John advises insolvency practitioners, banks, non-bank lenders and the Commonwealth Government on corporate and personal insolvency, shareholder disputes and the defence of professional negligence claims.

Biography

John acts for insolvency practitioners, banks, non-bank lenders, business owners, directors and the Commonwealth Government. Clients span domestic and international proceedings, including matters involving cross-border asset recovery and contested priority disputes under the Corporations Act.

He specialises in commercial disputes, corporate and personal insolvency, shareholder disputes and professional indemnity insurance. His practice covers liquidator and trustee claims, including unfair preference claims, directors’ duties and the recovery of assets diverted to related parties. He defends negligence claims against legal practitioners acting in property law, commercial disputes, historical institutional abuse and family law. John also acts in matters involving Corporations Act priority disputes, antecedent transaction provisions and the rights of secured creditors in insolvency proceedings.

John has acted for the Commonwealth in multiple proceedings brought against liquidators and receivers appointed under circulating security interests, managing complex priority disputes across Federal Court and State Supreme Court jurisdictions. He has conducted litigation involving shareholder disputes exceeding A$20 million in the Federal Court, and cross-border asset recovery proceedings involving related parties located overseas. His professional indemnity practice covers claims against practitioners across multiple practice areas.

John combines a focused insolvency and disputes practice with depth in professional indemnity that is uncommon in the insolvency market. His experience acting for the Commonwealth on priority scheme disputes gives him a distinctive understanding of the interaction between public sector creditor rights and the Corporations Act framework.

John's experience

Commonwealth of Australia — Priority Disputes

Acting for the Commonwealth in several Federal Court and Supreme Court proceedings against liquidators and receivers appointed under circulating security interests, addressing the priority scheme under the Corporations Act 2001 as it relates to employee entitlements.

Overseas Asset Recovery — Liquidation

Acting for the liquidator of a group of companies in recovering funds diverted to related parties overseas. The proceedings, commenced in Australia and in foreign jurisdictions, involved alleged breaches of directors’ duties and recovery of company property.

Shareholder Litigation — Federal Court

Acting for a group of Australian and overseas companies defending shareholder litigation in the Federal Court of Australia, with the amount in dispute exceeding A$20 million.

Property Development Group — Liquidation

Acting for the liquidator appointed to a group of companies engaged in property development, pursuing recovery of company property through the Corporations Act’s antecedent transaction provisions.

Professional Indemnity — Legal Practitioner Defence

Acting for legal practitioners and their professional indemnity insurer in defence of negligence and breach of contract claims involving practitioners in property law, commercial disputes, historical institutional abuse and family law.

Awards, recognition and ranking