Patrick provides strategic, commercially focused advice at every stage of litigation.
Biography
Patrick is one of Australia's most experienced commercial litigators. With extensive experience appearing in the State Supreme Courts, Courts of Appeal, the Federal Court, the Full Court of the Federal Court and the High Court of Australia, he is trusted by clients to manage complex, high-stakes disputes, including cross-border and international disputes.
He specialises in large-scale and complex litigation, with a strong focus on achieving optimal commercial outcomes. Patrick advises institutional, corporate and high-net-worth clients, as well as the Australian Federal Government, across a broad range of contentious and regulatory matters.
His practice spans tax controversy, corporations law disputes, shareholder and director disputes, equity and trusts, funds management, partnership disputes, major commercial real estate disputes, revenue law disputes and insolvency.
In addition to his litigation practice, Patrick is a Graded Arbitrator. He has completed advanced negotiation and mediation training at Harvard Law School, including the Advanced Negotiation Master Class and specialist programs in mediating complex, multi-party disputes. This training underpins his pragmatic, solutions-focused approach to high-value and complex matters. His litigation outcomes have contributed to legislative change, notably through a landmark land tax case involving Melbourne's GPO building.
Patrick's experience
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Commissioner of Taxation
Successfully acted in the Full Court of the Federal Court of Australia in the Esso Australia Resources appeal concerning whether certain payments were ‘assessable tolling receipts’ under the Petroleum Resource Rent Tax Assessment Act, with a dispute value of approximately $1.5bn. -
Aurora Funds Management / Torchlight Fund
Advised on the winding up of an offshore fund on just and equitable grounds, and related litigation that ran for 40 sitting days in the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands acting as the trustee for interests associated with Macquarie Bank. -
Global institutional investor
Successfully reduced a $29m land tax assessment to $1 in a landmark Victorian test case, prompting retrospective legislative change affecting heritage listed properties statewide. -
Lord Mayor’s Charitable Fund
Advised in relation to a US$120m cross border bequest involving litigation in the Supreme Court of Canada and the application of the laws of Japan, Canada and Norfolk Island. -
SurfStitch Group Limited
Advised the shareholders in a class action alleging continuous disclosure breaches, involving competing class actions and novel Corporations Act issues, ultimately settling with court approval. -
Commissioner of Taxation
Advised on multiple high-stakes Part IVA disputes across the Federal Court, Full Federal Court and High Court of Australia. -
Commissioner of Taxation
Advised in the Full Court of the Federal Court of Australia in the Patrix Prestige appeal concerning decreasing luxury car tax adjustments. -
Vicinity Centres
Successfully acting in an Expert Determination against one of Vicinity’s national retailers.
Awards, recognition and rankings
- Best Lawyers in Australia 2027 – Recognised for Class Action Litigation, Government Practice and Litigation
- International Advisory Experts Awards Australia 2026 – Commercial Litigation and Dispute Resolution Law Awards
- Lawyer Network Annual Awards Australia 2026 – Dispute Resolution and Corporate Litigation Lawyer of the Year
- Global Law Experts Annual Awards Australia 2025 – Commercial Litigation and Dispute Resolution Lawyer of the Year
- Advisory Excellence Annual Awards 2024 – Corporate Litigation Expert of the Year
- Leaders in Law Global Awards Australia 2023 – Corporate Litigation Expert of the Year