Gabi Crafti
- Commercial Law Public Law
Gabi is an experienced commercial law barrister, recently listed in Doyle’s Leading Commercial Litigation & Dispute Resolution Junior Counsel – Victoria, 2017; Doyle’s Leading Construction & Infrastructure Junior Counsel – Victoria, 2018; Doyle's Leading Construction & Infrastructure Barristers – Victoria, 2017; and the AFR's 2018 and 2017 Best Lawyers for her work in Insurance Law.
She acts extensively for insurers, superannuation funds, banks and other financial institutions, construction companies, publicly listed and other major corporations, 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.
Gabi is a member of the Executive Committee of the Commercial Bar Association. She was elected to Victorian Bar Council (2010-2011) and was a member of the Executive Committee of the Victorian Chapter of the Australian Institute of Administrative Law (2008-2011).
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
- Building & Construction
- Contractual Disputes
- Corporate Insolvency
- Corporations & Securities
- Insurance
- Banking & Finance
- Competition
- Equity & Trusts
- Appellate
- Administrative Law
- Commissions & Inquiries
- Judicial Review
- 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
Metricon Homes Pty Ltd v Great Lakes Australia [2017] VSC 749: acted for commercial house builder in major dispute with its liability insurer, led by Jeff Gleeson QC
acting for AAI Limited and AIA Australia Limited in various professional indemnity insurance matters
acting for MetLife, CMLA, AIA Australia Limited and MLC in various life insurance matters
Connective Services Pty Ltd v Lees: acting for defendant directors in derivative action in the Supreme Court of Victoria, led by Michael Borsky QC
Burke v Brunner: acting for plaintiffs in real estate contract dispute in the Supreme Court of Victoria
Drew v Drew: acting for plaintiff in a property dispute in the Supreme Court of Victoria
Maynard v Moneygram Payment Systems Inc [2018] VSC 7: acted for successful respondent in appeal from VCAT in contractual and misleading conduct dispute
Gu v AHA Pacific Pty Ltd: acted for plaintiff in contractual dispute in the Supreme Court of Victoria, led by Antony Lo Surdo SC, 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
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 (2009) 27 VR 243)
Matthews v Ausnet Electricity Services Pty Ltd: acted for Department of Sustainability and Environment in Kilmore East bushfire class action in the Supreme Court of Victoria, led by Pat Zappia QC
Gusbeth v Westpac Banking Corporation: acting for defendant in banking dispute in the Supreme Court of Victoria
Rashed v Perpetual Trustees Victoria Ltd [2010] FCA 1046: acted for plaintiff in banking dispute in the Federal Court, led by Kris Hanscombe QC, settled
Multiplex Constructions Pty Ltd v Aegis Correctional Partnership Pty Ltd: acting for Multiplex in the Supreme Court of Victoria in major dispute over construction of Ararat prison, led by Jeff Gleeson QC
Adams v Clark Homes Pty Ltd (Building and Property) [2015] VCAT 1658: acted for architect firm which was successful in having the proceeding against it summarily dismissed
McGough v Harrington Constructions Pty Ltd: acted for plumber in domestic building dispute, settled
acting regularly for the Victorian Legal Services Commissioner since 2012 in professional disciplinary proceedings
Vocational Training Group Pty Ltd (in liq) v State of Victoria: acted for plaintiff in the Supreme Court of Victoria in regulatory dispute
Haile-Michael v Konstantinidis: acted in racial discrimination group proceeding in the Federal Court against Victoria Police, led by Debbie Mortimer SC and Rachel Doyle SC, settled
Ngo v Minister for Immigration [2010] FMCA 32: acted for successful applicant in a judicial review application
Feakes v Cardinia Shire Council [2010] VCAT 1436: acted for successful applicant in a merits review application
acting for Director of Public Transport, Secretary to the Department of Justice, Psychology Board of Australia, Nurses Board of Victoria, Osteopathy Board of Australia and Victims of Crime Assistance Tribunal in various applications for merits review between 2009 and 2012
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
Member of Australian Insurance Law Association
Member of Society of Construction Law Australia
Member of International Commission of Jurists Victoria