Dispute Resolution

OUR EXPERIENCE

Carneys Lawyers have an experienced team of dispute resolution lawyers led by partners who are accredited specialists. Carneys’ compelling reputation for dispute resolution, including in some of Australia’s most significant legal disputes, is well-known.

We are driven to consistently achieve successful results for our clients and our lawyers are highly skilled at carefully leading our clients to the best possible outcome, whether that be negotiating a settlement prior to commencing proceedings, or running a defended hearing.

We provide a full range of dispute resolution services, including:

  • Innovative alternative dispute resolution strategies, including mediation, negotiation and arbitration;
  • Persuasive and effective representation in court, whether seeking urgent interim relief, final relief at a hearing, or on appeal; and
  • Strategic advocacy before tribunals and regulatory bodies.
  1. Shareholders, trusts and partnerships
  2. Contractual
  3. Fraud and white collar crime
  4. Banking, finance and securities
  5. Property disputes
  6. Trade practices
  7. Insolvency

“These guys know the legal process back to front. More impressive is their ability to understand the unique dynamics at play in a dispute and to formulate a strategy to improve our bargaining position."

Our Work

Acting for the successful appellant in the High Court concerning a breach of trust (Youyang Pty Ltd v Minter Ellison)

Breach of Fiduciary Duties

Acting for a class of forty plaintiffs in proceedings against a financial advisory firm concerning breaches of trust, misleading and deceptive conduct and negligence (Wilkinson & Ors v Feldworth Financial Services Pty Ltd)

Class Action

Acting for a national employer to obtain urgent interlocutory relief to restrain further breaches of an employment contract.

Employment Dispute

Services

Class actions

Carneys is one of very few boutique law firms in Australia that has experience successfully managing some of Australia’s largest class actions. We are uniquely positioned to provide expert advice from highly experienced lawyers in class actions, more cost-efficiently than other firms.

Negligence

Our practice has over 40 years’ experience running and defending negligence claims in the District and Supreme Court. Our lawyers’ collective experience in negligence cases gives our clients a powerful advantage when it comes to outmanoeuvring their opponents in Court and during negotiations.

Insurance disputes

Carneys’ insurance lawyers have significant experience in all aspects of insurance disputes, particularly in acting for plaintiffs.

Professional indemnity and legal profession disciplinary proceedings

We have experience acting for solicitors and barristers in disciplinary proceedings brought against them. Our practice is recognised amongst lawyers for our unique insight in this difficult and sensitive area of law.

Defamation and reputational risk

Defamation disputes often involve messy, complicated legal and factual issues that require creative solutions. Carneys’ defamation lawyers do more than just commence proceedings; we advise in every aspect of reputational damage and future risk management.

Employment disputes

Employers must deal with industrial laws and workplace relations that impose increasingly complex rules regulating the relationship between the employer and its employees. Developments in the law relating to Anti-Discrimination, Occupational Health & Safety and particularly the termination of employment, present uncertainties and costly pitfalls for the unwary employers. On the other hand, developments especially in the areas of award-free agreements, individual flexibility agreements and enterprise bargaining may provide an employer with opportunities to reshape and reduce wasteful and inefficient work practices.

Small businesses are often so overburdened by the many demands on their time that scant attention is paid to Workplace Relations. Frequently some short advice can avoid a situation developing into a costly and time wasting problem. Carneys’ employment law solicitors have advised and represented a wide spectrum of clients from employer associations, large and small companies and individuals. This broad experience gives an uncommon insight into workplace problems that are not readily available to employers, particularly those operating small businesses.

LAWYERS

Arthur Carney

PARTNER

Leader of the Commercial Litigation and Dispute Resolution team

Arthur Carney

PARTNER

Leader of the Commercial Litigation and Dispute Resolution team

QUALIFICATIONS

Bachelor of Laws University of Sydney

Master of Laws

London School of Economics and Political Science

ACCREDITATIONS

Accredited Specialist in Commercial Litigation

LawSocietyAccSpecialist

Arthur leads the Commercial Litigation and Dispute Resolution team and has extensive experience in the New South Wales Supreme Court, Court of Appeal, Federal Court and High Court. He was admitted to practice as a lawyer in 1977. In November 1984, he was admitted to the degree of Master of Laws by the London School of Economics and Political Science (University of London). 

In September 1995 Arthur was certified as an Accredited Specialist in Commercial Litigation by the Law Society of New South Wales. There are 101 Accredited Specialists in the field of Commercial Litigation, selected from over 32,000 legal practitioners in New South Wales. He is the Chairman of the Law Society Specialist Accreditation Commercial Litigation Committee. This Committee sets and marks the examination and assessment process for lawyers seeking specialist accreditation in the field of commercial litigation.

 Arthur’s areas of practice include:

  • Contractual Disputes
  • Corporations – Directors & Officers Duties and Liabilities
  • Corporate Recovery & Insolvency
  • Property Disputes
  • Trade Practices
  • Class Actions
  • Insurance and Common Law Litigation
  • Wills and Succession Act Disputes
  • Mediation
  • Arthur has extensive skills in the organisation and management of large and complex litigation.

In December 1998 Arthur was appointed as a District Court Arbitrator and in 2008 he was appointed by the Supreme Court of NSW to the panel of solicitors supervising Anton Piller Search Orders. He served on the Law Society of NSW Professional Conduct Committee for 10 years.

Stephen Titus

PARTNER

specializes in commercial litigation and commercial work.

Wallace Meakes

PARTNER

Wally is an accredited Property Law specialist, his practice covers all aspects of residential and commercial property work.

QUALIFICATIONS

Bachelor of Laws University of Sydney

Bachelor of Commerce

University of New South Wales

ACCREDITATIONS

Accredited Specialist in Property Law

LawSocietyAccSpecialist

Wally is accredited by the Law Society as an Accredited Specialist in Property Law. He has developed a broad solid base of clients, both individual and corporate. 

Wally is experienced in acting in matters involving the acquisition and sale of property including strata title, torrens title, leasehold and company title. In addition, he acts for developers and investors in relation to acquisition of sites and development of the properties. He also acts in relation to many lease transactions, both for the landlord and tenant, and is retained by a number of overseas clients and corporations including MGM.

 Wally has provided advice to many individuals and corporations over the last 38 years, accumulating a wealth of knowledge in the commercial and property area. He has chaired a number of property seminars conducted by the College of Law, providing seminars to property professionals in large corporations including CBRE Richard Ellis. 

As Property Partner, Wally has a strong team of professionals to assist him to achieve a cost-effective service to clients to achieve their commercial expectations with expediency and efficiency. Wally joined Carneys in 1981 and is now enjoying his 40th year with the firm. He was admitted as a partner with the firm in 1985. In addition to Property Law, he also practises in the area of Wills, Probate and Succession and has considerable experience and expertise in the area of Commercial Business Law which includes sale of business.

Henry Wrench

SOLICITOR

Litigation and Dispute Resolution Practice

Henry Wrench

SOLICITOR

Henry is a solicitor in the litigation and dispute resolution practice group.

QUALIFICATIONS

Bachelor of Laws (LLB) University of Technology

Society of New South Wales Practising Certificate no. 97054

LawSocietyAccSpecialist

Henry acts for clients across a wide range of industries in litigation in the Supreme Court of New South Wales and the Federal Court of Australia, including commercial disputes, contractual disputes, shareholders disputes and insolvency litigation. 

He regularly acts for insolvency practitioners, assisting in maximising and preserving value for stakeholders. Henry also has experience in employment law and class actions.

Henry has acted for individuals and private and public companies in a range of matters, including:

  •  Receivers and managers appointed to represent a number of valuable private companies in complex Supreme Court litigation;
  • Receivers and managers appointed to a joint venture operating a large entertainment business subject to a dispute in the Federal Court of Australia;
  • Trustees for sale of commercial and residential properties involved in Supreme Court litigation;
  • Private companies and minority shareholders in oppression proceedings; – Public and private companies in complex commercial lease disputes;
  • Private companies in employment proceedings to enforce restraint of trade clauses;
  • A private company in a dispute with a government body relating to a breach of confidence;
  • Individuals and private companies in commercial disputes;
  • Individuals in common law negligence proceedings;
  • A private company in criminal proceedings;
  • Individuals in criminal fraud proceedings.

Arthur Carney

PARTNER

Leader of the Commercial Litigation and Dispute Resolution team

QUALIFICATIONS

Bachelor of Laws University of Sydney

Master of Laws

London School of Economics and Political Science

ACCREDITATIONS

Accredited Specialist in Commercial Litigation

LawSocietyAccSpecialist

Arthur leads the Commercial Litigation and Dispute Resolution team and has extensive experience in the New South Wales Supreme Court, Court of Appeal, Federal Court and High Court. He was admitted to practice as a lawyer in 1977. In November 1984, he was admitted to the degree of Master of Laws by the London School of Economics and Political Science (University of London). 

In September 1995 Arthur was certified as an Accredited Specialist in Commercial Litigation by the Law Society of New South Wales. There are 101 Accredited Specialists in the field of Commercial Litigation, selected from over 32,000 legal practitioners in New South Wales. He is the Chairman of the Law Society Specialist Accreditation Commercial Litigation Committee. This Committee sets and marks the examination and assessment process for lawyers seeking specialist accreditation in the field of commercial litigation.

 Arthur’s areas of practice include:

  • Contractual Disputes
  • Corporations – Directors & Officers Duties and Liabilities
  • Corporate Recovery & Insolvency
  • Property Disputes
  • Trade Practices
  • Class Actions
  • Insurance and Common Law Litigation
  • Wills and Succession Act Disputes
  • Mediation
  • Arthur has extensive skills in the organisation and management of large and complex litigation.

In December 1998 Arthur was appointed as a District Court Arbitrator and in 2008 he was appointed by the Supreme Court of NSW to the panel of solicitors supervising Anton Piller Search Orders. He served on the Law Society of NSW Professional Conduct Committee for 10 years.

Wallace Meakes

PARTNER

Wally is an accredited Property Law specialist, his practice covers all aspects of residential and commercial property work.

QUALIFICATIONS

Bachelor of Laws University of Sydney

Bachelor of Commerce

University of New South Wales

ACCREDITATIONS

Accredited Specialist in Property Law

LawSocietyAccSpecialist

Wally is accredited by the Law Society as an Accredited Specialist in Property Law. He has developed a broad solid base of clients, both individual and corporate. 

Wally is experienced in acting in matters involving the acquisition and sale of property including strata title, torrens title, leasehold and company title. In addition, he acts for developers and investors in relation to acquisition of sites and development of the properties. He also acts in relation to many lease transactions, both for the landlord and tenant, and is retained by a number of overseas clients and corporations including MGM.

 Wally has provided advice to many individuals and corporations over the last 38 years, accumulating a wealth of knowledge in the commercial and property area. He has chaired a number of property seminars conducted by the College of Law, providing seminars to property professionals in large corporations including CBRE Richard Ellis. 

As Property Partner, Wally has a strong team of professionals to assist him to achieve a cost-effective service to clients to achieve their commercial expectations with expediency and efficiency. Wally joined Carneys in 1981 and is now enjoying his 40th year with the firm. He was admitted as a partner with the firm in 1985. In addition to Property Law, he also practises in the area of Wills, Probate and Succession and has considerable experience and expertise in the area of Commercial Business Law which includes sale of business.

Henry Wrench

SOLICITOR

Henry is a solicitor in the litigation and dispute resolution practice group.

QUALIFICATIONS

Bachelor of Laws (LLB) University of Technology

Society of New South Wales Practising Certificate no. 97054

LawSocietyAccSpecialist

Henry acts for clients across a wide range of industries in litigation in the Supreme Court of New South Wales and the Federal Court of Australia, including commercial disputes, contractual disputes, shareholders disputes and insolvency litigation. 

He regularly acts for insolvency practitioners, assisting in maximising and preserving value for stakeholders. Henry also has experience in employment law and class actions.

Henry has acted for individuals and private and public companies in a range of matters, including:

  •  Receivers and managers appointed to represent a number of valuable private companies in complex Supreme Court litigation;
  • Receivers and managers appointed to a joint venture operating a large entertainment business subject to a dispute in the Federal Court of Australia;
  • Trustees for sale of commercial and residential properties involved in Supreme Court litigation;
  • Private companies and minority shareholders in oppression proceedings; – Public and private companies in complex commercial lease disputes;
  • Private companies in employment proceedings to enforce restraint of trade clauses;
  • A private company in a dispute with a government body relating to a breach of confidence;
  • Individuals and private companies in commercial disputes;
  • Individuals in common law negligence proceedings;
  • A private company in criminal proceedings;
  • Individuals in criminal fraud proceedings.

Arthur Carney

PARTNER

Leader of the Commercial Litigation and Dispute Resolution team

Stephen Titus

PARTNER

Specializes in Commercial Litigation and Commercial Work

Relevant Articles

ARTICLE

February 15, 2024

ARTICLE

September 11, 2023

t. (+61 2) 8226 5555