Joel Ruffles

Joel Ruffles practises in commercial law and equity.

Joel provides advice on a wide range of commercial disputes and represents clients in interlocutory and final hearings, primarily in the higher Victorian courts and the Federal Court.

Before coming to the Bar, Joel was a Senior Associate within the Commercial Disputes team at Maddocks Lawyers. In his 15 years as a solicitor, he also worked for a large British firm in London and for a boutique Melbourne firm, in each case practising in commercial law and commercial litigation.

Joel’s litigation experience is extensive and encompasses contractual interpretation and disputes, equitable claims such as undue influence, unconscionable conduct and breach of confidence, restitution claims, trusts including constructive and resulting trusts, shareholder disputes including oppression claims, breaches of directors’ and employee duties, breaches of fiduciary duties, recipient liability, the professional liability of solicitors, accountants, financial advisers, stockbrokers and other advisers, claims under mortgages, charges and pledges including mortgagee possession proceedings, corporate insolvency, bankruptcy, partnership disputes, intellectual property proceedings, property claims including caveat removal applications, landlord-tenant disputes, and trade practices matters. His experience also includes conducting appeals and judicial review proceedings from lower court and tribunal decisions.

Joel’s approach to litigation is methodical, yet practical and outcome-oriented, as he seeks to apply his technical legal knowledge to a strategy tailored to each client’s circumstances and requirements.