aid Commission of NSW [2016] NSWSC 1640 – Administrative Law Mr Gray appeared for a prisoner, accused of terrorism offences, who sought judicial review of a decision by the Legal Aid Commisssion.   McBride v Christies Australia Pty Ltd [2014] NSWSC 1729; [2015] NSWSC 754 – Equity Mr Gray’s client, a successful defendant, obtained orders for indemnity costs in proceedings in which allegations against her of breach of fiduciary and other duties, in connection with works by well-known artists, were dismissed.   Dye v Commonwealth Securities Limited & Ors [2012] FCA 242;[2012] FCA 407 Mr Gray appeared for the successful respondents in lengthy and complex Federal Court proceedings involving defamation, injurious falsehood, sexual harassment, discrimination and trade practices claims, all of which were dismissed and indemnity costs awarded.Mr Gray is a co-author of the “Defamation” title in Halsbury’s Laws of Australia. He has published and presented numerous papers and seminars.Ranked in Doyles Guide Leading Defamation Law Barristers – Australia, 2026. Ranked in Doyles Guide as a Leading Technology, Media & Telecommunications Senior Counsel - NSW, 2026   Bachelor of Arts (Hons) (Sydney) 1976 Bachelor of Laws (Sydney) 1978 Master of Laws (London) 1982 NSW BAR ADMISSION:1986 APPOINTED SC:2003gray@153phillip.com.au +61 2 9132 5718