San-Joe Tan

San-Joe was called to the bar in 2019 and has a commercial practice, where he has acted and advised in matters involving contractual disputes, corporations, insurance, defamation, maritime and intellectual property. He has a specific interest in insolvency and has represented a wide range of clients in this space.

Click here to see San-Joe’s CV.

Having started his legal career in 2014 as the Associate to the Honourable Justice R.W. Gotterson AO of the Queensland Court of Appeal, San-Joe has worked in both a boutique litigation firm in Brisbane and in the disputes team of a global firm in Sydney.

Since graduating with degrees in law and commerce from the University of Queensland, San-Joe has continued his studies having completed the Short-Term Program in Chinese Law (non-award conferring) at Peking University, Beijing, and the Diploma in International Commercial Arbitration by the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators.

San-Joe currently serves in the Australian Army Reserve as an Infantry officer.

Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, Diploma in International Arbitration, 2018

Australian National University, Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice, 2014

University of Queensland, Bachelor of Laws (Hons 2A) and Bachelor of Commerce, 2013

Legal Practitioner (Queensland), 2014

Legal Practitioner (High Court of Australia), 2015

Barrister (Queensland and High Court of Australia), 2019

Member, Bar Association of Queensland

Member, Australian Restructuring, Insolvency and Turnaround Association (ARITA)

Commercial

Acting for an electrical services contractor in an ACICA arbitration for variations and extension of time claims, which resulted in a successful outcome for the client (led by Matthew Jones).

Acting for a primary producer in Federal Court proceedings under the Plant Breeders’ Rights Act 1994 (Cth) (led by Matthew Jones).

Acting for a respondent in an application for further disclosure, where further disclosure of the majority of documents sought by the applicant was successfully resisted: Schebella v Schebella & Ors [2020] QDC 74.

Acting for a civil works contractor in a substantial claim against a developer/owner of a residential subdivision for variations, delay damages and other relief.

Insurance

Acting for an insurer in Queensland Supreme Court proceedings against a former employer (and their associates) for fraud.

Appearing at a three -day Federal Circuit Court of Australia trial regarding a professional negligence claim: Helicopter Aerial Surveys Pty Ltd v Bradford Marine Pty Ltd [2020] FCCA 3238.

Insolvency

Appearing for examinees in various public examinations.

Acting for various clients (both plaintiffs and defendants) in proceedings for recovery of property.

Provision of advice to creditors of insolvent companies and of bankrupt estates as to their rights and remedies.

Appearing in numerous winding-up hearings and creditor’s petitions, including contested hearings.

Defamation

Acting for a third-party to a defamation claim, which was successfully resolved at mediation (led by Andrew Crowe QC on a pro bono brief).

Family

Acting for a parent at an interim application regarding an amendment to a parenting arrangement: Hume & Verize [2019] FamCA 439.

Mediation and ADR in Queensland – forthcoming Thomson Reuters Practical Law paper (with Andrew Crowe QC and Matthew Jones).