Olivia is an experienced advocate with an extensive background in banking, commercial transactions and criminal defence prior to coming to the bar, offering a unique perspective to inform a mixed practice. Since coming to the Bar, Olivia has expertise in contractual disputes, property matters, retail and commercial leases,environment and planning, VCAT and water resources law, including the Water Act (Vic), the Water Act (Cth) and the Murray Darling Basin Plan.
Prior to admission in Australia, Olivia was a Registered Foreign Lawyer in Vietnam transacting in general commercial matters including shareholder agreements, foreign investment transactions, 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.
Recent Cases in the Supreme Court (Led)
Morris v Victorian Farmers Federation [2022] VSC 407 (led by Peter King, instructed by HWL Ebsworth Lawyers) – Associations and Clubs - Expulsion, suspension and disqualification – Exercise of powers of expulsion under the defendant’s constitution – Inadequate particularisation of impugned conduct – Denial of natural justice.
Barr Corporation Pty Ltd v Justin Roff and Ors [2021]
Common Law Major Torts List - trespass to land - environmental waste - EPA - breach of commercial lease - negligence.
Recent Cases in the Federal Court (Unled)
Hera Project Pty Ltd v Woolworths Ltd [2021] Unreported; appeared unled in the Federal Court in opposition to an application for strike out.
Recent Supreme Court Appeals (Led)
John Barr Investments Pty Ltd v Mordialloc Sporting Club Inc [2022] VSC 100 (led by Tim North QC and David R J O’Brien, instructed by McDonald Slater & Lay) Appeal to the Trial Division of the Supreme Court of Victoria from the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal – s148 appeal – VCAT proceedings and discovery – Retail Leases Act.
Beklenoglu v Sunrise Cleaning Services Pty Ltd [2023]
Appeal from a decision of the Magistrates' Court to the Supreme Court on a question of law.
County Court (Unled)
2022 - Application to appeal conviction and sentence out of time for serious historical offending. Proceedings dealt with the denial of procedural fairness in context of First Nations applicant with intellectual disability. Consideration of issues as per DPP v Archer [2018] VSC 155 and Cao v Collister [2022] VSC 36 and The Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Expolitation of People with Disability.
Appeals on sentence.
Magistrates' Court (Unled)
Civil contested hearings - breach of contract.
Contested Intervention orders.
Contested criminal hearings.
Contested commital hearings.
Criminal Practice
White collar crime.
Fraud.
Constitutional matters arising in criminal proceedings.
Olivia read with David R J O’Brien and Moya O'Brien. Olivia’s Senior Mentor is Tim J North QC. Olivia is admitted to practice in the High Court and Federal Court of Australia.
