Gabi Crafti
- Commercial Law Tort Law
She acts extensively for insurers, superannuation funds, banks and other financial institutions, financial advisory services, principals and contractors in major construction and infrastructure projects, and government departments and agencies. She represents those clients both at trial and at appellate level, and has appeared in all state and federal courts.
Since 2017, she has been recognised annually as one of Australia's best insurance barristers in Best Lawyers in Australia, and as one of Victoria's leading construction and infrastructure junior counsel in Doyles Guide.
Gabi's practice also includes professional disciplinary proceedings. She has acted for and against regulators in the building industry, the legal profession and various health professions, amongst others.
Gabi served on the Victorian Bar Council in 2010-11 and 2018-20. She was a member of the Executive Committee of the Commercial Bar Association (2017-19) and a member of the Executive Committee of the Victorian Chapter of the Australian Institute of Administrative Law (2008-11).
Gabi read with David Batt QC.
Prior to joining the Bar, Gabi was a litigation solicitor at Mallesons and Allens, and was associate to the Hon. Justice Weinberg when his Honour was at the Federal Court of Australia.
Gabi also has experience in government and legal policy, having worked as a Senior Legal Policy Officer at the Victorian Department of Justice and Regulation. In that role, she managed aspects of the Attorney-General’s civil law reform program, with a particular focus on dispute resolution and access to justice. Her legislative projects included the introduction of the Victorian Court of Appeal’s 2014 civil appeals reforms and the implementation of the Vexatious Proceedings Act 2014 (Vic).
Liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards legislation
Contact
- P03 9225 7534
- M0413 450 953
- F03 9225 8668
- E[email protected]
- Connect on Linkedin
- Download VCard
Aickin Chambers
Level 27 Room 5
200 Queen Street
Melbourne VIC 3000
Jane King
03 9225 8558
Expertise
- Appellate
- Banking & Finance
- Building & Construction
- Class Actions
- Contractual Disputes
- Insurance
- Professional Negligence
Qualifications
Bachelor of Laws (Hons)
Bachelor of Arts
Victoria
State and Territory Courts and Tribunals
Federal Court of Australia
High Court of Australia
Recent Cases
Andrew Norbury Aircraft Pty Ltd v QBE Insurance (Australia) Limited: acting unled for insured in Federal Court insurance dispute regarding damage to private aircraft
Riseley v Suncorp Portfolio Services Limited & Anor: acting unled for Suncorp in Full Court of Federal Court appeal against decision in [2021] FCA 472, in which she appeared unled, regarding review of decision of Superannuation Complaints Tribunal
Opal Tower: acted for insurer in insurance dispute in Federal Court, led by Chris Caleo QC, including appearing in Icon Co (NSW) Pty Ltd v Liberty Mutual Insurance Company Australian Branch[2020] FCA 1493 and on appeal to the Full Court in Liberty Mutual Insurance Company Australian Branch v Icon Co (NSW) Pty Ltd[2021] FCAFC 126 and in (No. 2) in [2021] FCAFC 131
Clark v National Australia Bank Limited & Anor: acted for MLC Limited in a Federal Court class action regarding credit card insurance and personal loan insurance, led by Chris Caleo QC, including in [2020] FCA 652
Macras v Nulis Nominees (Australia) Limited [2018] FCA 1867: acted for MLC Limited in application for review of decision of Superannuation Complaints Tribunal in the Federal Court, unled
Metricon Homes Pty Ltd v Great Lakes Australia: acted for commercial house builder in major and long-running Supreme Court dispute with its liability insurer, led by Jeff Gleeson QC, including appearing in [2017] VSC 749
Miller & Associates Insurance Broking Pty Ltd v BMW Australia Finance Limited(2010) 241 CLR 357: acted for successful appellant in High Court appeal in misleading conduct dispute, led by Jeff Gleeson QC (together with application for special leave and appeal to Victorian Court of Appeal in (2009) 27 VR 243)
TV Mews Pty Ltd v Method Constructions Pty Ltd: acted for third party insurance broker in significant fire claim in Supreme Court of Victoria, unled
Melone v AMP Life Limited: acted unled for AMP Life in Federal Court application for review of decision of Superannuation Complaints Tribunal, discontinued by applicant
De La Cruz v The Colonial Mutual Life Assurance Society Limited: acted for respondent in life insurance dispute in Supreme Court of Victoria, led by Jeff Gleeson QC, settled
Providing advice to insurers and insureds, particularly in respect of:
- - complex infrastructure and construction projects, including:
- Nui Phao Mining Project in Vietnam, led by David Collins QC
- Metro Tunnel in Victoria, unled
- Lane Cove Tunnel in New South Wales, led by Chris Caleo QC
- - other insurance-related matters, including:
- the AMP superannuation class action, led by Chris Caleo QC
- the 2020 cancellation of the Australian Grand Prix, led by Jeff Gleeson QC
- ASIC section 912C notice for MLC Limited, unled
- A $4.7 million claim under a policy of aviation aircraft insurance, unled
Downer EDI Engineering Power Pty Ltd v APA Orbost Gas Plant Pty Ltd: acting for APA in Supreme Court of Victoria dispute, unled
Geelong-Bacchus Marsh Road road-widening works: acting for Head, Transport for Victoria in arbitration regarding dispute with contractor, unled
Lay & Sons Organization Pty Ltd v Sunbuild Pty Ltd: acting for plaintiff in $14 million recovery claim against builder in respect of fire damage to property in Supreme Court of Victoria, led by Chris Caleo QC and leading Conrad Banasik
Owners Corporation No. 1 PS602497J v Salta Constructions Pty Ltd: acting for applicant in $12 million defects claim in VCAT against developer in respect of 150 Clarendon St, East Melbourne, unled
Owners Corporation No. 1 PS624001U v Fender Katsalidis (Aust) Pty Ltd: acting for City of Melbourne in VCAT dispute in respect of Little Hero Apartments, Melbourne, unled
Long Island Properties Pty Ltd v AMMA Steel Works Pty Ltd: acted for insurer of plaintiff builder in Supreme Court of Victoria proceedings against subcontractor in respect of $1.5 million in fire damage to property, unled
West Gate Tunnel Project: acted for State of Victoria, led by Martin Scott QC
Jemena Northern Gas Pipeline Pty Ltd v Civmec Constructions & Engineering Pty Ltd: acted for Jemena in $30 million dispute regarding construction of Northern Gas Pipeline in Northern Territory, led by Hugh Foxcroft QC, including appearing in [2019] NTSC 52, unled and [2019] NTSC 54, led by Jason Pizer QC
Multiplex Constructions Pty Ltd v Aegis Correctional Partnership Pty Ltd: acted for Multiplex in three -year Supreme Court proceeding regarding construction of Ararat prison, led by Jeff Gleeson QC and leading Brian Mason, settled
Adelaide City Tramline Extension: acted for Downer EDI Works Pty Ltd in a dispute with the South Australian Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure, led by Jeff Gleeson QC
Outer Suburban Arterial Roads Western Roads Upgrade Project, Victoria: advised Amey Consulting Australia Pty Ltd in dispute with WBHO Infrastructure Pty Ltd regarding design services, unled
Adams v Clark Homes Pty Ltd (Building and Property)[2015] VCAT 1658: acted unled for architect firm which was successful in having case against it summarily dismissed
Acted for principal in dispute regarding construction of a wind farm, led by Jeff Gleeson QC, settled
ASIC v Dover Financial Advisors Pty Ltd : acting for respondents in application for pecuniary penalties in Federal Court, led by Jeff Gleeson QC and leading Karan Raghavan, including in (2019) 140 ACSR 561, (2019) 140 ACSR 635 and (2021) 150 ACSR 185
Connective Services Pty Ltd v Lees: acted for defendant directors in derivative action in the Supreme Court of Victoria, led by Michael Borsky QC (including appearing in Slea Pty v Connective ServicesPty Ltd [2018] VSC 542 and Slea Pty v Connective Services Pty Ltd[2019] VSC 201)
Zhou v Cullia: acting for law firm in multi-party finance dispute in Supreme Court of Victoria, unled
Ganesh v National Australia Bank Limited [2021] VSCA 45: acted for successful appellant in banking dispute in Victorian Court of Appeal, unled, leading Chris Lum
Royal Commission into Misconduct in the Banking, Superannuation and Financial Services Industry: acted for MLC Limited, led by Chris Caleo QC
Noga v GWM Adviser Services Ltd: acted for AFSL holder in multi-party Federal Court dispute about misappropriation of financial services client funds, unled, settled
Gusbeth v Westpac Banking Corporation: acted for Westpac in Supreme Court of Victoria banking dispute, unled Rashed v Perpetual Trustees Victoria Ltd[2010] FCA 1046: acted for plaintiff in Federal Court banking dispute, led by Kris Hanscombe QC, settled
Rashed v Perpetual Trustees Victoria Ltd[2010] FCA 1046: acted for plaintiff in Federal Court banking dispute, led by Kris Hanscombe QC, settled
Lederberger v Mediterranean Olives Financial Pty Ltd: acted for law firm on question of professional negligence on appeal to the Victorian Court of Appeal, led by Jeff Gleeson QC
Kilmore East bushfire class action: acted for Department of Sustainability and Environment in Matthews v Ausnet Electricity Services Pty Ltd in the Supreme Court of Victoria, led by Pat Zappia QC
Acted in various professional negligence proceedings for and against financial services providers (including in separate proceedings led by Maryanne Loughnan QC, Christopher Archibald QC and Jeff Gleeson QC), all settled
Lanhai Pty Ltd v 7-Eleven Stores Pty Ltd: acting for plaintiff in franchising dispute in Supreme Court of Victoria, leading Conrad Banasik, including in [2021] VSC 587
Wu v Shi [2019] VCC 858: acted for defendant in sale of business dispute, unled
Burke v Brunner: acted unled for plaintiffs in real estate contract dispute in the Supreme Court of Victoria, unled
Drew v Drew: acted unled for plaintiff in a property dispute in the Supreme Court of Victoria, unled
Maynard v Moneygram Payment Systems Inc[2018] VSC 7: acted unled for successful respondent in Supreme Court appeal from VCAT in contractual and misleading conduct dispute
Gu v AHA Pacific Pty Ltd: acted unled for plaintiff in contractual dispute in the Supreme Court of Victoria, led by Anthony Lo Surdo SC, settled
Publications
Property Law Update - When parents buy a house for their child, can a resulting trust arise?
22 February 2016Commercial Law Update - Insurers on the hook - CGU Insurance Limited v Blakeley & Ors [2016]
09 November 2015Commercial Law Update - Proportionate liability meets the statute of limitations
03 March 2015Public Law Update - First use of Vexatious Proceedings Act 2014 (Vic)
Memberships
Victorian Bar - Commercial Bar Association