William Phillips

William practices primarily in public and commercial law. He has a particular interest in anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing law, competition and consumer law, financial services law, migration law, anti-discrimination law, tort law, and National Disability Insurance Scheme matters.

William holds a current Australian Government Baseline security clearance.

Before coming to the Bar, William was a lawyer in the Civil Regulation Team at the Australian Government Solicitor, where he worked on a number of complex regulatory investigations and litigation concerning financial services, competition, consumer protection and the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Act 2006 (Cth). Prior to that, William worked on a number of cross-border insolvency cases as an Associate at Lipman Karas. He was also the Associate to the Hon Justice David Peek KC in the Supreme Court of South Australia.

William holds a PhD from the University of Melbourne, a Bachelor of Civil Law (Dist) from the University of Oxford, and a Bachelor of Laws and Legal Practice (University Medal) and a Bachelor of International Studies from Flinders University. William has taught Legal Theory and Business Law at Melbourne Law School, Constitutional Law at Deakin University, and Administrative Law and Contract Law at the University of Adelaide.

William is a reporter for the Victorian Reports.

He read with David Morgan and his senior mentor is Alistair Pound S.C.

William's recent cases include:

CEO of AUSTRAC v Entain Group Pty Ltd (Federal Court of Australia, 2024 – ongoing): for the CEO of AUSTRAC. Civil penalty proceedings under the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Act 2006 (Cth). Led by K Morgan SC, Dr Radhika Withana, and Joe Edwards.

Albyn Queensland Pty Ltd v Australian Postal Commission [2024] VSC 584: Amicus Curiae. Referral of questions of law relating to whether the Australian Postal Commission is an emanation of the Commonwealth and whether VCAT can exercise jurisdiction in a matter to which it is a party. L

EVI17 v Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs [2024] FedCFamC2G 1052: for the applicant. Judicial review of a decision refusing a Safe Haven Enterprise Visa. Unled.

Advising an independent statutory authority with respect to its investigative and decision-making powers (2023 – 2024). Led by E Bennett SC with P Kelly.