Ryan Kornhauser

Current practice

Ryan accepts briefs to advise and appear in public and administrative, commercial, and quasi-criminal matters. He acts for both government and private clients.

His areas of practice include commercial, contract, and property law; public and administrative law litigation and advice; statutory interpretation; and civil detention and supervision orders.

Ryan also assists to develop legal policy and legislation for government clients.

Recent and ongoing matters

Ryan's recent experience includes the following:

• Commercial, contract, and property disputes: Appearing and advising in all Victorian Courts and the Federal Court of Australia, including in disputes arising under contract law, equity, property law, consumer protection, and restraint of trade.

Recent and ongoing matters include International Assets Pty Ltd & Anor v Rubin & Ors (Supreme Court of Victoria, ongoing; led by Jonathan Evans KC); Rathner (Liquidator), in the matter of PE Capital Nominees Pty Ltd (In Liq) v Runner Investment Limited [2023] FCA 754 (led by Paul Ehrlich KC); Need Pty Ltd v Need Essentials USA LLC [2023] VSC 184; JB Asset Management & Anor v LBA Capital & Ors [2023] VSC 183 (led by Paul Ehrlich KC, with Nic Cozens); Next Stage Living Moonee Ponds Pty Ltd v Ardmillan Place Nominees Pty Ltd [2022] VSC 89 (led by Paul Ehrlich KC, with Nic Cozens); and Select Market & Financial Services Pty Ltd & Ors v Giuseppe Mirabella (Supreme Court of Victoria, 2022; led by Paul Ehrlich KC). 

• Judicial and merits review: Appearing for and advising government and private clients in judicial and merits reviews under the National Disability Insurance Scheme Act 2013 (Cth), Education and Training Reform Act 2006 (Vic), Children, Youth and Families Act 2005 (Vic), Victims of Crime Assistance Act 1996 (Vic), Road Safety Act 1986 (Vic), Migration Act 1958 (Cth), Planning and Environment Act 1987 (Vic), and Working with Children Check Act 2005 (Vic).

Recent matters in which decisions have been published include Tran v Victorian Institute of Teaching [2023] VCAT 910; INP v Secretary Department of Families Fairness and Housing [2023] VCAT 626; NSGL and National Disability Insurance Agency [2023] AATA 1572; Black v Health Complaints Commissioner [2022] VCAT 964; HLV v Victims of Crime Assistance Tribunal [2022] VCAT 361; FOI v The Secretary to the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing [2021] VCAT 1438; Aziz v Minister for Immigration [2021] FCCA 999; Tsiaras and Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs [2020] AATA 808; VSGP and Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs [2020] AATA 3435 (with Martin Radzaj); and FLP v Secretary to the Department of Justice and Community Safety [2020] VCAT 715.

• Public and administrative law advice: Advice to government and private clients in relation to statutory interpretation, pre-litigation prospects advice, drafting and settling regulations, the Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities Act 2006 (Vic), information disclosure and privacy, and administrative decision-making.

• Information disclosure, suppression orders, and subpoenas: Appearing on behalf of private and government clients (including the Chief Commissioner of Victoria Police, Secretary to the Department of Transport, and Secretary to the Department of Justice and Community Safety), with a particular focus on proceedings concerning sensitive information and public interest immunity claims. 

Recent and ongoing matters include DPP v Sethi & Shuja (Magistrates’ Court of Victoria, 2022; led by Sashi Maharaj KC); Secretary to the Department of Justice and Community Safety v CWE (Supreme Court of Victoria, 2021; led by Paul Holdenson KC); Hendy v White (Magistrates’ Court of Victoria, 2021; led by Liam Brown, Crown Counsel); The Chairperson of the Royal Commission into the Management of Police Informants v Director of Public Prosecutions & Ors (Supreme Court of Victoria, 2020); Director of Public Prosecutions v Radi & Ors (Supreme Court of Victoria, ongoing); and Director of Public Prosecutions v Brown, Price, & Guillerme (Supreme Court of Victoria, 2022; led by Chris Carr SC).

• Civil detention and supervision orders: Acting for the Director of Public Prosecutions, Secretary to the Department of Justice and Community Safety, Secretary to the Department of Health, Secretary to the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing, and Victorian Attorney-General in proceedings under the Serious Offenders Act 2018 (Vic) and Crimes (Mental Impairment and Unfitness to be Tried) Act 1997 (Vic).

Recent matters include Director of Public Prosecutions v LD (No 7) [2023] VSC 518(led by Erin Ramsay); Secretary to the Department of Justice and Community Safety v CWE (No 2) [2022] VSC 105 (led by Paul Holdenson KC); Secretary to the Department of Justice and Community Safety v CWE [2021] VSC 811 (led by Paul Holdenson KC); and various other applications and reviews under the Serious Offenders Act 2018 (Vic) and Crimes (Mental Impairment and Unfitness to be Tried) Act 1997 (Vic).

Background and prior experience

Ryan commenced his career at Ashurst. He later worked as a Senior Solicitor in the Litigation and Dispute Resolution Branch of the Victorian Government Solicitor's Office and as a Senior Associate in private practice, acting for predominantly Commonwealth and State Government departments and bodies.

In addition to his practice as a solicitor, Ryan served as a Researcher to the judges of the Victorian Court of Appeal and was also employed at the Victorian Department of Justice and Regulation where he developed legislative reform and provided legal and policy advice to the Department and the Attorney-General.

Ryan holds a Bachelor of Laws and a Bachelor of Arts, both with first class honours, from Monash University. He graduated with the Supreme Court Exhibition Prize and a number of subject prizes and scholarships. He was on the Monash University Law Review editorial committee, and has published in Australian and international academic journals.

Ryan read with Richard Knowles KC. His Senior Mentor is Christopher Horan KC.