Carlin Grant

Carlin is an experienced advocate practicing in family law, intervention orders, criminal law, and professional disciplinary proceedings. He is regularly briefed in complex and sensitive matters, and is valued for his persuasive advocacy, thorough preparation and pragmatic advice. Carlin regularly appears in trials, contested hearings, appeals and tribunal proceedings, both unled and with senior counsel.

Family Law

Carlin accepts briefs in parenting and property proceedings in the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia. His family law practice includes:

• parenting proceedings, including interim and final hearings;
• matters involving allegations of family violence, abuse, coercive or controlling conduct and other child-safety concerns;
• complex evidentiary disputes concerning credibility, risk and competing allegations between parties;
• property and financial proceedings, including matters involving businesses, trusts, third-party interests and disputed contributions;
• urgent and interlocutory applications; and advice and advocacy in matters involving parallel criminal, intervention order or other proceedings. 

Carlin's background as an experienced criminal trial advocate is particularly valuable in family law matters involving serious factual disputes, police material, contested allegations and forensic questions requiring careful cross-examination. 

He accepts briefs to appear in Melbourne, regional Victoria and interstate matters.

Intervention Orders

Carlin practises extensively in family violence and personal safety intervention order proceedings and regularly acts for both applicants and respondents. 

He appears in contested interim and final intervention order hearings and provides strategic advice where intervention order proceedings intersect with parenting proceedings or criminal charges. 

His experience across each jurisdiction enables him to identify the potential consequences that evidence, concessions or forensic decisions in one proceeding may have upon another and to develop a coordinated litigation strategy where multiple proceedings are on foot.

Criminal Law

Carlin has a wide-ranging criminal practice, with a focus on serious indictable offences.

• Appearing as defence counsel in trials in the County and Supreme Court, both unled and with senior counsel.
• Briefed to draft written cases, provide merits advice and appear in criminal appeals in the Court of Appeal.
• Appearing in Mental Impairment and Fitness to be Tried matters; and
• Bail applications, pleas, committals and contested hearings in the Magistrates Court.

Sports Law & Disciplinary & Regulatory Proceedings

Carlin has a strong reputation in sports law, acting for both athletes and sporting organisations.

• Appears in disciplinary tribunals and appeals for state and national sporting bodies.
• Appointed by Tennis Australia, Tennis Victoria and Basketball Victoria as a disciplinary panel member.

Carlin also frequently acts in disciplinary and regulatory matters, appearing for both professionals and regulatory bodies. This includes health practitioners, teachers, lawyers and accountants. He has appeared in matters involving:

• AFL Tribunal;
• Basketball Victoria;
• The National Sports Tribunal;
• Racing Victoria Appeals Tribunal;
• Tennis Australia;
• Victoria Institute of Teaching (VIT);
• Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT); and
• Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT)

Coronial Inquests & Royal Commissions

Carlin is experienced in appearing in coronial inquests and commissions of inquiry.

• Appears for interested parties in matters involving deaths in custody, workplace accidents and systemic failures.
• Appeared in the Royal Commission into the Management of Police Informants (Lawyer X Royal Commission).

Professional Background & Memberships

• Graduated with First Class Honours in his Bachelor of Laws.
• Awarded a scholarship to Stetson University College of Law (Florida, USA), where he undertook juris doctor studies and training in trial advocacy.
• Preferred Trial Barrister for Victoria Legal Aid.
• Member of the Family Law Bar Association, Criminal Bar Association (CBA), Member of the Australian and New Zealand Sports Law Association (ANZSLA) and the Sports Law Committee (for the VicBar).
• Read with Jason Gullaci SC; senior mentor was Richard Maidment KC (former Judge of the County Court of Victoria).