Stephen is a litigation expert with over 25 years’ experience in complex and broad ranging corporate and commercial litigation and dispute resolution. Stephen has a wide range of experience in contract law, consumer law claims, property, partnership and shareholder disputes, estate litigation, insurance, corporations law claims and insolvency related disputes.
Stephen has been involved in some of the largest claims litigated in both the Supreme and Federal Courts, including a $40 billion claim against one of Australia’s Big-4 banks.
He also has extensive experience in alternative dispute resolution procedures including mediations, arbitrations and settlement conferences.
Stephen’s industry experience has involved him advising some of Australia’s largest companies which have included Qantas, Vodafone, Shell, Australia Post, Mirvac, Eyecorp and Deloitte.
Stephen is driven by successful outcomes for his clients, collaborating with them to help achieve their strategic and commercial objectives in a timely manner.
Stephen joined Keypoint in 2023 and is based in Sydney.
Expertise
- Breach of contract and loss of opportunity
- Commercial and retail leasing disputes
- Corporations law claims
- Criminal prosecutions
- Defamation
- Director’s claims and disputes
- Easement and neighbour related disputes
- Family provision claims and family disputes
- Franchise disputes
- Information technology
- Insolvency related claims
- Insurance
- Intellectual property
- Interpretation and construction of contract
- Litigation funding disputes
- Mareva injunctions
- Maritime and aviation
- Negligence/personal injury
- Partnership disputes
- Product liability
- Restraint of trade
- Sale of business
- Sale of goods
- Search, seizure and inspection orders
- Shareholders agreement disputes, including minority and oppression claims
- Trade practices/misleading and deceptive conduct
- Tribunal hearings
- Wills and Estate litigation and disputes
Experience
High Court of Australia
Full hearings:
- Neat Domestic Trading Pty Limited v AWB Limited [2003] HCA 35 (19 June 2003) 29
- Siemens Ltd v Schenker International (Australia) Pty Ltd [2004] HCA 11 (9 March 2004)
Application for leave to Appeal
- Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu & Ors v JP Morgan Portfolio Services Ltd (August 2007)
- Markisic & Anor v Vizza & Ors [2003] (14 November 2003)
- Neat Domestic Trading Pty Limited v AWB Limited
- Siemens Ltd v Schenker International (Australia) Pty Ltd
Federal Court of Australia
Full Federal Court
- G Garner v Central Innovation and Anor [2022] FCAFC 64
- Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu v JP Morgan Portfolio Services Limited (ACN 064 567 040) [2007] FCAFC 52
- Neat Domestic Trading Pty Ltd v AWB Ltd (2001) 114 FCR 1
Federal Court
- Central Innovation Pty Ltd & Anor v G Garner and Anor (No 4) [2020] FCA 1796
- Lecos Corporate Pty Ltd t/as Movenpick Sydney CBD & Ors v Nestle Australia Ltd and 2 Ors
- JP Morgan Portfolio Services Ltd v Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu & Ors – part heard March / April 2008
- Port Kembla Coal Terminal Ltd v Braverus Maritime Inc [2004] FCA 439
- Neat Domestic Trading Pty Ltd v Wheat Export Authority (2000) 64 ALD
- Daeyang Shipping Co Ltd v U-Ming Marine Transport (Hong Kong) Ltd [2004] FCA 991 (21 July 2004)
- Western Bulk Carriers (Australia) Pty Ltd v Cosco Bulk Carrier Co Ltd [2002] FCA 1520 (11 December 2002)
- “Maksim Mikhaylov”- Far Eastern Shipping Co v Reach Global Networks Pty Limited & Anor
- News Maritime Co Ltd v “Hyundai Cosmos” [2002] FCA 1164 (19 September 2002)
NSW Court of Appeal
Full hearings:
- E Doueihi & 4 Ors v Construction Technologies Australia Pty Ltd – 2015
- Bulgin & Stockwell Pty Ltd v Reebok Australia Pty Ltd & Anor [1999] NSWCA 470
- National Australia Bank Ltd & Ors v Idoport Pty Ltd & Anor [2000] NSWCA 8
Applications for leave to Appeal
- Idoport Pty Ltd v National Australia Bank Ltd & Ors; Idoport Pty Ltd v Argus; Idoport Pty Ltd v National Australia Bank Ltd & Ors [2002] NSWCA 271
- George v The Broken Hill Proprietary Company Limited & 1 Ors [2003] NSWCA 365
NSW Supreme Court
- Eye Corp Australia Pty Ltd v Goliath Investments Pty Ltd [2006] NSWSC 159
- Markmart Pty Ltd v Zimara Enterprises Pty Ltd
- Stiearc Systems Pty Limited v Paywell Australia Pty Ltd
- Brags Electrics Pty Limited t/as Inscope Building Technologies v Steven Mark Gregory
- Noel Rajanayagam ats Architectural & Structural Adhesives Pty Ltd
- Joseph Sidney Macdessi and Madeleine Wendy Macdessi as Executors of the Estate of the late Norma Macdessi
- Dr Jason Jefferson Martin v Dr Meena Singh & Ors
- Jennifer Victoria Mitchell ats Perpetual Trustee Company Limited
- AAA Packers Pty Ltd ats E & N Ross
- Gospel Pianos Pty Ltd ats The University of Sydney
- Construction Technologies Australia Pty Ltd v Marble Plus Pty Ltd & 4 Ors
- Multiple cases for Red Lea Chickens Pty Ltd and Red Lea Group Holding Pty Ltd
- Idoport Pty Limited & Anor v National Australia Bank Ltd & Ors
- Idoport Pty Ltd & Ors v Efficiency Investment BV and Anor [2001] NSWSC 1197
- OAMPS Limited v Porter [1999] NSWSC 326 (9 April 1999)
- OAMPS Limited v Porter [1999] NSWSC 1200
- Brooks v NSW Grains Board & Ors [2002] NSWSC 1049
- Ian Alan Keller v John Payne & Ors
- Pacific Carriers Ltd -v- Banque Nationale de Paris [2001] NSWSC 963
NSW District Court
- WorkCover NSW v Stuart Dickson Produce Pty Ltd
- Nicolosi v NSW Waterways
- Vodafone Network Pty Ltd v TNT Australia Pty Ltd
- The Shell Company of Australia Limited v Lee & Norma Khoury
- SBR Machinery Sales Pty Ltd v Patrick Tasmania Pty Ltd & Ors
- Daewoo Automotive Australia Pty Ltd ats Clifford Marine Services Pty Limited
- Birkart Globistics (Australia) Pty Ltd & Anor ats Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Pty Ltd
- Kessey v Westport Marina Developments Pty Ltd
- Hollis von Summer v Blacklink Transport Consultants Pty Ltd
- Tyco Flow Control Pacific Pty Limited ats Franks Estate Pty Ltd
- Tyco Australia Pty Limited t/as Wormald ats The Owners Corporation SP 49302
- Tyco Australia Pty Limited t/as Wormald ats Fireteq
- Michael Buttigieg ats Sancho Kalcev
- Gough and Gilmour Holdings Pty Ltd ats Detabo Pty Limited t/as Alan Burns Used Equipment Sales
NSW Local Court
- Vass Electrical Industries Pty Ltd ats Raymond Kesich
Victorian Supreme Court
- A & F & D Mercuri Pty Ltd v Tyco Flow Control Pacific Pty Limited & Anor
- Caterpillar Financial Australia Limited v Anthony Phillip West and Gough & Gilmour Holdings Pty Ltd
Victorian County Court
- Tyco Australia Pty Ltd t/as ADT Security v KLN Electrical Services Pty Ltd
Victorian Magistrates’ Court
- Tyco Australia Pty Ltd t/as ADT Security v Bancom IntegratSecurity Pty Ltd
Mediations
- Lecos Corporate Pty Ltd t/as Movenpick Sydney CBD & Ors v Nestle Australia Ltd and 2 Ors
- NSW Federal Court proceeding – JP Morgan Portfolio Services Ltd v Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu & Ors
- Numerous mediations relating to proceedings in the Federal Court and District Court for Gough & Gilmour Holdings Pty Ltd
- Markmart Pty Ltd v Zimara Enterprises Pty Ltd
- NSW Federal Court proceeding – Port Kembla Coal Terminal Ltd v Braverus Maritime Inc
- NSW Supreme Court proceeding – Idoport Pty Limited & Anor v National Australia Bank Ltd & Ors
- NSW District Court proceeding – Vodafone Networks v TNT Australia Pty Limited
- NSW Local Court proceeding – (MV Jane Grey)
- Victorian County Court proceeding – Tyco Australia Pty Ltd t/as ADT Security v KLN Electrical Services Pty Ltd
- NSW Supreme Court proceeding – Joseph Sidney Macdessi and Madeleine Wendy Macdessi as Executors of the Estate of the late Norma Macdessi ats St George Bank Ltd
- Victorian Supreme Court proceeding – A & F & D Mercuri Pty Ltd v Tyco Flow Control Pacific Pty Limited & Anor
- NSW Supreme Court proceeding – Construction Technologies Australia Pty Ltd v Marble Plus Pty Ltd & 4 Ors
Arbitration
- NSW District Court Proceeding – Kessey v Westport Marina Developments Pty Ltd
Tribunal hearings/ Media Inquiry
- Australian Broadcasting Authority Inquiry – (known as the “Cash for Comment Inquiry”) – 1999/2000
- Institute of Actuaries Australia’s prosecution of an actuary relating to the James Hardie Inquiry – 2005 to 2008
- Australian Broadcasting Corporation’s / Media Watch’s inquiry into McCrindle Research – 2011
DPP Investigation – Alleged oil pollution case
- Environmental Protection Authority of South Australia – “Egmondgracht” – (alleged oil spill in Port Adelaide (Outer Harbour), South Australia)
Recognition
- Bachelor of Arts (BA), James Cook University;
- Bachelor of Laws (LLB), Queensland University of Technology;
- Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice, Queensland University of Technology;
- Master of Laws (LLM), University of Southampton;
- Graduate Diploma in Management, Australian Graduate School of Management;
- Solicitor of the Supreme Court of New South Wales;
- Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Queensland; and
- Appointed to the Law Society of NSW’s List of Independent Solicitors.
Career
2023 | Keypoint Law | Consulting Principal |
2017 – 2023 | SD Commercial Lawyers | Director/Partner |
2013 – 2017 | Fong D’Emilio Lawyers | Director/Partner |
2012 – 2013 | Macpherson & Kelley Lawyers | Consultant |
2008 – 2012 | Matthews Folbigg | Director/Partner |
2005 – 2008 | Holding Redlich | Partner (final role) |
2002 – 2005 | Blake Dawson Waldron | Senior Associate |