Mr Hamish Austin KC KC > List G Barristers > Melbourne, Australia > Lawyer Profile
List G Barristers Offices
OWEN DIXON CHAMBERS WEST, 525 LONSDALE STREET
MELBOURNE
VICTORIA
Australia
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Mr Hamish Austin KC KC
Work Department
List G Barristers
Position
Hamish Austin KC is a leading trial and appellate advocate with a broad commercial practice.
Hamish joined the Bar in 1998 and was appointed senior counsel in 2016. During that time Hamish has developed an extensive practice in general commercial litigation, both at first instance and at appellate level. He also has specialist expertise in corporations, insolvency, insurance and transport (aviation and maritime) law.
Hamish has appeared in some of the most complex commercial disputes in the last decade. These include the Timbercorp and Centro class actions, the collapses of Environinvest, Great Southern, Forest Enterprises Australia and Primebroker, and the Asahi litigation. Hamish also appeared for the principal moving party in the notable insolvency cases of Re Carpenter and Re Amerind.
As well as Victoria, Hamish has been briefed to appear in superior courts in New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia and Western Australia. He has also appeared in special references and arbitrations concerning international commercial disputes. He is a member of the Maritime Law Association of Australia and New Zealand.
Career
Hamish has appeared in some of the most complex commercial disputes in the last decade. These include the Timbercorp and Centro class actions, the collapses of Environinvest, Great Southern, Forest Enterprises Australia and Primebroker, and the Asahi litigation. Hamish also appeared for the principal moving party in the notable insolvency cases of Re Carpenter and Re Amerind.
As well as Victoria, Hamish has been briefed to appear in superior courts in New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia and Western Australia. He has also appeared in special references and arbitrations concerning international commercial disputes. He is a member of the Maritime Law Association of Australia and New Zealand.
Hamish has been recognised in the Victorian and Australian Senior Counsel rankings of “Doyle’s Guide to the Australian Legal Profession” for his expertise in Commercial Litigation and Dispute Resolution, Insolvency and Restructuring and Transport Law, in Best Lawyers for Insolvency and Reorganisation Law, Who’s Who Legal for Shipping Law, Chambers and Partners for Restructuring/Insolvency and Shipping and Asia Pacific Legal 500 for Commercial Disputes – Australia Bar. He is currently ranked by Best Lawyers as Lawyer of the Year Insolvency and Reorganisation Law in Melbourne.
Liability limited by a scheme approved by Professional Standards Legislation
Memberships
Maritime Law Association of Australia and New Zealand
Education
Bachelor of Planning & Design Architecture (Melb)
Bachelor of Laws (Hons)(Mon)
Lawyer Rankings
Australia Bar > Commercial disputes
(Leading Silks)Hamish Austin KC – List G Barristers ‘Hamish is one of a handful of leading insolvency and restructuring silks in Victoria. He is formidable when cross-examining witnesses, both expert and lay. He is respected by the bench. He is extremely hard-working and does not rely on juniors to cover for him.’
List G Barristers are known in the Victoria market for its broad commercial practice, with members involved in various complex and high value litigation in areas including banking, employment, professional negligence and dispute resolution. The set is unique due to its combination of having a member-owned structure while enjoying the benefits of a strong clerking and administrative team led by Jane King, the senior clerk and CEO. Hamish Austin KC is noted by one client as ‘extremely thorough, and has the ability to get straight to the heart of an issue,‘ while employment specialist Jenny Firkin KC is the Vice President of the Victorian Bar’s Industrial Barristers Association. Natalie Hickey is noted for her involvement in the case of Directed OE Pty Ltd v OE Solution Pty Ltd where she was junior counsel for the successful applicant and was led by Michael Wise KC (as was, prior to his January 2024 judicial appointment) in a case which arose after the applicant discovered that its general manager had engaged in a conspiracy with its Korean supplier.