Alexander Psaltis

Alexander has a broad commercial practice. He regularly appears (led and unled) in the Queensland and Federal Courts on behalf of large companies, Queensland and Commonwealth government departments, local governments, high net worth individuals and insolvency practitioners.

Before being called to the bar, Alexander practised in commercial litigation and restructuring and insolvency at Clayton Utz (Brisbane). He also worked as an Associate (Australian Qualified) in London at Joseph Hage Aaronson LLP (a firm comprising barristers and solicitors). While in London Alexander assisted with complex international litigation and arbitration including representing multi-national groups seeking recovery of more than £1bn in unlawfully levied tax from the UK government.

Alexander was Associate to the Hon. Justice J.A. Logan RFD of the Federal Court of Australia in 2010. He holds degrees in Law (with First Class Honours) and Arts from the University of Queensland and a Master of Law (with First Class Honours) from the University of Cambridge.

· Acting in an LCIA arbitration seated in London in respect of a coal offtake agreement governed by Queensland law (led by Paul Key QC, with Damien Walker (London bar)).

· Sanrus Pty Ltd v Monto Coal 2 Pty Ltd [2019] QCA 160, successful appeal from a case management decision during a lengthy trial to exclude a late expert report (led by Bret Walker SC, with David de Jersey) and an application in respect of objections to evidence in the trial of that proceeding: Sanrus Pty Ltd v Monto Coal 2 Pty Ltd (No 5) [2019] QSC 210 (led by Kylie Downes QC, with David de Jersey and Kirsty Gothard).

· Acting for the plaintiff in a fair dealing and breach of professional duty dispute against several defendants in the Supreme Court of Queensland, including a successful application for leave to rely on further expert evidence despite the appointment of joint experts: Menegazzo v PricewaterhouseCoopers (a firm) [2019] QSC 296 (led by Sandy Thompson QC SG).

· Acting for the Commissioner of Taxation in respect of proceedings in the Supreme Court of Queensland and the Federal Court of Australia concerning a garnishee notice issued by the Commissioner in connection with the liquidation of Octaviar Ltd (led by Neil Williams SC, with Dan Butler). Including an application for judicial advice: Re Octaviar Ltd (in liq) [2019] FCA 1614.

· Successfully seeking further and better particulars of allegations concerning contamination by fire-fighting foam in a nuisance/breach of contract proceeding (led by Liam Kelly QC).

· Acting for a local council in a Supreme Court of Queensland proceeding involving a lease dispute with a large commercial tenant (led by John McKenna QC).

· Acting in various applications in the Supreme Court of Queensland and the Federal Court of Australia in connection with the winding-up of JM Kelly Builders Pty Ltd and its associated entities, including bringing proceedings against directors, officers and related entities and obtaining three interim freezing and in ongoing public examinations of persons involved in the affairs of the insolvent entities (both unled and led by Craig Wilkins).

· Acting for a property developer in a Supreme Court of Queensland proceeding arising from the breakdown of a joint venture for a mixed-use development (led by Declan Kelly QC).

· Acting for the Commissioner of State Revenue (Qld) in a payroll tax appeal concerning interpretation of the “employment agency contracts” provisions (led by Melanie Hindman QC).

· Acting for cotton-growers in a dispute in the Supreme Court of Queensland concerning nuisance caused by overland water flow (led by Dominic Pyle).

· GPS Power Pty Ltd v CS Energy Ltd [2018] QSC 294, a dispute concerning the interpretation of a power purchase agreement on the Commercial List of the Supreme Court of Queensland (led by Simon Couper QC, with David Chesterman).

· Calbeninka Pty Ltd v Vickers [2019] QSC 28, successfully resisted the set-aside of a statutory demand arising in connection with the administration of a construction materials company (unled).

· Acting for the Minister for Home Affairs and Minister for Immigration in judicial review and appellate proceedings in the High Court, Federal Court and Federal Circuit Court of Australia in migration and refugee matters, including: Dhir v Minister for Home Affairs [2019] HCATrans 118; CYD17 v Minister for Home Affairs [2019] FCA 869; DIG18 v Minister for Immigration [2019] FCA 1452; and Nguyen v Minister for Immigration [2019] FCCA 3317 (all unled).

Kylie Downes QC and Alexander Psaltis, “Proof of effective service”, Proctor 40(1), 44-45

Kylie Downes QC and Alexander Psaltis, “The ref steps up: Amendments to expand the scope for referrals to referees”, Proctor 39(9), 44-45

Alexander Psaltis and Tim Jones, “Defective caveats are ineffective caveats”, Clayton Utz Insights (8 November 2016) available at: <https://www.claytonutz.com/knowledge/2016/november/defective-caveats-are-ineffective-caveats>

Alexander Psaltis, “Court of Appeal in London delivers Investment Trust Companies decision”, International Tax Review (16 March 2015) available at: <http://www.internationaltaxreview.com/Article/3436324/Tax-Disputes-Archive/Court-of-Appeal-in-London-delivers-Investment-Trust-Companies-decision.html>

Alexander Psaltis, “Overview: Private Law”, Cambridge Journal of International and Comparative Law – UK Supreme Court Review 2012-2013 (Vol 3, Issue 1, 2014)

CONTACT

apsaltis@qldbar.asn.au

+61 407 741 037

+61 7 3211 2434