Trevor Withane

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Trevor is a home-grown Allen & Overy lawyer, who trained and spent about 7 years at A&O in London, before spending time as a Senior Solicitor at Mishcon de Reya and then moving to the Commercial Bar as a Barrister. This pedigree and English law qualification (in addition to his Australian law standing) enabled Trevor to compete for top-tier work, and helped him garner a reputation for being an ‘international lawyer’ in Australia.

Trevor is ranked in The Legal 500 Australia and Doyles Guide New South Wales for litigation, and has built a reputation for being a thought leader in insolvency litigation in Australia, and a go-to lawyer for complex disputes and conflict referrals.

Trevor is regularly sought out to advise boards – and is known for his hands-on approach, attention to detail and the speed at which he can deliver considered and dependable advice. This has led to Trevor and Ironbridge Legal becoming go-to lawyers for PwC, Deloitte liquidators, Bosch and other household names.

Experience

Trevor has acted for a wide variety of corporates, insolvency practitioners and private clients in a range of industries covering diverse subject matters. A sample of the matters he has been pivotally involved in include acting for a:

Insolvency

Shareholder in a minority shareholder dispute with a substantial steel company involving whistleblowing claims
Chinese shareholder in a mining dispute concerning two granite and marble mines in Queensland
Large property developer who had been blackmailed by a rogue employee
Large Canadian fund in obtaining freezing orders, and pursuing several claims for misleading and deceptive conduct and fraud-style claims
Start-up in a significant complex contractual dispute, including issues as to whether there was ever a contract
Shareholder of a company in defamation action
Property company in a claim against Telstra for failure to provide a service
Large accountancy firm defending allegations of breaches of restraint following a business sale

Litigation

Represented a secured mortgage lender in relation to enforcement proceedings following a loan default
Acted for a significant Sydney based fund in hostile takeovers litigation before the Takeovers Panel
Represented three related defendants in court proceedings instituted by a major bank in relation to personal guarantees of business loans. This matter resulted in a successful settlement at mediation
Acted for a shareholder in relation to a dispute in relation to further funding obligations under a shareholders’ agreement
Acted for a bankrupt in a claim against a Big 4 bank
Acted for a construction company in a complex fraud dispute
Successfully acted for a company in Queensland Supreme Court proceedings to urgently remove a caveat on a property
Successfully acted for several directors in respect of challenging Director Penalty Notices (DPN) issued by the Australian Tax Office (ATO)
Acted for claimant in a significant debt claim involving complex set-off and payroll grouping issues
Successfully acted in several breach of contract claims
Acted for purchaser of land in a misleading and deceptive conduct claim against the vendor and the agent

Admissions

Trevor is admitted to practice law in all Australian courts, including in the High Court of Australia.

Committees

Former serving member of the New South Wales Law Society’s Litigation Law & Practice Committee.

Memberships

Recognitions

In 2015, Thompson Reuters’ Super Lawyers recognised Trevor as a “rising star”.
In 2021, Finalist: Lawyers Weekly Partner of the Year: Litigation
In 2021, Finalist: Lawyers Weekly Partner of the Year: Insolvency
In 2021, Recommended Doyles Guide Litigation Partner
In 2021, Recommended Doyles Guide Insolvency Partner

Education

A first-class law degree, Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) with Honours
A distinction in the England & Wales Legal Practice Course
A distinction in Australian Constitutional Law
Passes in several accountancy subjects awarded by the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants

Managing Partner