Olivia Callahan

Olivia is an experienced advocate, appearing regularly in contested matters in the Magistrates', County and Supreme Courts of Victoria. Olivia’s practice includes public law, water law, property disputes, equity and trusts, environmental law and common law matters. 

Olivia has specific expertise in irrigation, public and private rights to water, catchment management, flood mitigation and duties of public authorities in context of the Water Act 1989 (Vic), the Water Act 2007 (Cth) and the Murray Darling Basin Plan.  

Prior to admission in Australia, Olivia was a Registered Foreign Lawyer in Vietnam advising on commercial matters including shareholder agreements, foreign investment joint ventures, wind farms, property and construction, commercial leases and import/export across the legal jurisdictions of Vietnam, Hong Kong, the UK and Singapore.

From 2017, Olivia was a criminal defence advocate appearing regularly in the Magistrates’ and County Courts before being called to the Bar in 2021.

Supreme Court Trials and Interlocutory Applications
Tratnik v Baer & Ors [2024] (Unled, instructed by Frank Giummarra Solicitor) Unreported; Urgent interlocutory application, appeared on behalf of the second defendant – property dispute – equity & trusts - dismissal for want of prosecution - failure to obey order – delay.

Morris v Victorian Farmers Federation [2022] VSC 407 (led by Peter King, instructed by HWL Ebsworth Lawyers) – Associations and Clubs - Expulsion, suspension, and disqualification –Denial of natural justice.

Barr Corporation Pty Ltd v Justin Roff and Ors [2021] (led by Tim North KC and David R J O’Brien, instructed by McDonald Slater & Lay) Common Law Major Torts List - trespass to land - environmental waste - EPA - breach of commercial lease - negligence.

Supreme Court Appeals 
Beklenoglu v Sunrise Cleaning Services Pty Ltd [2023] VSC 650 (led by Campbell Hangay, instructed by Zaparas Lawyers) Appeal from a decision of the Magistrates' Court to the Supreme Court on a question of law against finding of no compensable injury. 

County Court 
Stephen English v Goulburn Murray Rural Water Corporation [2021 – 2024] (led by Claire Harris SC, later led by David Hallowes SC, also appeared unled) Declared water systems – water rights pursuant to the Water Act 1989 – water shares and water use licences – section 51 take and use licences.

Caridi v State of Victoria [2023] VCC 1708 (led by Tim Tobin SC, also appeared unled in an interlocutory application, instructed by Arnold Dallas McPherson) Police tort – serious injury – application for strike out and summary judgement – leave to amend proposed statement of claim.

Robert Dunn v Soltesz & Ors [2022] Unreported (unled, instructed by Barwon South West Lawyers) application to appeal conviction and sentence out of time  - Denial of procedural fairness in context of First Nations applicant with intellectual disability - Consideration of issues as per DPP v Archer [2018] VSC 155, Cao v Collister [2022] VSC 36 and The Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability.

VCAT
Building and property list
Human rights list
Medical practitioners regulation and review
Planning and Environment 

Magistrates' Court
Civil contested hearings (unled) property and contractual disputes.
Contested hearings under the Environment Protection Act 2017 involving recycling, commercial waste and building industries (unled).
Associations Incorporation Reform Act 2012 disputes.

Olivia read with David R J O’Brien. Olivia’s Senior Mentor is Tim J North KC. Olivia is admitted to practice in the High Court of Australia, the Federal Court of Australia and the Supreme Court of Victoria.