Ninth Floor Selborne Chambers is a leading and long established barristers’ chambers having been founded over 50 years ago.

The floor’s barristers provide advocacy and legal advice across a range of Australian jurisdictions and appear in trials, appeals, tribunals, inquiries and mediations. The floor has a predominant focus in commercial litigation.

The floor’s members and associate members include 8 senior counsel and 23 junior counsel. A number of the members have been identified by their clients and peers as specialists and leaders in their particular areas of practice.

The floor operates on Gadigal land in Sydney’s Phillip Street court precinct.

Barristers

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Barristers

The Hon P A Bergin AO SC

John Kelly SC

Katrina Howard SC

Michelle Painter SC

André R Zahra SC

David D. Knoll AM

Simon V Shepherd

Adrian Maroya

Richard Gration

Sam Adair

Jack Hynes

Benjamin Koch

Mark Newton

Giles Stapleton

Mitchell Davis

Dean Elliott

Thomas Bagley

Phillip Lonergan

Michael Swanson

Ruwan Wathukarage

Frank Tao

Blake O’Connor

Nicole Maddocks

Josh Sukkar

Andrew Berriman

Amir Chowdhury

Sefton Powrie

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Latest News

Doyle’s Guide – Leading Wills & Estates Litigation Senior Counsel – NSW 2024
Doyle’s Guide – Leading Wills & Estates Litigation Senior Counsel – NSW 2024Congratulations to Michelle Painter SC for her inclusion in the Doyle’s Guide rankings for Leading Wills & Estates Litigation Senior Counsel – New South Wales, 2024. See the full guide here. [...] Read more...
Doyle’s Guide – Leading Class Action Barristers – Australia, 2024
Doyle’s Guide – Leading Class Action Barristers – Australia, 2024Congratulations to Thomas Bagley for his inclusion in the Doyle’s Guide rankings for Leading Class Action Barristers – Australia, 2024. [...] Read more...
Best Lawyers 2025
Best Lawyers 2025Congratulations to our eight barristers who were featured in 2025 edition of Best Lawyers for their expertise in various areas of law: 1.      The Hon P A Bergin AO SC – Alternative Dispute Resolution 2.      Katrina Howard SC – Intellectual Property Law 3.      Jack Hynes – Insolvency and Reorganisation Law 4.      Mark Newton – Insurance Law 5.      Michael Swanson – Shipping and Maritime Law 6.      Frank Tao – Insolvency and Reorganisation Law 7.      Josh Sukkar – featured on the Ones to Watch list for Insurance Law 8.      Andrew Berriman – also featured on the Ones to Watch list for International Arbitration and Litigation See the listings here. [...] Read more...
Australian College of Strata Lawyers 2024 conference
Australian College of Strata Lawyers 2024 conferenceDavid Knoll regularly presents updates for the profession in the field of Strata and Community Title. His most recent paper, presented on 6 March 2024 at the Australian College of Strata Lawyers 2024 conference was entitled: “Liability for Breach of Statutory Duty”. The focus was primarily on water ingress cases and the capacity of Tribunals to award damages to lot owners, which differs across the Australian States and Territories. A pdf extract can found be here. [...] Read more...
Justice of the Piece – AFR
Justice of the Piece – AFRMichelle Painter SC receives a feature in the The Australian Financial Review‘s latest article “Justice of the Piece”. Her curated chambers and collection of Asian-origin headpieces are displayed alongside the grand collections of The Hon Chief Justice Andrew Bell, The Hon Justice John Sackar KC, The Hon Justice Richard Weinstein SC and Laina Chan of 2 Selborne Chambers. Explore the collections of the Bench and Bar in the full article here. [...] Read more...
Liprini v Thirdi William Street Pty Ltd [2023] NSWSC 1375
Liprini v Thirdi William Street Pty Ltd [2023] NSWSC 1375Junioring Frank Hicks SC, Michael Swanson successfully defends his client against security for costs in a representative proceedings. Justice Ball was asked to considered whether security for costs should be awarded against the lead applicant in a representative proceedings arising out of a residential construction development. The lead applicant and group members did not have the benefit of a litigation funder. The Court declined to make an order for security for costs as it would not have made one against the lead applicant or each of the group members if they had brought proceedings individually. The decision considers the relevance of UCPR 42.21 to representative proceedings and the role of litigation funders when ordering security for costs. Read the full judgement here: https://www.caselaw.nsw.gov.au/decision/18bc6230c0c755f20bad5a88 [...] Read more...
Doyle’s Guide Leading Professional Indemnity Senior Counsel and Junior Counsel – New South Wales, 2023
Doyle’s Guide Leading Professional Indemnity Senior Counsel and Junior Counsel – New South Wales, 2023We are pleased to announce Andre Zahra SC and Mark Newton have been listed in the latest edition of Doyle’s Guide‘s Leading Professional Indemnity Senior Counsel and Junior Counsel – New South Wales, 2023.     [...] Read more...
Journal of Property, Planning and Environmental Law
Journal of Property, Planning and Environmental LawDavid Knoll AM’s article entitled: “Quality standards for tribunal decision making in strata disputes” has been published by the Journal of Property, Planning and Environmental Law this month.   The article analyses decisions across Australia in which tribunal decisions are appealed by reason of the poor quality of the decision making. Knoll contends that the impact on community living of uncorrected poor quality tribunal decisions can be immense, depending on the degree of error. For example, water ingress into people’s homes might remain unremedied for many years.   Read the online version here. [...] Read more...
Artificial Intelligence CPD – Wednesday 13 September
Artificial Intelligence CPD – Wednesday 13 SeptemberNinth Floor Selborne Chambers would like to invite you to our upcoming virtual CPD on Artificial Intelligence, presented by Sam Adair, Phillip Lonergan and Josh Sukkar, and chaired by Michelle Painter SC. The event will be hosted via zoom on Wednesday 13 September at 1:00pm. We hope you to see you there. To dial in, please use the following link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84700238025 To be sent a calendar invitation, please contact the clerk, Ella Baxendale, at ebaxendale@selbornechambers.com.au.   [...] Read more...
Doyle’s Guide Leading Insolvency & Restructuring Junior Counsel – NSW 2023
Doyle’s Guide Leading Insolvency & Restructuring Junior Counsel – NSW 2023Congratulations to Jack Hynes for his preeminent ranking in the 2023 listing of Leading Insolvency & Restructuring Junior Counsel in NSW.   [...] Read more...
We are pleased to welcome our new reader, Josh Sukkar.
We are pleased to welcome our new reader, Josh Sukkar.Josh joins us from Barry. Nilsson. Lawyers, where he was a Senior Associate acting and advising on insurance coverage, public and products liability, construction and property damage, commercial transactions and professional indemnity disputes. Josh accepts briefs in all areas of the law, with a particular emphasis on: –     Insurance and Reinsurance (incl. coverage and dual insurance disputes) –     Professional Negligence –     Common Law (incl. Personal Injury, Intentional Torts, and Products Liability) –     Consumer Protection and Trade Practices –     Building and Construction –     Regulatory Prosecutions –     Contracts and Commercial Transactions –     Real Property –     Corporations Law Josh can be contacted on 02 8915 2133 or jsukkar@selbornechambers.com.au, or through his Clerk, Ella Baxendale on 02 8915 2101. We all look forward to working with Josh during his reading year and in the years to come.   [...] Read more...
Best Lawyers 2024
Best Lawyers 2024Congratulations to Katrina Howard SC, who has been recognised in the 2024 edition of Best Lawyers Australia for her work in Intellectual Property law. We would like to extend our thanks to the peers that voted for Katrina.   [...] Read more...
Welcome Sam Adair!
Welcome Sam Adair!Ninth Floor Selborne Chambers is delighted to announce a new addition to our floor – Sam Adair! Sam is a leading barrister in the areas of insurance law and professional liability. His strong commercial practice includes matters in building and construction law, class actions, consumer protection, contracts, corporations law, ADR, real property, strata law and trusts.   [...] Read more...
Andre Zahra SC successfully defends client, Sparke Helmore, in NSW Court of Appeal
Andre Zahra SC successfully defends client, Sparke Helmore, in NSW Court of AppealAndre Zahra SC, and his junior Jonathan Burnett from 11 Wentworth Chambers, successfully defended their client, Sparke Helmore, in the NSW Court of Appeal against claims of professional negligence for allegedly failing to remind a client of advice they had already given. The Court of Appeal overturned the judgment of the primary judge and dismissed all claims against Sparke Helmore with costs, following the “general rule” that a solicitor is not negligent in failing to remind a client of advice already given or to advise the client of what the client already knows.   [...] Read more...
Ian Faulkner SC and David Knoll AM successfully defend stolen money claim brought by Westpac.
Ian Faulkner SC and David Knoll AM successfully defend stolen money claim brought by Westpac.Westpac had claimed that their client, a Greek machinery manufacturer, A. Giamouridis P.C., had received $12.6 million obtained fraudulently from the bank by Bill Papas, and that the client was required to pay that money back to the bank under the rule in Black v S Freedman & Company (1910) 12 CLR 105. However, in defending the claim they submitted that all of the funds were used to pay for machines that were ordered, and that their client was wholly innocent of any knowledge of breach of trust by Mr Papas and his companies. Part way through a three week hearing, the case against Giamouridis settled today, 10 February 2023, with the bank’s claim dismissed, and Giamouridis not paying any money to the bank.     [...] Read more...
We are delighted to see our barrister’s listed in The Legal 500 Asia-Pacific 2023 rankings.
We are delighted to see our barrister’s listed in The Legal 500 Asia-Pacific 2023 rankings.Katrina Howard SC has been recognised as a Leading Silk in TMT and IP law, with Andre Zahra SC and Thomas Bagley being recognised as Leading Senior and Junior Counsel in Commercial Disputes.     [...] Read more...
Doyle’s Guide’s Leading Professional Indemnity Senior Counsel – New South Wales, 2022
Doyle’s Guide’s Leading Professional Indemnity Senior Counsel – New South Wales, 2022We are pleased to announce Andre Zahra SC has been listed as Recommended in the latest edition of Doyle’s Guide‘s Leading Professional Indemnity Senior Counsel – New South Wales, 2022   [...] Read more...
Doyle’s Guide’s Leading Insolvency & Restructuring Junior Counsel – Australia, 2022
Doyle’s Guide’s Leading Insolvency & Restructuring Junior Counsel – Australia, 2022We are pleased to announce Jack Hynes has been listed as Preeminent in the latest edition of Doyle’s Guide‘s Leading Insolvency & Restructuring Junior Counsel – Australia, 2022.     [...] Read more...
Doyle’s Guide’s list of Leading Class Actions Barristers – Australia, 2022
Doyle’s Guide’s list of Leading Class Actions Barristers – Australia, 2022Congratulations to Thomas Bagley, who has been recognised in Doyle’s Guide‘s list of Leading Class Actions Barristers – Australia, 2021   [...] Read more...
Admin Law CPD
Admin Law CPDPlease join us for a virtual CPD on Admin Law, presented by Michelle Painter SC, Garry McGrath SC, Nicole Maddocks and Phillip Thomas.   https://us02web.zoom.us/j/4877166073?pwd=bkxEN0VXd1VQcEZBb2pSU1I0cnpHdz09 Password: 9SelbCPD   [...] Read more...
Doyle’s Guide’s list of Leading Intellectual Property Senior Counsel – New South Wales, 2022.
Doyle’s Guide’s list of Leading Intellectual Property Senior Counsel – New South Wales, 2022.Congratulations to Katrina Howard SC has been recognised in Doyle’s Guide listing of Leading Intellectual Property Senior Counsel – New South Wales, 2022.   [...] Read more...
“Leading light” Katrina Howard SC presented on important recent cases in which she has been involved as part of the Super Patent Session at The Institute of Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys of Australia (IPTA) Annual Conference last week.
Katrina Howard SC has been recognised as one of the Best Lawyers in Australia in 2023 for Intellectual Property Law.
Congratulations to Mark Newton for being listed as Preeminent Doyle’s Guide list of Leading Professional Indemnity Junior Counsel
Congratulations to Mark Newton for being listed as Preeminent Doyle’s Guide list of Leading Professional Indemnity Junior CounselThe 2021 listing of leading New South Wales Professional Indemnity Junior Counsel details counsel practising within the areas of professional indemnity and negligence matters in the Insurance legal market who have been identified by the state’s defendant insurance and plaintiff personal injury lawyers for their expertise and abilities in these areas.  [...] Read more...
2 Congratulations to Mark Newton for being listed as Leading Junior Counsel on the Doyle’s Guide list of Leading Professional Indemnity Junior Counsel- New South Wales, 2020
2 Congratulations to Mark Newton for being listed as Leading Junior Counsel on the Doyle’s Guide list of Leading Professional Indemnity Junior Counsel- New South Wales, 2020The 2020 listing of leading New South Wales Professional Indemnity Junior Counsel details counsel practising within the areas of professional indemnity and negligence matters in the Insurance legal market who have been identified by the state’s defendant insurance and plaintiff personal injury lawyers for their expertise and abilities in … [...] Read more...
Congratulations to Mark Newton for being listed as Leading Junior Counsel on the Doyle’s Guide list of Leading Professional Indemnity Junior Counsel- New South Wales, 2020
Congratulations to Mark Newton for being listed as Leading Junior Counsel on the Doyle’s Guide list of Leading Professional Indemnity Junior Counsel- New South Wales, 2020The 2020 listing of leading New South Wales Professional Indemnity Junior Counsel details counsel practising within the areas of professional indemnity and negligence matters in the Insurance legal market who have been identified by the state’s defendant insurance and plaintiff personal injury lawyers for their expertise and abilities in … [...] Read more...
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Former Members

Prominent former members of Ninth Floor Selborne Chambers include:

  • The Hon TF Bathurst AC
    • Former Chief Justice, Supreme Court of NSW
  • Her Excellency the Hon Margaret Joan Beazley AC QC
    • Governor of New South Wales
    • Former President of the NSW Court of Appeal
  • The Hon Justice Fabian Gleeson
    • NSW Court of Appeal
  • The Hon Justice Mark Livesey
    • President of the Court of Appeal, South Australia
  • The Hon Justice Jack Austell Lee
    • Chief Judge at Common Law, Supreme Court of NSW
  • The Hon Judge Robert Montgomery
    • District Court of NSW

Former Members

Prominent former members of Ninth Floor Selborne Chambers include:

  • The Hon TF Bathurst AC
    • Former Chief Justice, Supreme Court of NSW
  • Her Excellency the Hon Margaret Joan Beazley AC QC
    • Governor of New South Wales
    • Former President of the NSW Court of Appeal
  • The Hon Justice Fabian Gleeson
    • NSW Court of Appeal
  • The Hon Justice Mark Livesey
    • President of the Court of Appeal, South Australia
  • The Hon Justice Jack Austell Lee
    • Chief Judge at Common Law, Supreme Court of NSW
  • The Hon Judge Robert Montgomery
    • District Court of NSW

For further information about any of our barristers, or the practice and history of the floor, please contact our Clerk:

Ella Baxendale

Email: ebaxendale@selbornechambers.com.au
Tel: 02 8915 2101

Know more about our Clerk

For further information about any of our barristers,
or the practice and history of the floor, please
contact our Clerk:

Ella Baxendale

Email: ebaxendale@selbornechambers.com.au
Tel: 02 8915 2101