The 2021 Asia Pacific Australian Bar Legal 500 rankings have been released and New Chambers has been recognised as a Tier 1 set in three practice areas, and a Tier 2 set in a fourth. Eleven of our members have also been recognised, covering five practice areas.
COMMERCIAL DISPUTES
Tier 1 Set:
“New Chambers is one of the outstanding sets in Australia. It combines premier advocacy with commercial advice in a raft of practice areas. Its court expertise includes appellate matters and extends to investigative tribunals including ASIC and the ACCC and independent commissions of inquiry. David Jackson AM QC is noted as ‘the country’s most experienced appeal counsel‘ – in addition to High Court cases, he has conducted a number of inquiries for national and state governments. Neil Young QC (who is also a member of List A) is ‘recognised as one of Australia’s pre-eminent counsel’ offering ‘extensive experience in all commercial matters, including corporations law, trade practices, and taxation‘. Clients are unstinting in their praise for Elizabeth Cheeseman SC; ‘she provides clear, direct, well-reasoned and constructive advice, is held in high regard by the bench, and is always in high demand‘. She is also highly rated for her skill set in the areas of financial services regulatory and corporate crime. Michael Hodge SC (who took silk in 2017) is highlighted as an ‘up and coming‘ senior counsel and is noted as a ‘go-to’ for ACCC cases. His work includes acting for Securities and Exchange Board of India in a case involving one of the world’s largest ponzi scheme that operated in India and where monies had been funneled to Australia. ‘Exceptional junior‘ Sonia Tame is considered to be ‘a step above many of her contemporaries. Without a doubt one of the top lawyers at the Sydney bar‘. Recent work includes acting for David Coulter, then CFO of IOOF in an action brought by APRA. Emma Beechey who is ‘a fantastic junior to have on the team‘, has considerable experience of trial and appellate cases and is noted for her restructuring and insolvency expertise. Michael Wilcox is the senior clerk of chambers.”
Leading Silks Band 1
David Jackson AM QC – ‘Outstanding – the top High Court advocate in Australia. An unsurpassed expert on constitutional law.’
Elizabeth Cheeseman SC – ‘Her depth of intelligence and experience are complemented by an ease of doing business not often seen at her level of the profession.’
Neil Young QC – ‘Complex litigation expert and pre-eminent Australian barrister.’
Leading Silks Band 2:
Michael Hodge SC – ‘A high profile senior counsel briefed as counsel assisting on the Financial Services Royal Commission.’
Rising Stars:
Emma Beechey – ‘She works hard to keep a matter on track, provides great support to her leaders, calm under pressure, clear drafting style, always well prepared.’
Sonia Tame – ‘Her years in private practice as a partner at an international commercial law firm are apparent in the commerciality of the advice that she provides.’
COMPETITION
Leading Silks Band 1:
Neil Young QC – ‘He remains our first choice on the most complex competition matters in Melbourne.’
Leading Silks Band 2:
Michael Hodge QC – ‘One of the ACCC’s go-to silks.’
LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Tier 2 Set
“The talent at New Chambers includes a number of highly regarded employment, industrial relations, work health and safety, and human rights practitioners. Arthur Moses SC – a past President of the NSW Bar Association – additionally covers administrative law, coronial inquests, corruption inquiries, proceeds of crime litigation, and military law cases. He is regularly briefed on employment-related class actions and ICAC inquiries. The distinguished Kate Eastman SC has a high profile in relation to areas including human rights, public, and health law cases. In addition to extensive experience across this practice area, she is also ‘great to work with’.”
Leading Silks:
Arthur Moses SC – ‘One of Australia’s leading senior workplace relations and safety barristers.’
Kate Eastman SC – ‘Highest profile EEO/human rights silk in NSW but also great at general employment work.’
TAX
Tier 1 Set:
“A leading Sydney set, New Chambers is home to sought-after specialists, which includes tax. Clients report that David Bloom QC ‘is the leading tax silk in Australia, and particularly good on general anti-avoidance matters‘. Over a distinguished career, he has represented banks, global and domestic household name clients, and acted for the ATO. He is also the only Australian QC to be admitted ad hoc to appear in the Court of Final Appeal in Hong Kong. Chris Peadon, ‘an excellent junior, is willing to pull out all the stops‘ when tackling tax cases. His practice is broad; transfer pricing, capital gains, anti-avoidance issues, and advising on international tax treaties. Michael Cosgrove’s focus in this area is notable. His expertise is across all federal income tax issues, international tax, transfer pricing, and indirect taxation.”
Leading Silks Band 1
David Bloom QC – ‘Outstanding counsel. Top of the tree in Australia for Taxation matter.’
Leading Juniors Band 1
Chris Peadon – ‘One of the best senior-juniors in the tax space at the Sydney bar. Good tax barrister, approachable and does mixed work for taxpayers and the Commissioner.’
Rising Star:
Michael Cosgrove – ‘Solid Junior, very thorough and technical.’
WHITE COLLAR CRIME
Tier 1 Set
“New Chambers offers a wealth of expertise in proceeds of crime litigation and freezing orders, a range of corruption inquiries, and work health and safety prosecutions. Elizabeth Cheeseman SC is acclaimed as one of the set’s most accomplished practitioners; she is ‘incredibly bright with vast experience acting on complex proceeds of crime and white-collar matters including for regulators‘.”
Leading Silks Band 1:
Elizabeth Cheeseman SC – ‘Incredibly bright with vast experience acting on complex proceeds of crime and white-collar-crime. Her depth of intelligence and experience are complemented by an ease of doing business not often seen at her level of the profession.’
A link to the guide and individual practice areas can be found here.
