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Experience

Robert practises in occupational health and safety, environmental and other regulatory prosecutions, employment and industrial law, criminal law, professional disciplinary proceedings and coronial inquests in all courts and tribunals.

He has been recognised by the Doyle's Guide rankings for six consecutive years (2019-24) as a preeminent in the field of workplace health and safety law. In recent years he has appeared in many of the most significant cases in the area at both trial and appellate level. He is currently briefed in both of the first two prosecutions under the new Victorian industrial manslaughter laws.

He specialises in areas involving the intersection of the criminal law with business: occupational health and safety, competition law, corporations law and environmental regulation offences. He appears in both prosecutions and civil penalty proceedings at trial and appellate level, at inquests and disciplinary proceedings, and at Fair Work Australia and other employment law tribunals.

He also appears in state and federal courts in industrial cases, employment contract cases, general protections disputes, sexual harassment and discrimination cases. He regularly appears for players at the AFL tribunal.

Experience

Occupational Health and Safety/Regulatory Offences

Robert acts for companies charged with offences under the Occupational Health and Safety Act and similar legislation, in contested cases and pleas. He has appeared with success in numerous jury trials. He has appeared in a number of the significant cases in the field in the Court of Appeal and the High Court.

He is available to advise on incident management, analysing briefs of evidence, and whether a case should be contested or pleas of guilty entered.

He has also acted in prosecutions brought under the Environment Protection Act, the Building Act, the Planning Act, and Food Act, and the Gambling Regulation Act and has been briefed by the Victorian Workcover Authority, the Victorian Commissioner for Gambling and Liquor Regulation and several municipal councils to prosecute offences.

Industrial and Employment

Robert has acted for companies such as John Holland, Schweppes, Nissan Australia, Esso, DP World and Baiada Poultry in major industrial cases in the Supreme Court, the federal courts and the Fair Work Commission. He has also appeared for both employers and employees in employment contract disputes in State courts, unfair dismissal cases in the Fair Work Commission and general protections claims in the Federal Circuit Court. He has appeared in a number of significant matters at first instance and on appeal, including in the High Court, for the Australian Building and Construction Commissioner.

Inquests

Robert regularly appears in the Coroners Court and has represented the Chief Commissioner of Police, employers, and families of deceased persons in that jurisdiction.

Criminal Law

Robert is an experienced jury trial advocate with particular experience in Corporations Act prosecutions, fraud, and major drug prosecutions.. He is also experienced in conducting general criminal law cases.

He has also appeared in the Court of Appeal in serious criminal matters on conviction and sentence appeals.

He is the former author/editor of the online edition of Ross on Crime.

Administrative Law

Robert is experienced in judicial review proceedings in the Supreme and Federal Courts and has appeared before tribunals including the Medical Board, VCAT and employment tribunals. 

Other matters

Robert has served two terms on the Victorian Bar Council. Outside the law, he was a Champion of Champions on the Temptation (Sale of the Century) quiz show, and briefly held the Australian record for the highest game show winnings.

From 12 Feb 2009, liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards legislation.