Lara O'Rorke

She is regularly briefed to appear, led and unled, in state and federal courts and tribunals, and to advise on commercial law and regulatory issues. 

Lara read with Banjo McLachlan. Her senior mentor was Dr Catherine Button QC (as her Honour then was). 

Prior to joining the Bar, Lara was a Senior Associate at Arnold Bloch Leibler, and a solicitor at Clayton Utz, where she worked on a variety of matters including the Banksia class action, building, property and construction disputes, wills and estate disputes, insolvency disputes (including the Sargon Capital and Raylan Group collapses), banking and finance disputes and judicial review applications in taxation and stamp duty disputes. 

Lara holds degrees in Law and Media & Communications from The University of Melbourne. 

Since coming to the bar, Lara has been briefed in a variety of matters including the following:

• Acting for the successful plaintiff in Supreme Court of Victoria proceedings concerning the proper construction of a commercial lease (led by Sam Horgan KC): Starpharma Pty Ltd v Howzit My China Pty Ltd [2024] VSC 499
• Acting for the plaintiff in the Fletcher Building shareholder class action commenced in the Supreme Court of Victoria (led by William A D Edwards KC and Alexander Edwards)
• Acting for a defendant to a “flex commission” class action commenced in the Supreme Court of Victoria (led by Kathleen Foley SC)
• Acting for the Secretary of the Department of Health and Aged Care in Federal Court of Australia proceedings seeking interim and final relief for alleged contraventions of the Therapeutic Goods Act 1989 (Cth) (led by Kateena O’Gorman SC)
• Acting for a corporate respondent to Federal Court of Australia proceedings seeking relief for alleged misuse of confidential information in breach of statutory, equitable and contractual obligations (led by Albert Dinelli KC), including in respect of the execution of an ex parte search order (unled)
• Acting for the respondent to the Aveo class action brought in the Federal Court of Australia, including by appearing at trial prior to settlement (led by Philip Crutchfield KC, Kathleen Foley SC and Banjo McLachlan, instructed by Arnold Bloch Leibler), proofing witnesses, preparing lay evidence and expert evidence: Luke v Aveo Group Limited [2022] FCA 92; Luke v Aveo Group Limited (No 2) [2022] FCA 1072
• Acting for a wholly owned subsidiary of Australia Post in an urgent interlocutory injunction application and an expedited appeal to the Full Court of the Federal Court of Australia: StarTrack Express Pty Ltd v TMA Australia Pty Ltd [2023] FCA 1271 (led by Rob Heath KC); StarTrack Express Pty Ltd v TMA Australia Pty Ltd [2023] FCAFC 200 (led by Hamish Austin KC and Andrew McRobert)
• Acting for one of the respondents, Slea Pty Ltd, in the appeal to the Court of Appeal of the Supreme Court of Victoria in Millsave Holdings Pty Ltd v Connective Group Pty Ltd [2023] VSCA 326 (led by Michael Hodge KC, Kathleen Foley SC, Geoffrey Kozminsky and Colette Minz)
• Acting for an overseas based subpoenaed party in proceedings commenced by Rahul Goyal and Michael Korda in their capacity as receivers and managers of innovative 3D Systems Pty Ltd (receivers and managers appointed) (led by Albert Dinelli KC)
• Acting for the Commissioner for the Australian Federal Police in County Court of Victoria proceedings seeking an unexplained wealth order under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (Cth) (led by Rob Craig KC and Colette Minz)
• Acting for a “big four” bank in Supreme Court of Victoria proceedings concerning debt recovery and the enforcement of securities (led by Hamish Austin KC), including by proofing witnesses and preparing lay witness statements
• Acting for a private entity in Supreme Court of Victoria proceedings commenced against multiple defendants for breach of trust, knowing assistance and breach of contract (led by Rob Craig KC and Roxanne Burd)
• Acting for a defendant and plaintiff by counterclaim in multiple Supreme Court of Victoria proceedings, including by appearing at trial prior to settlement (led by Peter Cawthorn KC and Sarah Worsfield)
• Acting for a defendant and third party claimant in Supreme Court of Victoria proceedings commenced by Orora Limited (led by Suresh Senathirajah KC and Adam Rollnik), including by proofing witnesses, preparing lay witness statements and expert evidence, and preparing for mediation
• Acting for a subpoenaed party in Supreme Court of Victoria proceedings commenced against Sleeping Duck Pty Ltd
• Acting in the Royal Commission into the Casino Operator and Licence (led by Banjo McLachlan)
• Acting for a member of the United Petroleum group of companies in Supreme Court of Victoria proceedings to remove a restrictive covenant (led by Sam Horgan KC): Viva Energy Refining Pty Ltd v Sumervale Pty Ltd & Anor [2022] VSC 773
• Acting for a registered financial services provider in Supreme Court of Victoria proceedings commenced for breach of trust, knowing assistance and knowing receipt (led by Geoffrey Kozminsky)

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