Simon joined KCL Law with many years of legal experience, during which he worked for mid and top-tier law firms in construction and commercial litigation, before being called to the Victorian Bar in 2004. During his time at the Bar, Simon practised as a barrister for 12 years, predominantly in general commercial litigation including but not limited to insolvency, franchising, equity and trusts, trade practices and consumer law.
Since being admitted to practise in 2002, Simon has advised and acted for public and private companies, liquidators, trustees in bankruptcy, owners corporation managers, family businesses and high-net-worth individuals from a range of industries, including franchising, information technology, building and construction, property development, owners corporation disputes, leasing (commercial and retail), on a wide range of commercial litigation matters.
A seasoned legal practitioner, Simon’s approach to his practice is to discuss with the client their desired outcome and then to identify the most efficient and practical way to achieve that result. Having participated in numerous mediations, both as a lawyer and as a mediator, Simon has the expertise to advise the client at the outset of a case if the matter would better be approached first through alternative dispute resolution methods, such as mediation or arbitration, rather than proceeding directly to a court or tribunal.
When court or tribunal proceedings are required, Simon regularly appears and makes use of his prior experience as a barrister for the benefit of his clients, having appeared in the Victorian Court of Appeal, Supreme Courts of Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland and Tasmania, the County Court of Victoria, the Magistrates’ Court of Victoria, the Administrative Appeals Tribunal, the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal, the Federal Court of Australia, and the Federal Circuit Court and Family Court of Australia.
Simon holds a Bachelor of Laws with Honours from Deakin University and is a member of the Law Institute of Victoria.
Areas of practice
Litigation and dispute resolution
- General commercial litigation
- Bankruptcy and insolvency
- Building and construction
- Corporations
- Insurance
- Financial services
- Property
- Leases (commercial and retail)
- Trusts
- Trade Practices
- Australian consumer law
Alternative dispute resolution
- Mediation
Professional memberships
- Law Institute of Victoria
- Strata Community Association (Vic)
Admitted to practice
- 2002 — Supreme Court of Victoria
- 2002 — High Court of Australia