Planning & Environment

Haiqiu Zhu

Haiqiu practices widely in commercial litigation and public law, and welcomes briefs in all areas of law. Prior to being called to the bar, Haiqiu practised as a solicitor in the commercial litigation team at Herbert Smith Freehills. Haiqiu also served as Tipstaff/Associate to the Honourable Justice Payne of the New South Wales Court of Appeal.

Haiqiu has a BCL from the University of Oxford, and a Bachelor of Laws (First Class Honours and the University Medal) and Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Sydney.

She is honoured to be the recipient of the Katrina Dawson Award for 2025.

Eloise Kneebone

Before coming to the Bar, Eloise worked as a solicitor at the North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency and at the NSW Crown Solicitor’s Office. Eloise also worked as Associate to the Hon Justice Thawley at the Federal Court of Australia.

Eloise has a Bachelor of Laws (Hons I, University Medal) and a Bachelor of Economics (Distinction) from the University of New South Wales.

Eloise is open to considering briefs in all areas of law.

Adam Khadra

Adam has a broad practice and accepts briefs in all areas of law.

Adam has worked as an Associate to Chief Justice Kiefel AC KC at the High Court of Australia, and Justice Derrington AM at the Australian Law Reform Commission, on the Judicial Impartiality Inquiry, and at the Federal Court. He has international experience working most recently as an International Legal Consultant for the Truth, Reconciliation and National Unity Commission of the Seychelles, and on the Defence Team of Hashim Thaçi before the Kosovo Specialist Chamber. Adam has worked as an Associate in Commercial Litigation at Norton Rose Fulbright Australia.

Adam has a Master of Laws with Distinction with a focus on Constitutional Law from University College London and a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) and a Bachelor of Arts from the Australian National University. Adam has lectured in Federal Constitutional Law at the University of Sydney.

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.

Brendon Green

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

Brendon was admitted to practice in 2015. 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, NSW Local Court and various tribunals. He holds a Bachelor of Laws (Honours Class 1) and Bachelor of Commerce (with Distinction) from the University of New South Wales.

Brendon accepts briefs in all areas of law, particularly commercial and public law proceedings. He is listed in Best Lawyers’ 2023, 2024, 2025 and 2026 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.

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.

Neil Williams

Neil Williams came to the Bar in 1989 and was appointed Senior Counsel in 2001. He appeared in a wide range of major cases both at first instance and on appeal including, major environmental and planning issues, major tax matters, major constitutional issues, a wide range of general administrative law matters, competition and consumer law matters, broadcasting matters, and criminal appeals. He appeared in all Australian jurisdictions, the Solomon Islands, Fiji and Nauru.

He now does advising work in those fields.