Martha Banda

Profile

Martha practises in commercial, regulatory and public law, with particular experience in statutory decision‑making, tribunal proceedings, regulatory enforcement and appellate matters. She accepts briefs from government and private clients in costs law, regulatory and disciplinary proceedings, and associated commercial disputes, including advisory and interlocutory work.

Before coming to the Bar, Martha held senior in‑house legal roles within government and statutory authorities, advising decision‑makers on the exercise of statutory powers and the conduct of enforcement and disciplinary proceedings.

Most recently, she was a Senior Associate Lawyer at the Victorian Institute of Teaching, where she advised the regulator, Boards and investigators on complex regulatory matters. Her work included managing investigations and contested disciplinary proceedings, advising on statutory interpretation, procedural fairness and evidentiary issues, and conducting merits review and interlocutory hearings before VCAT. Martha was also involved in appellate work arising from regulatory decisions and regularly advised on litigation risk and governance obligations.

Martha has significant experience in government enforcement and public sector litigation. While at Victoria Police, including in the Crime Confiscation Unit, she acted in asset restraint and confiscation proceedings, advised on complex financial and property interests, and appeared in the Magistrates’ Court and Supreme Court. Her work involved detailed analysis of financial material and business records, advising government stakeholders on confiscation legislation and associated statutory regimes, and contributing to the development and review of internal policies and procedures.

Earlier, Martha worked as a government lawyer and prosecutor within specialist prosecution units, conducting contested hearings and applications within statutory frameworks, managing high‑profile enforcement matters, and advising senior officers and other government agencies on jurisdictional and procedural issues. This experience informs her practical and decision‑focused approach to public law and regulatory disputes.

Prior to practising as a lawyer, Martha worked in risk and compliance within the financial services sector, advising a major bank on regulatory compliance obligations and participating in remediation work following the Royal Commission into Misconduct in the Banking, Superannuation and Financial Services Industry. She is familiar with the interaction between regulatory expectations, governance frameworks and litigation risk.

Martha is reading with Tiphanie Acreman, and her senior mentor is Carl Moller SC.