Huw Whitwell

Huw practises in commercial and public law. He has been named as a leading junior by The Legal 500.

Before coming to the Bar, Huw was a solicitor at MinterEllison and an associate to a judge of the Federal Court of Australia.

His experience since coming to the Bar can be viewed in the cases section of his VicBar profile, which can be found at the following link: https://www.vicbar.com.au/Profile?ID=25287.

Re United Almonds Ltd — Supreme Court of Victoria — application by a trustee for judicial advice — counsel for United Almonds led by Robert Craig KC (briefed by Gadens).

In the matter of i-Prosperity Pty Ltd (in liq) — Federal Court — liquidators' examinations led by Stewart Maiden KC (briefed by Allens).

Bujega v PostSuper — County Court — breach of trust — counsel for PostSuper (unled) (briefed by Allens).

Class actions

Horsky v Mesoblast Ltd — Federal Court — securities class action — counsel for Mesoblast led by Robert Craig KC and Kane Loxley.

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 HSF).

Lay v Nuix Ltd — Supreme Court of Victoria — counsel for Macquarie led by Robert Craig KC and Jennifer Findlay (briefed by HSF).

Zantran v Crown Resorts Ltd — Federal Court — 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.
  

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.
• 5 Boroughs NY Pty Ltd v State of Victoria (No 3) [2023] VSC 22 — stay application.
• 5 Boroughs NY Pty Ltd v State of Victoria (No 5) [2023] VSC 682 — GCO 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 and Rebecca Howe (briefed by Quinn Emanuel).

Regulatory proceedings

ACCC v Qantas Airways Ltd — Federal Court — counsel for Qantas led by Dr Ruth Higgins SC, Robert Yezerski SC, Kane Loxley, and Andrew Barraclough (briefed by Johnson Winter Slattery).

AUSTRAC v Crown Melbourne Ltd — Federal Court — counsel for Crown Melbourne and Crown Perth led by Philip Crutchfield KC and Kane Loxley (briefed by Allens).

ACCC v Australasian Food Group Pty Ltd [2022] FCA 308 — Federal Court — 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 — 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 — 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 — Full Federal Court — 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).