Anthony Middleton

Anthony accepts briefs in a variety of litigious matters (led and unled). He also accepts direct briefs from in-house counsel.

Before coming to the Bar, Anthony was an Associate at the Federal Court of Australia to the Honourable Justice Mark Moshinsky and the Honourable Justice Helen Rofe.

Prior to his time at the Federal Court, Anthony practised for four years as a solicitor at MinterEllison, predominantly working in the intellectual property team. Significant matters that Anthony worked on as a solicitor include instructing on the first patent repair case in Seiko Epson Corporation v Calidad Pty Ltd (at first instance and on appeal to the Full Federal Court) and instructing in the Federal Court proceedings of Sanofi-Aventis Deutschland GmbH v Alphapharm Pty Ltd, concerning a mechanical patent for an insulin injector pen.

Anthony holds a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Commerce from Monash University. He also gained a Juris Doctor from the University of Melbourne.

Since coming to the Bar, Anthony has appeared and advised in matters involving breach of confidence and related rights; trade mark, copyright and patent infringement; consumer law breaches; and regulatory and administrative law issues in a number of different jurisdictions.

Anthony’s recent matters at the Bar include:

• Perfect Day, Inc v Commissioner of Patents [2025] FCA 270 – proceeding concerning sufficiency and support grounds of validity under the Patents Act 1990 (Cth) in relation to a patent for synthetic milk products (led by Kate Beattie SC).
• Australian Securities and Investments Commission v Darranda Pty Ltd (Liability) [2024] FCA 1015 – regulatory hearing concerning obligations under the National Consumer Credit Protection Act 2009 (Cth) (led by Bernard Quinn KC).
• Australian Securities and Investments Commission v Darranda Pty Ltd (Penalty) [2025] FCA 938 – penalty hearing on findings of contraventions under the National Consumer Credit Protection Act 2009 (Cth) (led by Dean Luxton).
• Hugo Boss AG v HRCheck Aust Pty Ltd [2026] ATMO 66 – trade mark opposition hearing (unled).
• Hugo Boss AG v Monizi Pty Ltd [2026] ATMO 110 – trade mark opposition hearing (unled).
• Hugo Boss AG v Hardge [2024] FCA 1325 – default judgment application concerning trade mark infringement, breach of the Australian Consumer Law and passing off (unled).
• C21 Pty Ltd (Trustee) v Hou (No 5) [2025] FedCFamC2G 479 – proceeding involving allegations of breaches of confidentiality, breaches of fiduciary duties and copyright infringement in certain computer keycap designs (led by Luke Merrick KC).
• Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha v OZI4x4 Pty Ltd [2025] FCA 768 – application for leave to issue a subpoena overseas in the context of a trade mark infringement proceeding (unled).

Anthony has been recognised by Doyle’s Guide (2025 and 2026).

Anthony read with Zoe Maud SC and his senior mentor is Tom Cordiner KC.

Liability limited by a scheme approved under the Professional Standards Legislation.