Marlia acts for Australia’s major media organisations, digital platforms, corporations and government departments in media and defamation law (including pre-publication advice and disputes), intellectual property, online safety and privacy matters, combining senior in-house experience with top-tier media law practice.

Biography

Marlia is an experienced media, entertainment, intellectual property, online safety and privacy lawyer, who advises media organisations, content creators, digital platforms, corporations and government departments on matters relating to defamation, pre-publication advice, suppression orders, copyright and trade marks, advertising and marketing, online safety and privacy, drawing on both top-tier private practice and senior in-house counsel experience.

She acts for Australia’s major media organisations and digital platforms, including News Corp Australia, Nine Entertainment, Network Ten, Seven Media Group, the ABC, SBS, Guardian Australia, NOVA Entertainment, Penguin Random House, HarperCollins, Reddit and X Corp. Marlia also advises production companies, publishers, advertisers, government bodies and other corporate entities on media and intellectual property issues.

She is ranked Band 1 by Chambers Asia Pacific 2026 for Media (the highest ranking), shared with Justin Quill and John-Paul Cashen. Thomson’s media team holds three of the five Band 1 individual rankings for Media in Australia.

Marlia’s practice spans the full range of media and intellectual property law: defamation (litigation, complaints management and pre-publication advice), contempt of court, suppression and non-publication order challenges, freedom of information and court access applications, confidential information claims, copyright and trade marks, consumer law, online safety and privacy. She advises on sponsorship, production and licensing arrangements, and manages digital platforms’ obligations under Australia’s online safety and privacy frameworks. Her practice is at the forefront of the evolving interaction between media law and technology regulation.

Marlia led the Thomsons team in the successful defence of Network Ten in the Bruce Lehrmann defamation proceedings, one of the most high-profile defamation cases in Australian history. She was also part of the team that achieved the first successful application of Australia’s new statutory public interest defence in Al Muderis v Nine. She is currently acting for Reddit in its High Court challenge to the social media minimum age law and for X Corp in its challenge to online safety regulation against the eSafety Commissioner in the Federal Court. Marlia previously advised various News Corp Australia entities in the Dylan Voller proceedings in the High Court relating to digital intermediary liability for defamation and in contempt proceedings arising from Cardinal George Pell's prosecution.

Marlia brings senior in-house experience alongside top-tier private practice expertise, a combination that gives her a distinctive understanding of how media organisations operate under pressure. She is Chair of the Law Council of Australia’s Media and Communications Committee, Vice-President of the Communications and Media Law Association, a member of the Copyright Society of Australia, IPSANZ, ANZSLA and the Global Advertising Lawyers Alliance (GALA), and organised the Media Law Resource Center’s two Australian conferences.

Credentials

Academic qualifications:

Memberships:

Marlia's experience

Bruce Lehrmann v Network Ten

Leading the Thomsons team in the successful defence of Network Ten in defamation proceedings brought by former Liberal Party staffer Bruce Lehrmann over The Project’s reporting on allegations by Brittany Higgins. Federal Court Justice Michael Lee dismissed the claim, finding on the balance of probabilities that the rape occurred. Thomsons also acted for Network Ten in Mr Lehrmann's appeal, which was dismissed, with Network Ten's notice of contention being upheld.

Dr Munjed Al Muderis v Nine Entertainment Co

Acting for Nine Entertainment Co in landmark defamation proceedings that saw the first successful use of Australia’s new statutory public interest defence under the 2021 defamation reforms, in addition to a successful truth defence. The matter has set important precedent for investigative journalism in Australia.  Thomsons continues to act for Nine in the ongoing appeal.

Reddit, Inc. v Commonwealth

Acting for Reddit, Inc. in a High Court challenge to the validity of the social media minimum age regime, described by the Commonwealth as a world first, which prohibits children under 16 from holding accounts on designated age-restricted social media platforms. The proceeding raises nationally significant constitutional questions, with Reddit arguing the legislation is invalid on the basis that it impermissibly burdens the implied freedom of political communication.

X Corp v eSafety Commissioner

Acting for X Corp in multiple judicial and merits review proceedings in the Federal Court and Administrative Review Tribunal challenging decisions made by the eSafety Commissioner under Australia’s Online Safety framework, including global content takedown applications and broader compliance advice with various codes, standards and the social media minimum age law.

Copyright and moral rights infringement proceedings

Acting for various media organisations in copyright and moral rights infringement proceedings brought in relation to the use of copyright material (including photos, videos and artworks) in various media publications. The cases raise interesting and novel issues relating to licences and fair dealing.

Awards, recognition and ranking