The Mitry Emerson Lewis litigation team has decades of combined experience acting for corporations, financial institutions, governments, regulators, and individuals in complex and strategically significant disputes. The team is recognised for its technical excellence, sound commercial judgment, and ability to manage litigation involving novel legal issues, multiple parties, and cross-border considerations.

MEL act in major commercial disputes and class actions across a wide range of industries and jurisdictions, advising clients at every stage of the dispute lifecycle from early case assessment and dispute avoidance through to final hearing and appeal.

The team has a strong international and public international law capability and has acted for sovereign states, foreign governments, state-owned entities, and international parties in disputes involving jurisdiction, immunity, treaty interpretation, and the enforcement of foreign judgments and arbitral awards. We are experienced in matters involving diplomatic sensitivities and broader geopolitical considerations, including disputes that intersect domestic law with international obligations.

Mitry Emerson Lewis appear in all Australian courts and tribunals, including superior and appellate courts, and are trusted to conduct matters requiring careful strategic judgment, detailed preparation, and effective advocacy.

Our litigation experience includes:

• Financial and banking litigation involving lending and financing arrangements, securities, guarantees, derivatives, regulatory compliance, and enforcement action
• Class actions acting for defendants and respondents in shareholder, consumer, and financial services proceedings, including early-stage risk assessment, defence strategy development, and complex settlement negotiations
• Insolvency and restructuring disputes involving liquidators, receivers, administrators, creditors, and directors, including claims concerning insolvent trading, voidable transactions, and priority issues
• Corporate and commercial disputes including shareholder and joint venture disputes, oppression proceedings, breach of directors’ duties claims, and significant contractual disputes
• Employment and industrial disputes including executive termination matters, restraint of trade issues, workplace investigations, and complex proceedings under the Fair Work framework
• Trade, competition, and regulatory disputes involving competition and consumer law issues, regulatory investigations, and enforcement proceedings
• Trusts and equity matters involving fiduciary obligations, trust administration disputes, and equitable remedies
• Property and construction litigation involving commercial property developments, leasing disputes, construction defects, and high-value property claims
• Consumer and trade practices matters involving allegations of misleading or deceptive conduct, false representations, and regulatory action

Our approach to litigation is strategic and outcomes-focused. We work closely with clients to understand their commercial objectives, reputational considerations, and appetite for risk, and tailor dispute strategies accordingly. Depending on the circumstances, this may involve decisive court action, early resolution through negotiation or mediation, or targeted procedural steps designed to protect our clients’ interests.

Clients value our ability to provide clear and practical advice in high-pressure environments and our commitment to taking ownership of complex and sensitive matters. We are experienced in managing disputes where confidentiality, public exposure, or broader business or policy considerations are critical, and we deliver effective advocacy at every stage of the litigation process.

The Mitry Emerson Lewis Commercial and Corporate team provides clear, commercially focused advice to businesses at every stage of growth and operation. We work closely with clients to understand their commercial objectives, risk profile, and operating environment, and deliver practical guidance that supports sound decision making and long-term value creation.

MEL act for market-leading businesses, private groups, and individuals across a broad range of industries, advising on both strategic transactions and day-to-day commercial matters. Our lawyers are trusted advisers to boards, executives, and business owners, and are experienced in managing matters that require discretion, technical precision, and commercial judgment.

We regularly advise Australian and international clients on establishing and operating businesses in Australia, including foreign entities entering the Australian market. Our work extends across the full lifecycle of a business, from formation and structuring through to ongoing compliance, growth, and succession planning.

Mitry Emerson Lewis act for clients across a range of industries including:

• Finance including banks, non-bank lenders, investment vehicles, and financial services businesses
• Childcare including operators, owners, and investors in early learning and education services
• Aged care including residential facilities, home care providers, and aged services operators
• Large hospitality including hotel groups, restaurant operators, and venue-based businesses
• Property including developers, owners, investors, and managers across commercial and residential assets

Our commercial and corporate experience includes:

• Business structuring and incorporation including the establishment of Australian subsidiaries, branches, and joint ventures for foreign entities
• Contract drafting, review, and negotiation for agreements affecting all aspects of a business, including supply, distribution, services, technology, and strategic arrangements
• Corporations law and regulatory compliance advice for directors, officers, and boards, including governance frameworks, reporting obligations, and risk management
• Mergers, acquisitions, and business sales for private companies and corporate groups, including transaction structuring, due diligence, and implementation
• Employment and workplace advisory matters including executive employment arrangements, incentive structures, and ongoing advice on workforce management
• Ongoing commercial advisory work providing day-to-day guidance to management on operational, contractual, and risk issues arising in the conduct of business
• Family office representation including advice on governance, investment structures, asset holding arrangements, and intergenerational planning

Our approach is pragmatic and relationship-driven. We focus on delivering advice that is legally robust, commercially sensible, and aligned with our clients’ broader business objectives. Clients value our ability to provide timely, practical guidance and to act as an extension of their internal management and advisory teams.

The MEL Property team provides strategic and commercially focused advice across a broad range of property matters, with particular depth in commercial leasing and capital transactions. We act for property developers, land owners, investors, and family offices, and are trusted advisers on complex property transactions requiring careful structuring, technical precision, and commercial judgment.

We advise on both residential and commercial property matters and are experienced in managing transactions across the full property lifecycle, from acquisition and development through to leasing, management, and disposal. Our lawyers work closely with clients to understand their investment objectives, risk profile, and asset strategy, and deliver practical advice aligned with commercial outcomes.

Our property experience includes:

• Commercial leasing across retail, office, and industrial assets, including drafting, negotiation, and advice on lease structures, incentives, and risk allocation
• Residential and commercial capital transactions including acquisitions, disposals, and portfolio transactions for private and institutional clients
• Acting for property developers on development projects from site acquisition through to project completion and sale
• Advising land owners and investors on asset management, leasing strategy, and value protection
• Supporting family offices with property investment structures, intergenerational ownership considerations, and long-term asset planning
• Providing ongoing advice on property-related issues arising in the operation and management of commercial and residential assets

The Mitry Emerson Lewis approach is practical and commercially driven. We focus on delivering clear, timely advice that supports informed decision making and protects our clients’ interests throughout each stage of a property transaction. Clients value our responsiveness, attention to detail, and ability to manage property matters efficiently while remaining aligned with broader commercial objectives.

The Mitry Emerson Lewis Insolvency and Restructuring team is recognised for its depth of expertise in corporations law, insolvency, and restructuring, and for its ability to advise on matters of significant technical complexity and commercial consequence. These are highly specialised areas of law, and our lawyers are trusted for their precision, judgment, and experience in navigating challenging and time-sensitive circumstances.

We act for a broad range of stakeholders affected by financial distress and formal insolvency processes, including private lenders, insolvency practitioners across accounting firms of all sizes, directors, shareholders, creditors, and other parties impacted by insolvency administrations. We understand the legal, commercial, and personal pressures that arise in these situations and provide clear, practical advice grounded in deep technical knowledge.

MEL’s work spans advisory, transactional, and court-based matters. We regularly advise before, during, and after formal insolvency appointments, and we are experienced in guiding clients through both contentious and non-contentious scenarios.

Our insolvency and restructuring experience includes:

• Advising insolvency practitioners on all aspects of corporate and personal insolvency administrations, including liquidations, voluntary administrations, deeds of company arrangement, and bankruptcies
• Acting for lenders and creditors on enforcement strategies, security interests, priority disputes, and recovery actions
• Advising directors and officers on duties, risk exposure, and decision making in circumstances of financial distress
• Acting for shareholders and other stakeholders in disputes arising from insolvency administrations
• Transactional advice in distressed situations including restructures, asset sales, and business transfers
• Conducting and defending insolvency-related litigation, including voidable transaction claims, insolvent trading claims, and applications for directions
• Advising on matters arising under the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth), the Bankruptcy Act 1966 (Cth), and the Personal Property Securities Act 2009 (Cth)

We regularly appear in courts and tribunals across Australia in insolvency-related proceedings and are experienced in managing urgent applications, complex evidentiary issues, and matters involving competing stakeholder interests.

Our approach is measured, strategic, and technically rigorous. We focus on delivering advice that is both legally robust and commercially realistic, helping clients navigate insolvency processes with clarity and confidence while protecting their interests at every stage.

Mitry Emerson Lewis have a long track record of media and entertainment work which includes advising high-profile individuals, talent agencies, publishers, and content creators on complex legal issues arising in media, publishing, and the creative industries.

Mitry Emerson Lewis are recognised for our experience in sensitive and high-stakes matters where reputation, confidentiality, and commercial interests are paramount.

We regularly act in defamation and reputation management matters, including proceedings involving cross-border elements and foreign parties. Our lawyers have appeared in the Federal Court, Supreme Courts, and District Courts across Australia in defamation disputes involving traditional media, digital platforms, and international publications. We advise clients from early risk assessment and pre-publication review through to contested litigation and resolution.

Our practice also includes a strong intellectual property and entertainment law capability. We assist clients with the creation, protection, commercialisation, and enforcement of intellectual property rights, and provide strategic advice on the management of valuable creative and brand assets.

Our media, entertainment, and intellectual property experience includes:

• Acting for high-profile individuals and publishers in defamation proceedings, including cross-border disputes and matters involving foreign entities
• Advising on pre-publication risk, reputation management, and media strategy in sensitive matters
• Drafting and negotiating publishing, licensing, production, and talent agreements
• Advising on copyright, trade mark, and related intellectual property rights, including ownership, protection, and enforcement
• Acting in intellectual property disputes involving infringement, misuse, and contractual rights
• Advising on commercial arrangements across media, entertainment, and creative industries

The Mitry Emerson Lewis approach is discreet, strategic, and commercially focused. We work closely with clients to understand their objectives and risk exposure and provide clear, practical advice tailored to the fast-moving and reputationally sensitive nature of media and entertainment matters. Clients value our judgment, responsiveness, and ability to manage complex disputes and negotiations with confidence and care.