Huw C Whitwell

Huw accepts briefs in all areas of law. The focus of his practice is on commercial disputes, class actions, and regulatory proceedings. Huw also has a strong background in public law, having acted in many public law matters as a solicitor at MinterEllison and having been an associate to Justice Moshinsky of the Federal Court.

Huw's experience at the Bar includes the following:

Commercial disputes

• El Zain v Vitrafy Life Sciences Ltd [2022] VSC 79 — Supreme Court of Victoria — breach of contract claim seeking specific performance — counsel for Vitrafy led by David Batt KC (briefed by MinterEllison).
• FX Group Holdings v Champ IV Trust A — Supreme Court of New South Wales — case concerning alleged unilateral mistake, breach of fiduciary duties, and misleading or deceptive conduct — counsel for FX Group Holdings led by Peter Brereton SC and Catherine Hamilton-Jewell (briefed by MinterEllison).
• Orica Investments Pty Ltd v Aurelius Marvel One Ltd [2023] VSC 18 — Supreme Court of Victoria — application to stay a proceeding commenced in breach of an expert-determination clause in the agreement between the parties — counsel for Aurelius led by Hamish Austin KC (briefed by Baker McKenzie).
• Cromwell Corporation Ltd v ARA Real Estate Investors XXI Pte Ltd [2020] FCA 1492 — Federal Court of Australia — preliminary discovery application in relation to possible contraventions of s 606 of the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) — counsel for Cromwell led by David Batt KC and Kathleen Foley SC (briefed by MinterEllison).
• FX Group Holdings v Champ IV Trust A — Supreme Court of New South Wales — case concerning alleged unilateral mistake, breach of fiduciary duties, and misleading or deceptive conduct — counsel for FX Group Holdings led by Peter Brereton SC and Catherine Hamilton-Jewel (briefed by MinterEllison).
• Re United Almonds Ltd — Supreme Court of Victoria — application by a trustee for judicial advice — counsel for United Almonds Ltd led by Robert Craig KC (briefed by Gadens).
• In the matter of i-Prosperity Pty Ltd (in liq)  — liquidators' examinations led by Stewart Maiden KC (briefed by Allens).

Class actions

• Horsky v Mesoblast Ltd — Federal Court of Australia — securities class action — counsel for Mesoblast led by Robert Craig KC and Kane Loxley (briefed by MinterEllison).
• Lieberman v Crown Resorts Ltd — Supreme Court of Victoria — securities class action — counsel for Crown Resorts led by Wendy Harris KC and Kane Loxley (briefed by Allens).
• Lay v Nuix Ltd — Supreme Court of Victoria — securities class action — counsel for Macquarie led by Robert Craig KC and Jennifer Findlay (briefed by Herbert Smith Freehills).
• Zantran Pty Ltd v Crown Resorts Ltd — Federal Court of Australia — securities class action — counsel for Crown Resorts led by Neil Young KC, Nick Hopkins KC, Robert Craig KC, Kane Loxley, and Fleur Shand (briefed by MinterEllison).
  • Zantran Pty Ltd v Crown Resorts Ltd (No 2) [2020] FCA 1024 — interlocutory dispute concerning legal professional privilege.
  • Zantran Pty Ltd v Crown Resorts Ltd (No 3) [2021] FCA 659 — interlocutory dispute concerning the interaction between statutory confidentiality provisions and discovery obligations.
  • Zantran Pty Ltd v Crown Resorts (No 4) [2022] FCA 500 — settlement approval.
• Allen v G8 Education Ltd — Supreme Court of Victoria — securities class action — counsel for G8 Education led by Robert Craig KC and Jennifer Findlay (briefed by MinterEllison).
  • Allen v G8 Education Ltd [2021] VSC 173 — interlocutory dispute concerning redaction of a costs agreement.
  • Allen v G8 Education Ltd (No 2) [2022] VSC 302 — costs of an application for a group costs order.
• 5 Boroughs Pty Ltd v State of Victoria — Supreme Court of Victoria — common law negligence class action — counsel for the plaintiff led by Wendy Harris KC and Adam Hochroth (briefed by Quinn Emanuel).
  • 5 Boroughs NY Pty Ltd v State of Victoria [2021] VSC 78 — summary judgment and strike-out applications
  • 5 Boroughs NY Pty Ltd v State of Victoria (No 2) [2022] VSC 494 — strike-out application.
• Norris v Insurance Australia Group Ltd — Supreme Court of Victoria — securities class action — counsel for the plaintiff led by Adam Hochroth and Kate Lindeman (briefed by Quinn Emanuel).
• Kilah v  Medibank Private Ltd — Supreme Court of Victoria — securities class action — counsel for the plaintiff led by Adam Hochroth (briefed by Quinn Emanuel).

Regulatory proceedings

• AUSTRAC v Crown Melbourne Ltd — Federal Court of Australia — counsel for Crown Melbourne and Crown Perth led by Philip Crutchfield KC, Wendy Harris KC, and Kane Loxley (briefed by Allens).
• ACCC v Australasian Food Group Pty Ltd [2022] FCA 308 — Federal Court of Australia — exclusive dealing — counsel for Australasian Food Group led by Dr Ruth Higgins SC and Andrew Barraclough (briefed by Allens).
• ASIC v Helou (No 2) [2020] FCA 1650 — Federal Court of Australia — accessorial liability in respect of continuous disclosure contraventions — counsel for former CFO of Murray Goulburn led by Robert Craig KC (briefed by MinterEllison).
  • ASIC v Helou [2019] FCA 1634 — Federal Court of Australia — application for permanent stay of proceeding as an abuse of process.
• Various investigations and disciplinary proceedings by State regulators, including the Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission and Liquor and Gaming NSW.

Appellate

• State of Victoria v 5 Boroughs NY Pty Ltd [2023] VSCA 101 — Victorian Court of Appeal — whether primary judge erred in refusing stay application — led by Michael Borsky KC (briefed by Quinn Emanuel).
• El Zain v Vitrafy Life Sciences Ltd [2022] VSCA 195 — Victorian Court of Appeal — contractual dispute — led by Chris Caleo KC (briefed by MinterEllison).
• Crown Resorts Ltd v Zantran Pty Ltd [2020] FCAFC 1 — appeal to the Full Federal Court in relation to the power of the Court to interfere with contractual confidentiality obligations — led by Neil Young KC and Fleur Shand (briefed by MinterEllison).

Royal Commissions and other public inquiries

• Royal Commission into the Casino Operator and Licence — counsel for Crown Resorts and Crown Melbourne led by Michael Borksy KC and Dr Catherine Button KC (now Justice Button) (briefed by Allens).
• Bergin Inquiry (NSW) — counsel for Crown Resorts and Crown Sydney led by Neil Young KC (briefed by MinterEllison).