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 Christine Melis Sydney Eleven Wentworth Chambers 180 Phillip St, Sydney T: +61 2 8228 7113 E: christine.melis@wentworthchambers.com.au Melbourne Young’s List: +61 3 9225 6777 M: 0412 310 622 E: christine.melis@vicbar.com.au Admissions Signed the Victorian Bar roll, 20 November 2008 Joined the NSW Bar, May 2014 Admitted to practice, 26 April 2005 Qualifications Bachelor of Laws (Hons) – Monash University, 2003 Bachelor of Arts -­‐ Monash University (Politics Major), 2003 Practice Areas Administrative Law (Judicial Review) Environmental Law Appeals/Appellate Commercial Law Constitutional Law Class actions Professional Experience Administrative Law (Merits Review) Human Rights Law Migration Commissions and Inquiries Licensing and Professional Disciplinary Tribunals Native Title Barrister-­‐at-­‐Law: 20 November 2008 -­‐ Current Mentor: Peter Morrissey SC Examples of some matters undertaken to date: Royal Commissions •
Royal Commission into Institutional Child Sexual Abuse, briefed on behalf of Baptcare, case study 24, March 2015 •
Royal Commission into the Victorian Bushfires, junior counsel for the State of Victoria, 2009-­‐2010, led by Neil Clelland SC and Kerri Judd SC Disciplinary tribunals •
In the matter of HCCC and Dr Julie Epstein in the Medical Tribunal of NSW led by Philip Greenwood SC (allegations of professional misconduct; off label use of restricted substances), November-­‐
December 2014 •
Briefed to appear on behalf of Department of Environment and Primary Industries before the Licensing and Appeals Tribunal of Victoria, Leeworthy v LAT, 2014; Bowerman v LAT, 2013; Graham v LAT, 2013 •
Architects Registration Board of Victoria v Raffoul, 2013, Counsel Assisting the Board Commercial •
Casey City Council v Frankston City Council and Ors, Supreme Court of Victoria, junior counsel for Frankston led by Fiona McLeod SC with Richard Wilson and Marita Foley (claims in contract, contribution and negligence in respect of contaminated premises), 2012-­‐2014 (settled) •
Regent Holdings v State of Victoria, junior counsel for the State of Victoria led by Michael Wheelahan SC with Michael Rush (negligence class action), 2010-­‐2012 •
Holz v 2 Bond St Nominees P/L & Ors, County Court of Victoria, (claims in negligence and contribution), 2014-­‐2015 Inquests and Inquiries •
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Counsel for Chief Commissioner of Police (Vic), Application pursuant to s77 of the Coroners Act 2008 to re-­‐open the inquest into the death of Jennifer Tanner and associated costs application, August 2012-­‐January 2013 Counsel for Transport Safety Victoria, Inquest into the death of Kay Stanley, 23 August 2012 (railway collision) Counsel for Chief Commissioner of Police (Vic) & Police members, Kerang Inquest, 2011-­‐2012 (Emergency Response; railway collision) Counsel Assisting the Coroner, Inquest into the death of Rachel Louise Incoll, November 2011 (learner driver issues) Briefed in a number of investigations before the State Ombudsman and Police Integrity Commission Public law •
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Burgess v Anor v Director of Housing & Anor [2014] VSC 648; [2015] VSC 70, counsel for the successful plaintiff with Daniel Aghion (judicial review and application of Human Rights Charter) Briefed to appear in the AAT, Federal Magistrates’ Court and Federal Court of Australia in a variety of migration matters, including VWLL and Minister for Immigration and Citizenship [2012] AATA 858 (one of the first cases to apply direction 55) •
Briefed to appear on behalf of the Attorney-­‐General in reviews and applications in the Supreme Court and County Court of Victoria under the Crimes (Mental Impairment and Unfitness to be Tried) Act 1997 •
Briefed to appear on behalf of Victorian Police in judicial review matters and appeals, including Zigouris v Magistrates' Court of Victoria at Sunshine [2012] VSC 183 •
Briefed to appear on behalf of the State Coroner in Helmer v State Coroner of Victoria [2011] VSC 25 (statutory interpretation; transitional provisions of Coroners Act 2008) 2 •
Castles v Secretary to the Department of Justice [2010] VSC 181, counsel for VEOHRC (application of the Human Rights Charter) Professional Experience (cont) Associate to the Honourable Justice Cavanough: 3 July 2006 – 30 May 2008 Supreme Court of Victoria Jurisdictions in which his Honour presided: •
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Common law Practice Court Civil circuit Crime Court of Appeal Lawyer, Minter Ellison Lawyers: 8 March 2004 – 30 June 2006 Areas of practice •
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Administrative law Discrimination law Employment law Professional Memberships •
Accredited Advocacy Coach with the Australian Advocacy Institute •
Sessional Lecturer in Trial Practice and Advocacy, Faculty of Law, Monash University •
Teacher, Victorian Bar Readers’ Course and NSW Bar Readers’ Course •
Victorian Bar Council, including Executive Committee, 2011-­‐2013 •
Victorian Bar International Arbitration Committee, 2013-­‐2014 •
Victorian Bar Legal Assistance Scheme •
Victorian Bar Equality and Diversity Committee (including Secretary, 2009-­‐2011) •
Victorian Bar Student Engagement Committee (Speaker about life at the Bar at a variety of university and high school events http://www.vicbar.com.au/about-­‐us/about-­‐barristers/life-­‐at-­‐the-­‐bar), 2011-­‐
2014 Professional Memberships (cont) •
Victorian Reports Editorial Committee •
Women Barristers Forum, NSW, including member of CPD Committee •
Women Barristers Association, Vic •
Commercial Bar Association, Vic 3 •
Director, Australian Women Lawyers Board – 2008-­‐2012 (Vice President, 2012; organising committee for AWL legal Conference, Brisbane, 2010) •
Victorian Women Lawyers (VWL) Executive – 2005-­‐ 2012 (Convenor 2008; Assistant Convenor, 2007; AWL representative 2009-­‐2012) •
Women in Government Committee, VWL – 2010-­‐11 •
Mentor, VWL/WBA Student Mentoring Program, 2008-­‐present Achievements and Presentations •
Teaching faculty, The Law and Justice Sector Program, Intensive Advocacy Skills Workshop, PNG, 5-­‐12 July 2014 (Ian Hill QC, team leader); creator of mentoring program for PNG female lawyers in partnership with VicBar and DFAT, 2015 •
Participant, Australian Bar Association Advanced Trial Advocacy Course, Brisbane, January 2014 •
Panellist, Forum on Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, Centre for Excellence in Child and Family Welfare, 13 October 2014 and 30 April 2014 (with Commissioner Fitzgerald) •
Speaker, Local Government Lawyers Conference, 3 April 2014, Waste Liability for Councils: Stevensons Rd Landfill as a case study •
Nominated delegate and session Chair, LCA, Rising Stars Workshop (Corporate Stream), October 2013 •
Presenter, ‘Ethical issues and responsibilities for government lawyers involved in instructing counsel’, Legal Wise Seminars, CPD Compliance for Government Lawyers, March 2013 Achievements (cont) •
Nominee, Women Lawyers Achievement Awards, 2012 •
Inclusion in the Who’s Who of Australian Women 2009-­‐ 2015 •
Editor, AWL publication Themis, Sept 2008 – 2012 •
Participant in the ANZPAA NIFS expert evidence workshop, 2012 •
Participant, Australian Institute of Company Directors-­‐ the Not-­‐For-­‐Profit Board, 2012 (scholarship recipient) •
Convenor, VWL (Nov 2007-­‐Nov 2008) -­‐ overseeing strategic plan, budget, changes to the constitution, risk management, public events, publications and marketing, governance, membership, mentoring, business and sponsorship strategy, spokesperson in the media, managing the executive committee and agenda, liaising with various stakeholders within the legal profession including government, courts, universities and professional bodies and associations and running VWL’s tax position in the test case -­‐ Victorian Women Lawyers Association Inc v Commissioner of Taxation [2008] FCA 983 •
Viz International Arbitration Moot, Vienna, 2002 Languages •
Greek -­‐ Fluent 4