Michael Dawson

Barrister

Admissions

  • 2002 – Admitted to the Bar (New South Wales)

Qualifications

  • 1980 – Higher School Certificate – Trinity Senior High School
  • 1985 – Bachelor of Commerce – UNSW
  • 1985 – Bachelor of Laws – UNSW
  • 1986 – College of Law
  • 1986 – Admitted to the Supreme Court of NSW to practice as a solicitor
  • 1995 – Master of Laws (commercial law)- UTS
  • 1995 – Accredited Specialist Commercial Litigation (insolvency & restructuring)
  • 1995 – Accredited Mediator (LEADR)
  • 2002 – Admitted to the NSW Bar
  • 2014 – Graduate Certificate in Business Administration – AGSM (UNSW)
  • 2019 – Nationally Accredited Mediator – Australian Disputes Center

Professional Experience

  • 1986-1990 Tress Cocks & Maddox (solicitor and senior associate)
  • 1990-1992             Baker & McKenzie (senior associate)
  • 1992-1998             Walsh & Blair (partner)
  • 1998-2002             Tresscocks (now HWL Ebsworth) (partner)
  • 2002- to date NSW Bar

Areas of Expertise

  • General commercial and Equity
  • Insolvency
  • Building & Construction

Publications

  • “Non – Consensual Alternative Dispute Resolution” 4 ADJR 173
  • “Breaking ROT Clauses” IPAA,
  • NSW Rural Handbook, Redfern Legal Centre (chapter on debt recovery and related topics)
  • New South Wales Doctor, sundry articles

Select Cases

Recent cases – Equity

  • Calacoci v Calacoci [2020] NSWSC 476
  • Dee Vine Group v Palais Reception Centre [2019] NSWSC 1462
  • Ideal Business Centres Pty v Violin Holdings [2018] NSWSC 1249, 19 BPR 38631
  • Manly Property Holdings v Lisker [2017] NSWSC 1395, 18 BPR 37249
  • Rushcutters Bay Developments v Dragon Asset Investment [2017] NSWSC 866, 18 BPR 37025

Recent cases – Insolvency

  • Dickerson, in the matter of McWilliam’s Wines Group Ltd (subject to Deed of Company Arrangement) (No 5) [2021] FCA 431
  • In the matter of MK Floors (NSW) and MK Floors (QLD) [2020] NSWSC 1718
  • In the matter of AA Management Co [2019] NSWSC 1443
  • In the matter of Hinesight Development (deregistered) [2017] NSWSC 448
  • Robit Nominees Pty Ltd v Oceanlinx Limited (in liq) [2016] FCA 225 [241 FCR 161, 111 ACSR 427
  • Austec Wagga Wagga v Rarebreed Wagga [2012] NSWSC 343

Recent cases – Building & Construction

  • Valmont Interiors Pty Limited v Giorgio Armani Australia Pty Limited [2020] NSWDC 395
  • Vickery v The Owners – Strata Plan No 80412 [2020] NSWCA 284

Select Cases

Equity

§  Calacoci v Calacoci [2020] NSWSC 476

§  Dee Vine Group v Palais Reception Centre [2019] NSWSC 1462

§  Ideal Business Centres Pty v Violin Holdings [2018] NSWSC 1249, 19 BPR 38631

§  Manly Property Holdings v Lisker [2017] NSWSC 1395, 18 BPR 37249

§  Rushcutters Bay Developments v Dragon Asset Investment [2017] NSWSC 866, 18 BPR 37025

§  Ideal Business Centres Pty Ltd v Violin Holdings Pty Ltd atf The Violin Investment Trust [2018] NSWSC 1249

§  Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Ltd v Bragg (No. 3) [2017] NSWSC 208 

§  Manly Property Holdings Holdings Pty Ltd v Lisker Pty Ltd & Anor [2017] NSWSC 1395

§  Govindan-Lee v Sawkins; Sawkins v Govindan-Lee [2016] NSWSC 328

§  Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Limited v Bragg (No. 2) [2015] NSWSC 1903

Insolvency

§   In the matter of McWilliam’s Wines Group Ltd (No 5) [2021] FCA 431

§  In the matter of MK Floors (NSW) and MK Floors (QLD) [2020] NSWSC 1718

§  In the matter of AA Management Co [2019] NSWSC 1443

§  In the matter of Hinesight Development (deregistered) [2017] NSWSC 448

§  Admark Property Group Pty Ltd (in liq) v GJ Building and Contracting Pty Ltd [2017] NSWSC 118

§  In the matter of Gym & Tonic Healthclubs Pty Limited (ACN 135011853) (No 2) [2017] NSWSC

§  In the matter of Hinesight Development Pty Ltd (deregistered) [2017] NSWSC 448

§  In the matters of Seedz Investments Pty Limited, Snap Fitness [2017] NSWSC 650

§  Robit Nominees Pty Ltd v Oceanlinx Limited (in liq) [2016] FCA 225 [241 FCR 161, 111 ACSR 427

§  In the matter of TVH Enterprise (Australia) Pty Ltd [2016] NSWSC 1734

§  Manbead Pty Ltd v The Owners – Strata Plan No 87635 [2016] NSWCATAP 167

§  Priest as liquidator of S J Buller Pty Ltd (in liq) v Algeri [2014] FCA 773

§  Austec Wagga Wagga v Rarebreed Wagga [2012] NSWSC 343

Building & Construction

§  Valmont Interiors Pty Limited v Giorgio Armani Australia Pty Limited [2020] NSWDC 395

§  Vickery v The Owners – Strata Plan No 80412 [2020] NSWCA 284

§  The Owners – Strata Plan 82413 v Hinderry [2016] NSWSC 433

Other  

§  ICAC Inquiry into Mt Penny Coalmine

§  ASIC investigation into Storm Financial

§  UMP Provisional Liquidation

§  HIH Liquidation – amicus on reinsurance ‘cut through’ applications