Greens List Readers sign the Bar Roll - May 2022

Greens List congratulates our newest Barristers, who last night signed the Bar Roll, Yusur Al-Azzawi, Joshua Bridgett, Benedict Coxon, Hannah Hofmann, Mark James, Kylie McInnes, Dean Merriman, Gisela Nip and Joshua Sheppard.

For full profile information, please follow links below.

Yusur Al-Azzawi

Prior to coming to the Bar, Yusur worked for several years with Robinson Gill Lawyers, and then at the Human Rights Law Centre. At Robinson Gill, Yusur had a busy predominantly injury law practice, with a specialisation in intentional torts (mainly police torts), claims against the State and Charter claims. Yusur’s practice also included general commercial litigation, public and administrative claims and discrimination claims. At the Human Rights Law Centre, Yusur worked on refugee rights issues and on democratic rights issues, specifically the implied freedom of political communication and its impact on protest rights.

Joshua Bridgett

Joshua intends to practices primarily in commercial disputes, with a particular focus on technology, construction and infrastructure disputes, insurance matters and domestic / international arbitration. Before coming to the Bar, Joshua was a solicitor at MolinoCahill, a specialist law firm providing advice to clients involved in the construction, infrastructure, technology, defence, energy and resource sectors. As a solicitor, Joshua worked on a variety of matters, ranging from significant claims on large infrastructure projects ($ billions) through to smaller disputes ($ million +).

He has written extensively on topics relevant to his practice, including in relation to the validity of contractual limitations on liability under statute, the availability of a quantum meruit in light of recent developments in the law, and the scope for third party claims in arbitration. In addition to being published, his contributions to the field have been recognised in consecutive years through the Brooking Prize – an annual competition held by the Society of Construction Law Australia (SoCLA) for the best essay submitted in the field of construction law.

Benedict Coxon

Benedict practises in public and commercial law. In public law, he has particular expertise in statutory interpretation. In commercial law, he has extensive experience in international arbitration and contractual disputes. Benedict previously taught constitutional and administrative law at The University of Oxford, where he was a Fellow of Hertford College. He also practised in commercial arbitration and litigation in London.

He graduated from The University of Adelaide with first class honours in Law, and from The University of Oxford with a doctorate in Law, where he studied as a Rhodes Scholar.

Before undertaking his postgraduate studies, Benedict was Associate to Justice Besanko of the Federal Court of Australia.

Hannah Hofmann

Prior to joining the Bar, Hannah was the associate to the Hon Justice Kaye AM at the Court of Appeal in Victoria. Hannah also has experience as a solicitor, having worked in the commercial disputes team at Maddocks. In that capacity, she worked on large commercial trials in the Supreme Court of Victoria and Federal Court of Australia. At Maddocks, she also gained experience in public law and general commercial matters.

Mark James

Mark James was the Associate to the Honourable Justice Kennedy at the Victorian Court of Appeal. He was also her Honour’s Associate in the Supreme Court Trial Division working predominantly on tax, property, and judicial review matters. Prior to this, Mark had been the Associate to the Judicial Registrars of the County Court’s Commercial Division (now their Honours Judge Tran and Judge Burchell). Mark holds a Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Laws (First Class Honours) from Monash University.

Kylie McInnes

Kylie is an experienced public lawyer with a strong background in migration law, national security, law enforcement and the protection of information. Kylie has over 9 years’ experience as a solicitor advising and acting for Commonwealth bodies, including in significant and complex litigation. Kylie most recently practiced as a Senior Lawyer at Australian Government Solicitor.

Dean Merriman

Dean accepts briefs in commercial, regulatory, public and international law matters, as well as business-related/corporate criminal matters. Dean has experience providing advice on complex legal and factual matters to Australian, foreign and multinational companies, local and foreign governments, and intergovernmental organisations. He has given this advice in the context of litigation, transactions, investigations, and audit defence.

Prior to joining the Bar, Dean was an Account Director in Deloitte’s Indirect Tax team, focussing on international trade matters. Dean joined Deloitte after spending several years as a lawyer at the World Trade Organization in Geneva.

Gisela Nip

Gisela Nip was Associate to the Honourable Justice Terry Forrest in the Victorian Court of Appeal from 2018 to 2020, primarily dealing with criminal appeals. Prior to her associateship, Gisela practised as a solicitor in commercial and construction litigation at Clayton Utz in Melbourne. Gisela is also an instructor at Leo Cussen Centre for Law and a sessional academic at Deakin Law School. Gisela holds a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Laws (First Class Honours) from Monash University.

Joshua Sheppard

Joshua has a generalist practice encompassing commercial, crime and common law matters. Prior to being called to the Bar, he was an associate to the Honourable Justice Moore of the Supreme Court of Victoria. He has practised at Allens in commercial disputes and competition and consumer law, and the Victorian Government Solicitor's Office in personal injury, coronial inquests and general litigation.