Josh has a broad practice in public law, general commercial, employment and industrial matters. He has particular interest and expertise in regulatory matters, discrimination law and human rights law.
Josh built up a broad practice before coming to the Bar. He was previously an Associate at the Supreme Court of Victoria and was a commercial lawyer at Linklaters in London and Singapore. His commercial experience includes regulatory investigations and enforcement, advising on banking regulation/compliance, and drafting agreements on complex cross-border transactions.
In respect of his public law experience, he was previously a senior lawyer in the Public Law team at the Victorian Department of Justice and a discrimination lawyer at Victoria Legal Aid. He also worked in human rights law and policy at the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission. His international work includes free speech litigation at the Knight First Amendment Institute, and at the African American Policy Forum, both in New York City.
Josh holds a Master of Laws from Columbia University and graduated from Monash University with First Class Honours in law and the Prize for Consistent Excellence in economics. He has also been a casual academic at Monash University and Deakin University, in Torts, Administrative Law, and Discrimination Law.
Josh read with Timothy Goodwin and his senior mentor is Kathleen Foley SC.
His recent experience includes:
- Hanson v Faruqi & Anor (Full Federal Court, decision reserved) – appeal, Racial Discrimination Act 1975 (led by Saul Holt KC, with Jessie Taylor and Joshua Underwood)
United Firefighters Union v Fire Rescue Victoria (Fair Work Commission Full Bench, decision reserved) – intractable bargaining workplace determination (led by Chris O’Grady KC, with Franceska Lencio)
Hobley v Rasier Pacific Pty Ltd (Federal Court, ongoing) – Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (led by Chris Young KC, with Laura Hilly)
Homes Victoria v Galasso [2024] VCAT 642 – residential tenancies (unled)
advice on construction of enterprise agreements
advice on statutory construction for the Parliament of Victoria – analysis of Parliamentary Bills, including on constitutional law issues and limitations on rights and freedoms
advice for government departments, including on statutory construction, legality and risks under the Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities Act 2006 (Vic), and constitutional law issues including territorial sovereignty
advice on prospects and options for appeals and judicial review
advice on prospects, options and quantum in relation to discrimination law claims made under state and federal discrimination law statutes
various hearings and applications in criminal matters, including for bail, Drug and Alcohol Treatment Orders and Victims of Crime Tribunal hearings
