Welcome to Ninth Floor Selborne Chambers

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 9 senior counsel and 19 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.

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Latest News

Leading Insolvency & Restructuring Junior Counsel – New South Wales, 2025Congratulations to Jack Hynes, Ben Koch and Frank Tao for their inclusion in the Doyle’s Guide rankings for Leading Insolvency & Restructuring Junior Counsel – New South Wales, 2025. See the full list here. [...] Read more...

Yeng & Sun [2025] FedCFamC1A 106The Appeals Division of the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia Div 1 (McClelland DCJ, Gill & Brasch JJ) has delivered judgment in Yeng & Sun [2025] FedCFamC1A 106 in which Giles Stapleton appeared (instructed by Jason Neo of Longton Legal) for the successful appellant. The appeal was from an exercise of discretion resulting in final orders that divided a c.$18 million [...] Read more...

Doyle’s Guide 2025 – Commercial Litigation & Dispute Resolution NSWCongratulations to Jack Hynes and Ben Koch on their inclusion in the 2025 Doyle’s Guide as Leading Junior Counsel in Commercial Litigation & Dispute Resolution – New South Wales. We are pleased to see two members of Ninth Floor Selborne Chambers recognised for their expertise. View the full listing here. [...] Read more...

Welcome, the Hon Fabian Gleeson SCWe are pleased to welcome back The Hon Fabian Gleeson SC to Ninth Floor Selborne Chambers, following his recent retirement from the NSW Court of Appeal. Mr Gleeson SC is now available to accept appointments with respect to arbitrations, mediations, expert determinations and facilitations. For all enquiries relating to Mr Gleeson SC’s practice, please contact [...] Read more...

Global Law Experts 2025We are delighted to share that Katrina Howard SC has been named Patent Law Expert of the Year in Australia – 2025 by Global Law Experts. This prestigious recognition is a testament to Katrina’s outstanding expertise, unwavering dedication and deep commitment to excellence in intellectual property law. All of us at Ninth Floor Selborne Chambers [...] Read more...

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 [...] Read more...

Andrews & Andrews Construction Pty Ltd v Yao; Yao v Andrews & Andrews Construction Pty Ltd [2025] NSWSC 322On Friday, 4 April 2025, the Supreme Court of NSW (Stevenson J) delivered judgment in Andrews & Andrews Construction Pty Ltd v Yao; Yao v Andrews & Andrews Construction Pty Ltd [2025] NSWSC 322, in which Andre Zahra SC and Nicole Maddocks appeared (instructed by Chris Freeman of Christopher C Freeman & Co) for the successful plaintiff/cross-defendant, [...] Read more...

Naaman v Jaken Properties Australia Pty Limited & Ors [2025] HCA 1Today, in a decision of great significance for the law of trusts, the High Court dismissed an appeal from a decision of the New South Wales Court of Appeal. John Kelly SC, Simon Shepherd and Adrian Maroya appeared for the successful respondents (who succeeded as appellants in the Court of Appeal). The High Court appeal [...] Read more...

Chambers and Partners 2025 Asia Pacific GuidePlease join us in congratulating Katrina Howard SC for being recognised in Chambers and Partners 2025 Asia Pacific Guide. Katrina continues to be the only female silk ranked in Band 1 of the Intellectual Property: The Bar – Australia listings. See the rankings here. [...] Read more...

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, 2024Congratulations to Thomas Bagley for his inclusion in the Doyle’s Guide rankings for Leading Class Action Barristers – Australia, 2024. [...] Read more...

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 [...] Read more...

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 [...] Read more...

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 [...] Read more...

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 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 [...] Read more...

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 [...] Read more...

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.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 [...] Read more...

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!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 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 [...] Read more...

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 [...] Read more...

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, 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, 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, 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 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.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.Ninth Floor Selborne Chambers is very proud to have had Katrina represent the floor and women in the patent profession. [...] Read more...

Katrina Howard SC has been recognised as one of the Best Lawyers in Australia in 2023 for Intellectual Property Law.Congratulations Katrina! [...] Read more...

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, 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...

Best Lawyers 2026We’re proud to celebrate ten of our barristers who have been recognised in the 2026 edition of Best Lawyers for their outstanding expertise across a range of practice areas. Congratulations to: The Hon P A Bergin AO SC – Alternative Dispute Resolution Katrina Howard SC – Intellectual Property Law Jack Hynes – Insolvency and Reorganisation [...] 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, 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...

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

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

Welcome to Ninth Floor Selborne Chambers

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Former Members

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

Former Members

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

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