Christopher Hibbard
- Commercial Law Public Law
His commercial law experience includes contract disputes, corporate insolvency, professional negligence, equity and trusts, conflict of laws, regulatory matters and arbitrations.
His public law experience includes a broad range of constitutional and administrative law litigation and advice, from the Administrative Review Tribunal to the High Court. He was recently ranked as a leading administrative and public law junior counsel by Doyle’s Guide.
Christopher is trusted with complex and sensitive matters. Some recent examples include:
- acting for the GFG Alliance in relation to the effective expropriation of its steelworks and port assets by the State of South Australia
- acting for the administrators of the part-owner of the Callide C Power Station, which provided 30% of Queensland’s power until one of its generators exploded
- acting for ASIC in a series of matters concerning the scope of duties of the Companies Auditors Disciplinary Board
- Acting for the Commonwealth Attorney-General in relation to Tony Mokbel’s appeals against convictions
Christopher holds a Master of Laws with distinction from University College London, where he specialised in comparative law. He also has an Advanced Certificate in Insolvency from the Australian Restructuring, Insolvency and Turnaround Association. He was previously a senior fellow at Melbourne Law School.
Christopher read with Robert Craig KC (now Justice Craig of the Supreme Court of Victoria) and his senior mentor was Chris Horan KC (now Justice Horan of the Federal Court).
Liability limited by a scheme approved under the Professional Standards Legislation
Contact
- P03 9225 6052
- M0415 155 150
- F03 9225 8668
- E[email protected]
- Connect on Linkedin
- Download VCard
Rosanove Chambers
Room 07 Level 34
500 Bourke Street
Melbourne VIC 3000
Jane King
03 9225 8558
Expertise
- Appellate
- Aviation
- Banking & Finance
- Bankruptcy
- Class Actions
- Commercial Arbitration
- Competition
- Contractual Disputes
- Corporate Insolvency
- Corporations & Securities
- Energy & Resources
- Equity & Trusts
- Private International Law
- Administrative Law
- Appellate
- Civil & Human Rights
- Commissions & Inquiries
- Constitutional Law
- Immigration
- Judicial Review
- Public International Law
- White Collar Crime
Qualifications
Master of Laws (Dist) (University College London)
Bachelor of Laws (Hons) (Melbourne)
Bachelor of Arts (Melbourne)
Victoria
State and Territory Courts and Tribunals
Federal Court of Australia
High Court of Australia
Recent Cases
Brereton (Administrator), in the matter of Whyalla Ports Pty Ltd (Administrators Appointed) (Receivers and Managers Appointed) [2025] FCA 774: Acting for a DOCA proponent in an application for an extension to the convening period (unled)
Re Trident Star Enterprises Pty Ltd [2025] VSC 309: Acting for voluntary administrators in an application concerning the validity of their appointment, the conferral of powers under the Trustee Act and an extension to the convening period (unled)
Gard Marine & Energy Pty Ltd v Man Energy Solutions SE [2025] TASSC 23: Acting for the defendant in a successful application for a permanent stay of proceedings on forum non conveniens grounds (led by Robert Craig KC)
Re APH (Whitehorse Box Hill) Pty Ltd [2025] VSC 117: Acting for a receiver in an application for judicial advice (unled)
Ford Kinter Pty Ltd v Reliance Franchise Partners Pty Ltd (No 2) [2025] FCA 139: Acting for an unsecured creditor in an application to alter priorities in a liquidation (led by Matthew Harvey KC)
Re Blockchain Tech Pty Ltd [2024] VSC 690: Acting for the plaintiffs in a complex oppression proceeding concerning (among other things) the nature of a person’s interest in cryptocurrency (led by Greg Harris KC)
Ford Kinter Pty Ltd v Reliance Franchise Partners Pty Ltd (in liq) [2024] FCA 868: Acting for the respondent in an application to transfer proceedings to the Supreme Court of Victoria (led by Matthew Harvey KC)
Re Alliance Paper Pty Ltd [2024] VSC 457: Acting for the defendant in a complex application to set aside a statutory demand (unled)
Sev.en Gamma a.s. v IG Power (Callide) Pty Ltd (Administrators Appointed (2024) 172 ACSR 136; [2024] FCA 30: Acting for voluntary administrators in an application by an “interested person” for the appointment of special purpose administrators (led by Kanaga Dharmananda SC)
Warwick, in the matter of BWX Ltd (Receivers and Managers Appointed) (Administrators Appointed) (No 2) [2023] FCA 1395: Acting for administrators in an application for a second extension to a convening period (unled)
Sparks, in the matter of IG Energy Holdings (Australia) Pty Ltd (Administrators Appointed)(No 3) [2023] FCA 1002: Acting for voluntary administrators in an application for a second extension to the convening period (led by Stewart Maiden KC)
Hutton, in the matter of Big Village Australia Pty Ltd (Administrators Appointed) [2023] FCA 48: Acting for administrators in an application concerning the validity of their appointment and the scope of s 201A of the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) (unled)
Re Bianco (2022) 18 ABC(NS) 625; [2022] FCA 1470: Acting for a litigation funder in an application by a bankruptcy trustee for orders concerning entry into a funding agreement (led by Michael Galvin KC)
Re Straightline Construction Co Pty Ltd
[2022] VSC 708: Acting for the defendant in an application to set aside a statutory demand (unled)
Williams v Companies Auditors Disciplinary Board [2025] FCA 629: Acting for ASIC in a complex application for judicial review (unled)
Luck v Secretary, Services Australia [2025] FCAFC 26: Acting for the respondent in an appeal concerning decisions about benefit entitlements (unled)
DIS24 v Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs [2024] FCA 1397: Acting for the Minister in an application for judicial review concerning legal unreasonableness (unled)
CIJ23 v Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs [2024] FCA 1128: Acting for the Minister in an application for judicial review concerning a Tribunal’s procedural fairness obligations in respect of the privilege against self-incrimination (unled)
Muller v Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs (2024) 305 FCR 214; [2024] FCA 924: Acting for the Minister in an application for judicial review concerning (among other things) the scope of relevant considerations in a decision made under s 501CA(4) of the Migration Act 1958 (Cth) (unled)
CMW23 v Companies Auditors Disciplinary Board [2024] FCA 407: Acting for ASIC in an application for judicial review concerning the jurisdiction of the Companies Auditors Disciplinary Board (led by Rashelle Seiden SC)
LPDT v Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs (2024) 280 CLR 321; (2024) 98 ALJR 610; (2024) 418 ALR 152; [2024] HCA 12: Acting for the Minister in an important decision concerning the nature of judicial review and “materiality” (led by Richard Knowles KC)
Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs v Nuuamoa (2024) 301 FCR 553; [2024] FCAFC 13: Acting for the Minister in an appeal concerning an applicant’s evidential burden and burden of proof (led by Richard Knowles KC)
DXG17 v Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs (2024) 302 FCR 613; [2024] FCAFC 41: Acting for the Minister in an appeal concerning the proper construction of s 91W of the Migration Act 1958 (Cth) (led by Richard Knowles KC)
ASIC v Taylor (2023) 301 FCR 283; (2023) ALR 453; [2023] FCAFC 189: Acting for ASIC in an appeal about whether legislation governing disciplinary proceedings abrogated common law rights, including the privilege against self-incrimination (led by Peter Hanks KC)
Saffari v Australian Information Commissioner [2023] FCAFC 127: Acting for the Commissioner in an appeal concerning the complaints scheme under the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) (unled)
Kwatra v Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs [2022] FCAFC 194: Acting for the Minister in an appeal concerning s 501CA(4) of the Migration Act 1958 (Cth)
Independent Contractors of Australia Inc v Victorian Workcover Authority [2022] VSC 743: Acting for Worksafe Victoria in an application for review of the defendant’s decision not to prosecute various Ministers and public servants in relation to the COVID Hotel Quarantine Containment Program (led by Georgina Costello KC)
Khalil v Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs [2022] FCAFC 26: acting for the appellant in an appeal concerning a failure to consider relevant considerations (unled)
Re Energy Brix Australia Corporation Pty Ltd (in liq) [2022] VSC 700: Acting for the State in an application concerning the escheatment of land (unled)
Grand Ridge Plantations Pty Ltd v Valuer-General Victoria (2024) 75 VR 185; [2024] VSC 129: Acting for the plaintiff in an appeal under the Valuation of Land Act 1960 (Vic) concerning the valuation of forestry land and the jurisdiction of the Court (led by Sandro Goubran KC)
Brompton Lodge Pty Ltd (in liq) v Head, Transport for Victoria [2021] VSCA 302 and [2020] VSC 797: Acting for the Authority in a claim for compensation under s 98 of the Planning and Environment Act 1987 (Vic) (led by Sandro Goubran KC)