Fiona has a broad practice in public law, regulatory law, tort law, inquests and inquiries. Fiona is regularly briefed to advise and appear for private and government clients in State and Commonwealth Courts and Tribunals.

Fiona has acted in a diverse range of public law matters, including judicial review, disability, discrimination, migration, freedom of information, privacy and inquests.

Fiona is recognised by Doyles Guide as Leading Administrative & Public Law Barrister.

Fiona’s appearance work has included:

Judicial review

• Huang v Frankston City Council [2024] VSCA 38

• Moorabool and Central Highlands Power Alliance Incorporated v Minister for Energy and Resources [2023] VSC 774 (led by David Batt QC, with A Petridis and J Blaker)  

• Trist v Glenelg Shire Council [2023] VSC 128

• Huang v Frankston City Counsel [2022] VSC 733

• AB v CD and EF [2017] VSCA 338 (led by Peter Hanks QC with Emrys Nekvapil)

 Migration cases

• Acting unled in various migration cases in the Federal Court and Federal Circuit Court, for both applicants and the Minister.

Inquiries

• Yoorrook Justice Commission (2024) – State team (led by Georgina Coghlan KC, with Alice Warhdal)

• Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide (2023-2024) – counsel assisting team (led by Erin Longbottom KC)

• Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System (2019-2020) – counsel assisting team (led by Her Honour Lisa Nichols QC, then Stephen O’Meara QC, with Georgina Coghlan KC)

Fiona updates the privacy chapter in the Victorian Administrative Law loose-leaf service.

Prior to coming to the Bar, Fiona was a Senior Solicitor at VGSO in the litigation group and was Associate to the Hon Justice RRS Tracey AM RFD in the Federal Court of Australia. Fiona holds a Master of Law with first class honours from the University of Cambridge.

*Liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards legislation

Areas of Practice

Cases

• Huang v Frankston City Counsel [2024] VSCA 38
• Trist v Glenelg Shire Council [2023] VSC 128
• Moorabool and Central Highlands Power Alliance Incorporated v Minister for Energy and Resources [2023] VSC 774
• Huang v Frankston City Counsel [2022] VSC 733
• Taylor v Merlino [2022] VSCA 37
• Kennedy and National Disability Insurance Agency [2022] AATA 265
• Taylor v Minister for Education [2021] VSC 23
• Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System (2019-2020) – Counsel Assisting
• Inquest into the death of Daren Brandon (November/December 2019)
• Chinh Dai Industrial Co v Australian Pipe & Tube (VSC 2019, settled) (led by Bernie Quinn QC)
• Spataro v Secretary, Department of Employment [2018] AATA 2139
• Coulson v Department of Premier and Cabinet [2018] VCAT 229
• Coliban Heights Pty Ltd v Citisolar Vic Pty Ltd [2017] VSC 751
• CQH v Department of Education and Training [2017] VCAT 1845
• AB v CD & EF [2017] VSCA 338
• Maclure v Victoria Police [2017] VCAT 1971
• Madafferi v The Chief Commissioner of Police [2017] VSC 652
• AB v CD and EF [2017] VSCA 338
• Jurecek v Director of Transport Safety Victoria [2017] VCAT 1488
• AB & EF v CD [2017] VSC 350
• Prior v Mole [2017] HCA 10; 343 ALR 1; (2017) 91 ALJR 441
• ARG15 v Minister for Immigration and Border Protection [2016] FCAFC 174
• IBAC – Operation Dunham (2016) (for the State of Victoria, led by Tony Thomas)
• Chief Commissioner of Police v Nikolic [2016] VSCA 248
• Jurecek v Director, Transport Safety Victoria [2016] VSC 285
• Nikolic v Chief Commissioner of Police (No 2) [2016] VSC 333
• FTZK v Minister for Immigration and Citizenship [2013] FCAFC 44
• Hoser v Department of Sustainability and Environment VSCA