Eliza Bergin

Eliza Bergin practices in commercial, public and administrative law, specialising in planning and environmental law, land valuation and compulsory acquisition of land.  

Eliza is regularly briefed to appear for clients in the State Supreme Courts at trial and appellate level, VCAT, the ART and before panels, Royal Commissions and inquiries. Eliza’s experience includes regular appearances in the following areas:

• Planning and environmental matters including environmental impact assessment, merits review, planning scheme amendments, planning panels and advisory committees, regulatory enforcement and prosecution for planning offences, mining and mineral resources, environmental protection;
• Land valuation, land tax and ratings disputes under the Valuation of Land Act 1960 and Local Government Act 1989 and rights to compensation from planning reservations and compulsory acquisition of land including claims under the Land Acquisition and Compensation Act 1986 and Part 5 of the Planning and Environment Act 1987;
• Public and administrative law, including Inquiries, Royal Commissions and Judicial Review;
• Commercial litigation with a planning, environment or government aspect.

A selection of recent cases she has appeared in are set out below and in the attached Curriculum Vitae.

Eliza also has considerable Royal Commission experience.  Most recently, in 2019-2021, Eliza was appointed as a Counsel to Assist in the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety by the Commonwealth Attorney-General.  As a solicitor, Eliza advised the Municipal Association of Victoria in the Bushfires Royal Commission as a member of the team at King & Wood Mallesons (2009).  Eliza was a member of the team of solicitors advising the State of Victoria on the Hazelwood Mine Fire Inquiry (2010).

Eliza is recommended by clients and peers in the publication The Best Lawyers in Australia™ (2022-2025).  She is listed in the areas of water law, migration law and public law.  She has also been listed in Doyles Guide to the Legal Profession as "Leading" in the area of planning and environmental law (2018-2019).  Eliza is a member of the Victorian Planning & Environmental Law Association (VPELA).

As to her qualifications, in 2016, Eliza graduated with a Masters of Law in Environmental Law from ANU.  Eliza holds a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) (Hons) from the University of Melbourne (1999) and a Bachelor of Science from Monash University, major in environmental science (1996). 

In leadership roles, Eliza was Chair of the Law Institute of Victoria Planning and Environmental Law Section committee (2016-2017).  Eliza is a long-term member of the St Kilda Cycling Club Inc (SKCC), the largest cycling club in Australia.  Eliza was Secretary of SKCC (2016-2017).   Eliza has also completed the Australian Institute of Company Directors course for Not-for-Profit Directors (2018).

In her early career, since 2004, Eliza has specialised in the areas of planning and environmental law and public and administrative law.  She was Associate to The Honourable Professor Peter Gray AM of the Federal Court of Australia (2001-2002).  Eliza was also a legislative drafter in the Office of Chief Parliamentary Counsel in Victoria (2002-2004).  Eliza was a Solicitor and Senior Associate at King & Wood Mallesons (2004-2010) and a Principal Solicitor at VGSO (2010-2017).