Phil practises in commercial and public law.

In public law, Phil has appeared in both judicial and merits review matters at all levels, including as a junior in the High Court of Australia. Phil has taught public law subjects at the University of Melbourne and La Trobe University.

Phil has particular expertise in professional regulation, environmental law and general administrative law cases (from licensing to patent matters). Phil has appeared for statutory bodies and professionals in numerous merits review and appeal proceedings in the regulation of accountants, lawyers and health practitioners, and is regularly briefed in merits review proceedings for both medical boards and health practitioners.

In commercial law, Phil has a broad practice including building and construction, sale of business and general contractual matters, in addition to insurance and banking cases.

Prior to coming to the Bar, Phil was a commercial and public litigation solicitor at Ashurst and Browne & Co in Melbourne, a Principal Legal Policy Officer in the Department of Justice in Victoria, and Associate to the Honourable Justice Habersberger in the Supreme Court of Victoria. Phil also practised in the United Kingdom with Richard Buxton Environmental and Public Law, with whom he instructed at the Supreme Court, and at the Compliance Committee for the Aarhus Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters at the United Nations in Geneva.

Phil is approachable and practical. His recent matters include:

Perrett-Abrahams v Psychology Board of Australia (Review and Regulation) [2017] VCAT 877

Rein v Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Human Rights) [2017] VCAT 452

Woolworths Limited v The Administrator of the Northern Territory & Ors Federal Court NTD7 of 2017 (for the Applicant challenging the legality of regulation under the Liquor Act (NT), with Alistair Wyville QC, resolved prior to hearing - regulation repealed and legislation amended)

Syme v Medical Board of Australia (Review and Regulation) [2016] VCAT 2150

Rein v Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (Review and Regulation) [2016] VCAT1426

Environment Centre Northern Territory Inc v Minister for the Environment Federal Court NTD3 of 2016 (for the Applicant under the AD(JR) Act regarding approval under the EPBC Act of the Port Melville marine supply base, with Peter Gray QC, resolved prior to hearing - decision quashed and remitted)

Medical Board of Australia v Kemp (Review and Regulation) [2016] VCAT 2039

Jagroop v Minister for Immigration and Border Protection [2016] FCAFC 48

Dauguet v Centrelink [2015] FCA 1212

Sunesis Pharmaceuticals Inc v Commissioner of Patents [2015] FCAFC 29

Miles v Commissioner of Patents [2014] HCATrans 293

Miles v Commissioner of Patents [2014] FCAFC 109

Muto v Secretary to the Department of Planning and Community Development (Review and Regulation) [2013] VCAT 1533

From 17 May 2013, liability is limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards legislation.