Profile

Damien's fully qualified experience in ADR as mediator, coupled with his legal knowledge in the areas of admiralty and maritime, lead to an appointed position of part-time Deputy Registrar of the Federal Court of Australia, one specially created for the purpose of enabling complex issues arising from the application of admiralty and maritime law, to be resolved at mediation. Further to this, Counsel has recently received an appointment to the Arbitration panel of the Maritime Law Association of Australia and New Zealand.

As well as formerly occupying the position of Deputy President of VCAT, Damien has also held the position of Senior Member in government appeal boards and tribunals including Social Security and WorkCare (Vic.)

Damien is a published author of legal texts primarily in the areas of Admiralty and Civil Procedure, and is a regular contributor of law journal articles concerning administrative review and dispute resolution. He is co-author of the standard text on Federal Court Practice and Procedure (Lexis Nexis), and co-author of the standard text on building contracts (Brooking on Building Contracts.)

Counsel is an elected Fellow of the Australian Centre for International Commercial Arbitration, and is Adjunct Professor of Law at Murdoch University. Damien has also been appointed to the panel of NSW dispute resolution provider Endispute.

Damien's major interests of practice are in the areas of Building & Construction, Administrative and Government Law - with a heavy emphasis on mediated resolutions - and will accept paper-work and advice briefs in most areas of Commercial Law.

Counsel is an instructor at Leo Cussen in civil procedure and a mediation coach at the Institute of Arbitrators and Mediators Australia (IAMA).

Damien is tutor and co-ordinator of the Administrative Law component of the Post-graduate JD course at RMIT Law School.

Damien has recently been granted Advanced Mediator status by the Victorian Bar.