Hamish Austin KC

Hamish is regularly briefed in complex commercial disputes and substantial corporate insolvency matters involving ongoing external administrations.

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, Insurance Law, Litigation and Shipping and Maritime Law, Who’s Who Legal for Shipping Law and Chambers and Partners for Restructuring/Insolvency and Shipping and Asia Pacific Legal 500 for Commercial Disputes – Australia Bar.   

In addition, Hamish has been repeatedly recommended in Chambers and Partners for Restructuring/Insolvency and Shipping and has been described as follows:

“Hamish always gives sound, commercial and strategic advice. He is also a skilled and brilliant advocate in trial.”

Recent Cases

Transit Pty Ltd v Arch Underwriting at Lloyd’s (Australia) Pty Ltd [2024] VSC 485

Gong v Nipps (liquidator), in the matter of i-Prosperity Pty Ltd (in liq) [2024] FCAFC 102

Re Windsor Development Co Pty Ltd (in liq) (No 2) [2024] VSC 297

Hastie Group Limited (in liq) v Multiplex Constructions Pty Ltd (Formerly Brookfield Multiplex Constructions Pty Ltd) (Leave to Appeal) [2024] FCAFC 61

Watson & Co Superannuation Pty Ltd v Dixon Advisory and Superannuation Services Ltd (Settlement Approval) [2024] FCA 386

Longley (deed administrator), in the matter of Dixon Advisory & Superannuation Services Pty Ltd (subject to deed of company arrangement) [2024] FCA 70

Opal Packaging Australia Pty Ltd v Orora Ltd [2024] VSC 81

Weidemann v Victorian Farmers Federation, in the matter of the Victorian Farmers Federation [2023] FCA 1643

StarTrack Express Pty Ltd v TMA Australia Pty Ltd [2023] FCAFC 200

Nipps, in the matter of i-Prosperity Pty Ltd (in liq) [2023] FCA 1446

Ford, in the matter of Ten Sixty Four Limited [2023] FCA 862

Vanis Capital Investments Pty Ltd (as trustee of the Vanis Capital Investment Trust) v Morris [2023] FCA 359

McCabe, in the matter of Sargon Capital Pty Limited (receivers and managers appointed) (in liq) [2023] FCA 345

Allianz Australia Insurance Ltd v Probuild Constructions (Aust) Pty Ltd [2023] NSWCA 56; (2023) 168 ACSR 58

Orica Investments Pty Ltd v Aurelius Marvel One Limited [2023] VSC 18

Jess & Jess (No 3) [2023] FedCFamC1a 2; (2023) 374 FLR 344

Re Windsor Development Co Pty Ltd (in liq) [2022] VSC 742

Directed Electronics OE Pty Ltd v OE Solutions Pty Ltd (No 8) [2022] FCA 1404

Allianz Australia Insurance Ltd v Probuild Constructions (Aust) Pty Ltd [2022] NSWSC 1601

Re HRL Limited (in liq) [2022] VSC 693

Hastie Group Limited (in liq) v Multiplex Constructions Pty Ltd (Formerly Brookfield Multiplex Constructions Pty Ltd) (No 4) [2022] FCA 1575; (2022) 165 ACSR 287

Hastie Group Limited (in liq) v Multiplex Constructions Pty Ltd (Formerly Brookfield Multiplex Constructions Pty Ltd) (No 3) [2022] FCA 1280; (2022) 165 ACSR 129

Re Barokes Pty Ltd (in liq) [2022] VSC 642

Ford v Commissioner of Taxation, in the matter of Careers Australia Group Limited (in liq) (No 2) [2022] FCA 1151

Re Intellicomms Pty Ltd (in liq) No 2 [2022] VSC 310; (2023) 70 VR 391

Break Fast Investments Pty Ltd v Sclavenitis [2022] VSC 288; (2022) 67 VR 132

Volkswagen Financial Services Australia Pty Ltd v Atlas CTL Pty Ltd (Receivers and Managers Appointed)(In Liquidation) [Costs] [2022] NSWSC 665

Volkswagen Financial Services Australia Pty Ltd v Atlas CTL Pty Ltd (Receivers and Managers Appointed) (In Liquidation) [2022] NSWSC 573; (2022) 163 ACSR 403; (2023) 414 ALR 453

Re Intellicomms Pty Ltd (in liq)(No 1) [2022] VSC 228; (2023) 70 VR 332

Diversa Pty Ltd v Taiping Trustees Limited [2022] FCA 316; (2022) 401 ALR 161; (2022) 158 ACSR 604

Directed Electronics OE Pty Ltd v Isuzu Australia Limited [2022] FCA 254

Algeri, in the matter of WBHO Australia Pty Ltd (Administrators Appointed) (No 2) [2022] FCA 234

Algeri, in the matter of WBHO Australia Pty Ltd (Administrators Appointed) [2022] FCA 169

Hastie Group Ltd (in liq) (ACN 112 803 040) v Multiplex Constructions Pty Ltd (Formerly Brookfield Multiplex Constructions Pty Ltd (No 2) [2021] FCA 1344; (2021) 155 ACSR 217

Jess v Jess [2021] FamCAFC 159; (2021) 361 FLR 126

Ford, In the matter of Zhong Ao Zhi Hong Investment Holding Pty Ltd (Receivers and Managers Appointed) [2021] FCA 1373

Shaanxi Nutracare Australia Pty Ltd v Viplus Dairy Pty Ltd [2021] FCA 1015

McCallum, in the Matter of Re Holdco Pty Ltd (Administrators Appointed) (No 3) [2021] FCA 913

Re Holdco Pty Ltd (admins apptd) (No 2) [2021] FCA 377; (2021) 391 ALR 418

Re EAD Concepts Pty Ltd (Admin Apptd) [2021] VSC 227

Hammond v Quayeyeware Pty Ltd [2021] FCA 293; (2021) 150 ACSR 339

In the matter of Atlas CTL Pty Ltd [2021] NSWSC 305

Hastie Group Limited (in liq) v Multiplex Constructions Pty Ltd (Formerly Brookfield Multiplex Constructions Pty Ltd) [2020] FCA 1824

Queenfield Pty Ltd v Gordon Finance Pty Ltd [2020] VSCA 282

Joiner (Liquidator), in the Matter of CuDeco Limited (Receivers and Managers Appointed) (in Liq) [2020] FCA 1661

Wu v OHAPIF Pty Ltd (ACN 167 080 542) as trustee for the Oliver Hume Australia Income Fund [2020] VSC 552

Queenfield Pty Ltd v Gordon Finance Pty Ltd (Costs) [2020] VSC 292

Re Holdco Pty Ltd (Administrators Appointed) [2020] FCA 666; 145 ACSR 243

Gandel Metals Pty Ltd, in the matter of Centennial Mining Limited (Subject to Deed of Company Arrangement) v Centennial Mining Limited (No 2) [2020] F

Gandel Metals Pty Ltd, in the matter of Centennial Mining Limited (Subject to Deed of Company Arrangement) v Centennial Mining Limited (No 3) [2020] FCA 794

Strawbridge (Administrator), in the matter of CBCH Group Pty Ltd (Administrators Appointed) (No 2) [2020] FCA 472

StockCo Agricapital Pty Ltd v Dairy Livestock Services Pty Ltd [2020] NSWSC 318

Tomlak Pty Ltd v Westpac Banking Corporation [2020] VSC 79

Queenfield Pty Ltd v Gordon Finance Pty Ltd [2019] VSC 857; 60 VR 118

Atlas CTL Pty Ltd (in liquidation) v PJM Fleet Management (Receivers and Managers appointed) (in liquidation) [2019] VSC 837

Acting for a residential aged care provider and a number of its current and former officers and employees in the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety (Hobart sittings, October 2019)

Acting for two residential aged care providers and their chief executive officers in the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety (Mildura sittings, July 2019)

Barport Pty Ltd v Baum [2019] VSCA 167

Re Timbercorp Finance Pty Ltd (in liq) [2019] FCA 957; 137 ACSR 189

Australian Securities and Investments Commission v AGM Markets Pty Ltd (No 2) [2018] FCA 1470

Australian Securities and Investments Commission v AGM Markets Pty Ltd [2018] FCA 1119; 129 ACSR 335

Commonwealth v Byrnes and Hewitt [2018] VSCA 41; 124 ACSR 246

Re Amerind Pty Ltd (receivers and managers apptd) (in liq) (No 2) [2017] VSC 169

Re Amerind Pty Ltd (receivers and managers apptd) (in liq) [2017] VSC 127; 320 FLR 118; 121 ACSR 206

Mair v Rhodes & Beckett [2017] VSC 54

Re Southern Riverina Dairy Group Pty Ltd [2017] VSC 4

FSS Trustee Corporation v Eastaugh [2016] VSC 636

Reardon v Hall & Wilcox (a firm) (No 2) [2016] VSC 719

Reardon v Hall & Wilcox (a firm) [2016] VSC 188; 50 VR 117

Re Carpenter International Pty Ltd [2016] VSC 118; 51 VR 190; 307 FLR 37; 111 ACSR 477Kalabakas v Chubb Insurance Australia Ltd [2015] VSC 705; (2016) 19 ANZ Insurance Cases 62-088