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Experience

Daniel is a commercial barrister with a practice focussing on insurance, corporations, equity and trusts, professional negligence, consumer protection, trade practices, and building and construction law. He is regularly briefed to appear in State and Federal jurisdictions, both unled and as a junior, and provides practical and considered advice to clients involved in complex disputes. He is ranked by Doyles Guide as a Leading Professional Indemnity Junior Counsel in Victoria.

Daniel commenced his legal career at Arnold Bloch Leibler in Melbourne, gaining a strong foundation in commercial law. He holds a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Laws from Monash University, and a Master of Laws from the University of Melbourne.

Committee positions

• Member of the Commercial Bar Association (CommBar) Executive
• Secretary of the Building & Construction Section of CommBar
• Member of the New Barristers Committee

Recent matters

Commercial and Corporations Law

• Petris v Timelio Pty Ltd [2024] VSC 293 (unled)
• Nalini Asher Enterprises Pty Ltd v H&M Tracey Construction Pty Ltd [2019] FCA 2161 (unled)
• Abaris Printing & Publishing Co. Pty Ltd and Swisslog Australia Pty Ltd: briefed on behalf of purchaser of a multi-million-dollar factory automation system in relation to a contractual dispute with the supplier (led by Jeremy Twigg KC, leading Ben Kelly)

Insurance

• VicProp OC Pty Ltd & Anor v AIG Australia Limited & Anor [2025] VCC 83 briefed for the plaintiff manager in a claim for indemnity (led by James Barber KC)
• Certain Underwriters at Lloyds v Shangri-La Construction Pty Ltd [2024] VSC 556 (unled)
• MS Amlin Corporate Member Ltd v LU Simon Builders Pty Ltd [2023] FCA 581 (led by Peter Murdoch KC)
• Owners Corporation PS623721 v Shangri-La Construction Pty Ltd (Building and Property) (Final Orders Defects) [2023] VCAT 501 (led by Peter Murdoch KC)
• Owners Corporation PS623721 v Shangri-La Construction Pty Ltd (Building and Property) (Insurance) [2023] VCAT 502 (led by Peter Murdoch KC)
• Owners Corporation PS623721 v Shangri-La Construction Pty Ltd (Building and Property) [2022] VCAT 1499 (led by Peter Murdoch KC)
• QBE Insurance Australia Limited v The Grape House Group Pty Ltd [2022] FCA 1527 (unled)

Building and Construction

• Valleve Holdings Pty Ltd v Shepperd [2025] TASSC 28: briefed on a successful claim against a plumber for defective plumning work (led by Tom Cox SC)
• Diamond Builders Pty Ltd v Victorian Building Authority (Review and Regulation) [2024] VCAT 1042 (unled)
• Nicholas Snart v Victorian Building Authority: briefed on behalf of the VBA in relation to a review of a decision to take disciplinary action against a registered building practitioner (awaiting judgmentd) (led by Peter Murdoch KC)
• Central Pier (Docklands) Pty Ltd & Anor v Schiavello (Vic) Pty Ltd & Ors: briefed on behalf of the plaintiffs in relation to a claim for alleged breaches of contract and duty of care by the defendants resulting in a fire at the Woolshed Pub in Melbourne (settled before trial) (led by Peter Murdoch KC)

Consumer Law

• Hopkins v Daou & Ors [2025] VCC 964: successfully defended a claim against a real estate agent in a claim for misleading and deceptive conduct (unled)

Trusts and Equity

• Maradox Pty Ltd & Ors v Lipins Partners Pty Ltd: briefed on behalf of the accountant defendants in relation to a broader trusts dispute between members of a large family-owned business (ongoing) (unled)
• De Lutis v De Lutis [2017] VSC 505 and De Lutis v De Lutis [2018] VSC 54 (led by Allan Myers KC, with Justin Tomlinson)

Liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards legislation. The information referred to above has been supplied by the barrister concerned. Neither Victorian Bar Inc nor the barrister's clerk have independently verified the accuracy or completeness of the information and neither accepts any responsibility in that regard.