David Rowe

David was admitted to practice in 2013 and called to the Bar in September 2024. He has a public and commercial law practice and is open to considering briefs in all areas of law.

Before coming to the Bar, David worked as a Senior Lawyer at the Australian Government Solicitor. At AGS, David acted for the Commonwealth in a number of constitutional matters before the High Court and other courts, and had a broad advice practise spanning a range of areas of public law. David also worked as Associate to the Hon Justice Alan Robertson at the Federal Court of Australia and as a Senior Adviser to the Commonwealth Attorney-General.

David holds a Bachelor of Civil Law (Distinction) from the University of Oxford and a Bachelor of Law (Hons I, University Medal) and Bachelor of Arts from the Australian National University.

Ali Cheema

Ali has a broad practice and is briefed in a variety of areas with a particular focus on litigation in commercial, equity, contracts, real property and succession matters. He is an experienced junior counsel who appears in most state and federal courts and tribunals, usually unled.

After admission in 2009, Ali was a tipstaff to the Hon Justices Brereton and Buddin in the Supreme Court of NSW. Prior to his call to the bar, he worked in private practice as a solicitor in the areas of insurance and insolvency. Ali holds a Bachelor of Law/Arts from the University of Western Sydney.

Stephanie Crosbie

Stephanie has a broad practice in commercial disputes, with particular experience in regulatory, corporations, contract and representative proceedings. She is open to considering briefs in all areas of law.

Before being called to the Bar in 2024, Stephanie worked as a Senior Associate in the Disputes team at Herbert Smith Freehills (2021-2024) and Associate in the Global Disputes team at Jones Day (2015-2021).

Stephanie has a BCL from the University of Oxford (Distinction) and a BSc (Distinction) / LLB (Honours Class 1) from the University of New South Wales.

Brendon Green

Prior to coming to the Bar, Brendon was a Senior Associate in the Commercial Litigation group of Norton Rose Fulbright Australia. He has experience acting in a broad range of complex commercial and public law (including regulatory) proceedings for both corporate and public sector clients.

Brendon was admitted as a solicitor in 2015 and called to the Bar in 2024. He has acted for clients in the High Court of Australia, Federal Court of Australia, NSW Supreme Court (including the Court of Appeal and Court of Criminal Appeal), NSW Land and Environment Court, NSW District Court, Administrative Appeals Tribunal and NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal.

Brendon accepts briefs in all areas of law, including commercial and public law proceedings.  He is listed in Best Lawyers’ 2023, 2024 and 2025 editions of ‘Ones to Watch in Australia (Litigation)’.

John Birrell

John was admitted as a solicitor in 2013 and called to the bar in 2023. He has a diverse practice across commercial, public, and criminal law.

Before coming to the Bar, John was a Senior Associate in the litigation team at Arnold Bloch Leibler. He acted for companies and individuals on a wide range of commercial disputes, regulatory investigations and enforcement action, white collar criminal matters, and public inquiries.

Prior to joining ABL in 2020, John was a senior solicitor at the North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency and in the Office of the Solicitor Assisting the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, and a solicitor in the litigation team at MinterEllison. 

John holds a Master of Laws from Columbia Law School, and a Bachelor of Laws (First Class Honours) and Bachelor of Economics from the Australian National University.

Meg O'Brien

Meg has a diverse practice in public, regulatory and commercial law. In 2022 and 2023 she was briefed as Counsel Assisting in the Special Commission of Inquiry into LGBTIQ hate crimes. Meg was admitted to practice in 2009 and called to the Bar in 2017.

Prior to being called to the Bar, Meg was a Supervising Associate in the litigation group at Simmons & Simmons LLP in London, a solicitor in the Dispute Resolution group at King & Wood Mallesons and a solicitor in the Litigation group at Arnold Bloch Leibler in Melbourne.  Meg has also served as an Associate in the Supreme Court of Victoria. As a solicitor, she was involved in a range of commercial, regulatory and public law matters.

Meg holds a Bachelor of Laws (Hons) and Arts from Monash University, and a Master of Laws from the University of Cambridge.

Stephen Lloyd

Stephen came to the Bar in 1998, taking silk ten years later.  His practice ranges across all areas of public law, with a particular emphasis on Constitutional Law, Judicial Review, International Law and Revenue Law.  He also practices extensively in Native Title (in which field he is a co-author of the leading textbook) and in regulatory pricing and economic matters.

Stephen has an extensive appellate practice, having appeared in the Full Court of the High Court in over 60 proceedings (not counting special leave applications).  He has appeared before the Federal Court in over 500 cases, as well as appearing in the Supreme Courts of several States, and other courts and tribunals.  He acts in proceedings in all Australian states and (internal) territories. Prior to coming to the Bar, Stephen held senior executive positions in the Commonwealth public service (including as a diplomat based in Washington DC, and as the Director of Research of the Administrative Review Council).  He was also the co-head of the Constitutional and Native Title Unit, in the Commonwealth’s Office of Litigation.

Alice Zheng

Alice has a broad practice in commercial litigation, including in contract, corporations law, equity, insolvency, and consumer law, as well as a regulatory and administrative law practice.  She acts regularly for both corporate and government clients.  She appears both led and unled in the NSW Supreme Court and the Federal Court of Australia, as well as other courts and tribunals.

Alice was admitted to practice in 2011 and called to the Bar in 2018.  Prior to coming to the Bar, Alice was a Senior Associate in the Commercial Litigation group at Clayton Utz.  Alice was also tipstaff to her Honour Justice J K Ward of the Supreme Court of New South Wales.

Alice has a BEcSocSci (Hon 1) and LLB (Hons 1) from the University of Sydney and an LLM (Class 1) from the University of Cambridge, where she was awarded the Gareth Jones Prize for Restitution.

Naomi Wootton

Naomi has a diverse practice across commercial, public and criminal law. She appears regularly in courts across Australia, including the High Court of Australia, Federal Court of Australia, and State Supreme Courts, as well as in tribunals and inquiries (both led and unled). 

Prior to coming to the Bar, Naomi was an Associate at the High Court of Australia, and tipstaff and Research Director to the Chief Justice of New South Wales, the Hon TF Bathurst AC KC. She also practised as a solicitor at Marrickville Legal Centre and taught Corporations Law at the Australian National University.

Naomi holds a Bachelor of Laws (Hons I) and Bachelor of Arts from the Australian National University, where she was awarded the University Medal in Law. She is a co-author of Uniform Evidence in Australia (4th ed, 2024).

Celia Winnett

Celia practises primarily in commercial and public law. She appears in courts and tribunals at all levels, including the High Court, where she has been junior counsel in 15 final hearings and multiple special leave hearings. Her practice also involves advice work and appearances in compulsory examinations for and against regulators.

Celia joined the Bar in 2016. Prior to that, she served as Counsel Assisting the Commonwealth Solicitor-General, Justin Gleeson SC. In that role, she drafted legal opinions, assisted in preparing cases for hearing in domestic and international tribunals, and appeared as junior counsel for the Commonwealth. Celia previously worked as a lawyer within the Australian Government Solicitor, in the Banking & Finance and International Arbitration teams of Mallesons Stephen Jaques (Sydney), and as Associate to Justice Crennan of the High Court of Australia.

Celia has an LLM from Columbia Law School, which she attended on a Fulbright Scholarship. She also holds a BA/ LLB (First Class Honours, University Medal) from the Australian National University. Celia is a Centre Fellow of the UNSW Gilbert + Tobin Centre of Public Law, and NSW Co-Convenor for the Australian Association of Constitutional Law.