Dispute Resolution & Litigation: 2025 Year in Review
17/12/2025
As we approach the conclusion of yet another busy year, our national Dispute Resolution & Litigation team reflects on 2025’s accomplishments, developments, and industry trends, and predicts what the coming year ahead may have in store.
“2025 was another significant year for Piper Alderman’s Litigation Team. We handled an extraordinary volume of complex disputes and spent a significant portion of the year in court, reinforcing our reputation as battle-hardened trial lawyers. Major proceedings stretched over dozens of hearing days across multiple jurisdictions, reflecting both the trust clients place in us and our market-leading position in high-stakes litigation. At the same time, we continued to advise clients across a wide range of industries and saw strategic growth within our team.
Throughout the year, our team maintained its commitment to client service and excellence. We are honoured to receive outstanding feedback, with clients praising our litigators’ depth of experience, technical excellence and strategic acumen, often noting that Piper Alderman’s disputes team ranks among the very best in Australia. They highlighted our team’s responsiveness, diverse expertise, innovative thinking in tackling complex problems, and effective, business-minded solutions. This positive recognition is a testament to the talent and hard work across our national team, from our senior lawyers through to our rising stars.
We are immensely proud of our team’s dedication and grateful for our clients’ confidence. We look forward to building on this success in 2026.”
Martin del Gallego – Practice Team leader
Industry insights
Emerging trends that we have observed throughout 2025 made it clear that litigation risk, and opportunity, is at an all-time high and still climbing. Class actions in particular are broader and more complex than ever, impacting industries from finance to healthcare, with types of claims including privacy, ESG, employment, automotive, securities, financial product miss-selling, PI, and competition. All of this continues (somewhat counterintuitively) to enlarge the opportunity for plaintiffs and litigation funders, while increasing the scope of corporate liability. International developments are also continuing to reverberate in Australia, whether it’s climate change jurisprudence or evolving best practices in using technology, like AI, in e-discovery and case management. Cyber threats, regulatory scrutiny, and activist shareholders are key drivers as well, all of which requires heightened awareness and the bolstering of litigation readiness.
From a practice management perspective, throughout the past year, we have seen many Australian law firms adopting a larger range of generative AI tools for various purposes, from streamlining legal work to weaponising such technology in the conduct of litigation. Courts have, at least initially, responded cautiously, with the NSW Supreme Court issuing strict guidelines on AI in litigation, while the Federal Court is taking a “watch-and-wait” stance urging responsible use and disclosure. We consider it inevitable that there will be continued AI uptake by firms, more court guidelines, and careful integration of AI in litigation.
An ever expanding litigation landscape, fuelled by an increasingly rapid adoption of legal AI technology, means that heading into 2026, Australian litigation will continue on its current trajectory of high volume and expanding breadth. The challenge for law firms and litigants alike, is to stay ahead of these trends. Those who understand the direction of the law, and the broader forces (social, technological, regulatory) shaping it, will be best placed to navigate the new normal of Australia’s dispute resolution landscape and turn these challenges into strategic opportunities.
At Piper Alderman, we look forward to it.
Team movements
We welcomed Hannah Brown as Partner in October 2025, strengthening our Dispute Resolution and Litigation capability in our Sydney office.
The team was also pleased to announce the promotions of Roselina Kruize (Special Counsel), Oendri Neogi (Special Counsel), Rob Norton (Special Counsel), Daniel Ryan (Senior Associate), Shannon Bryans (Associate), Joaquin Smith (Associate), Janita Chiv (Associate), Kirsty McGinlay (Associate), and Iwona Skladanowska (Associate).
We welcomed numerous new starters to the firm this year: Bára Karlsdóttir (Senior Associate), Tehlyn Murray (Senior Associate), Mariah Pavlou (Senior Associate), Campbell Edmonds (Lawyer), Isabella Parsons (Lawyer) and Daniel Glynn-Roe (Lawyer).
Significant matters – Commercial Litigation
Sundell Family Trust Litigation
Piper Alderman successfully represented a trustee company, Bogasi Pty Ltd, in proceedings in the Supreme Court of New South Wales, concerning complex family trusts arrangements. The proceedings comprised three sets of proceedings involving counterclaims by multiple active parties to the proceedings regarding the beneficial ownership of significant trust assets resulting in Bogasi successfully bringing relevant assets worth approximately $60 million back to the estate of the late patriarch of the Sundell family and recovering debt of approximately $13 million. The judgment in the matter was delivered on 29 August 2025, [2025] NSWSC 989 and copy of the judgment is available here.
Trade Credit Litigation
Piper Alderman continues to act for Cornerpiece Capital Partners, a Singapore-headquartered alternative asset management firm, in claims in the Supreme Court of New South Wales worth over $200 million against Tokio Marine Nichido and IAL to recoup losses suffered as a result of a credit crunch in the South East Asian commodity trading sector following Covid-19. The claims raise novel legal issues in insurance, trade credit and maritime law, across multiple jurisdictions including Australia, Singapore, Hong-Kong, Malaysia and Dubai.
Lipman Karas Litigation
Piper Alderman recently received judgment on LK Law & Ors v Karas and Ors, in which Piper Alderman acts for the UK headquartered big law firm, Mischon de Reya (MdR), and its Hong Kong associate firm, Karas So LLP’s founding partner Jason Karas, in claims brought by former business associate Scipio Lipman and Adelaide law firm Lipman Karas in the Federal Court. Lipman Karas initiated proceedings against its co-founding principal Jason Karas for alleged breaches of contract, negligence, and misleading and deceptive conduct. Claims were brought against MdR for knowing concern. The matter was heard over a 31-day trial, and judgment for the applicants comprising of 403 pages was handed down in late November 2025. Piper Alderman holds instructions from both clients to appeal the judgment.
Batchfire Resources Shareholder Litigation
Piper Alderman completed a 7-week trial in the Federal Court, on behalf of nine plaintiffs, in a multi-party oppression suit brought by the minority shareholders of Batchfire Resources. The claim, against the majority shareholder (a Singapore based commodity trader), and its director, alleged breaches of fiduciary duty as underpinning the oppressive conduct. Judgment is reserved.
eToro
Piper Alderman continues to act for eToro in the Federal Court in a test case defending alleged breaches of the Design and Distribution Obligations provisions of the Corporations Act 2001 in relation to its Contracts for Difference product (CFDs). The proceedings concern eToro AUS Capital Limited and have been brought by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission. The hearing of evidence concluded in December this year, with closing submissions to be heard in April 2026.
Significant matters – Class Actions
Commonwealth Merchant Fees Class Action
Piper alderman commenced a class action against the Commonwealth for the payment of unlawful payment surcharges to federal government agencies when making electronic payments. Some of the federal government agencies include the Australian Tax Office, Department of Home Affairs (excluding some visa application fees), Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and Services Australia. The alleged unlawful charging commenced in 2003, and the federal government has enacted legislation attempting to retrospectively validate these historical unlawfully collected charges. The class action seeks restitution of these unlawful charges from the Commonwealth for all individuals and businesses who paid the unlawful payment surcharges.
Piper Alderman has commenced a class action in New Zealand against the state-owned electricity grid operator and its contractor, arising out of a major power outage which affected an entire region of the country. The outage was caused by an electricity tower collapsing during routine maintenance. The class action alleges that both defendants were negligent and seeks losses on behalf of affected businesses.
Piper Alderman commenced a securities class action on behalf of shareholders who acquired shares in iSignthis Limited (ISX). The proceedings are brought against ISX and Grant Thornton in the Federal Court and allege misleading and deceptive conduct in connection with misrepresentations in ISX’s financial statements and Grant Thornton’s audit report.
Automotive Defeat Device Class Actions
Piper Alderman continues to act for the plaintiffs in two automotive defect class actions, one in the Federal Court of Australia and another in the Supreme Court of Victoria. The claims against Mercedes Benz and Isuzu allege that the companies’ vehicles were manufactured and supplied while fitted with unlawful diesel ‘defeat devices’.
CFD Class Actions
Piper Alderman continues to act for the plaintiffs against IG Markets Ltd and IC Markets on behalf of investors who traded contracts for difference (CFDs). The class actions allege that the CFD platforms failed to adequately assess investors’ objectives and financial situations and inadequately disclosed the risks of CFDs, until ASIC introduced strict new conditions on CFDs in 2021.
Piper Alderman continues to act in a class action against Qantas Airways Limited. The class action alleges Qantas customers were entitled to a full cash refund for cancelled flights primarily during the Covid-19 period but instead, Qantas issued the majority of its customers with travel credits or vouchers, which were subject to significant restrictions and would expire if not used. The claim alleges that, by acting in this way, Qantas has enjoyed significant financial benefits at its customers’ expense.
Piper Alderman continues to act for the plaintiff in a class action against Queensland Motorways Management (a Transurban entity), the State of Queensland and Brisbane City Council in relation to administration charges which have been paid by toll road users who did not pay tolls at the time of using the roads. The plaintiff alleges the administration charges have been imposed unlawfully.
Settled Class Actions
Piper Alderman is proud to have settled two class actions this year, one against AMP in connection with legacy conduct in the charging of grandfathered commissions to wealth clients, and another against the tower insurers of an insolvent construction company, recovering the cost of defects remedied by the unit owners prior to the construction company’s insolvency.
You can view more of our class actions on our website here.
Client Testimonials
As a national practice team, we relish the opportunity to litigate matters that are equal parts challenging, as they are rewarding. We are grateful to our clients for trusting us with their complex litigation needs and delighted to receive very kind feedback. To highlight but a few examples published across the legal directories:
‘Piper Alderman litigators have an impressive depth of experience in progressing complex large-scale actions and are some of the most effective legal strategists in the country.’
‘Piper Alderman’s disputes team is one of the best in Australia – across both the Brisbane and the Sydney offices, the team is rich with genuine talent.’
‘I am constantly impressed by the quality of the work and the team.’
‘Piper Alderman are attentive and responsive; they take on board all comments and suggestions and really ‘listen’ to their client. The class actions team are a tight knit group that bill efficiently and work effectively together.’
‘It is a diverse team, which means that there is a variety of viewpoints which in turn means better outcomes.’
‘Compares extremely favourably with other firms. Highly capable class action lawyers. Well organised, solid team.’
‘Piper Alderman are an absolute pleasure to work with. They are efficient billers, excellent communicators and effective litigators.’
‘Young, diverse, hardworking, excellent legal skills, and an ability to think outside the box.’
‘Very client focused, very thorough and methodical.’
‘Martin del Gallego has notable experience as a commercial and class actions litigator. He is an efficient operator, responsive and approachable and is well respected by his team and the broader industry’ ‘…Young partner, plenty of energy. Seems to be corralling a big share of the class action market. Great strategist.’
‘Greg Whyte is a titan of the Australian disputes landscape. He is an exceptional strategist, an incredibly effective litigator, a thoughtful trusted advisor, and an all-round outstanding asset to have in your corner.’
‘Kate Sambrook is an intelligent, talented and capable partner, who runs matters seamlessly. Kate’s attention to detail and ability to be across so many matters / issues is admirable.’
Recognition:
This year, we have had some outstanding recognition – both for the team and our individuals – across our national practice team.
The Best Lawyers in Australia
Piper Alderman is delighted to announce that in the 2026 edition of The Best Lawyers in Australia, 57 of our lawyers have been named ‘Best Lawyer’ and 17 of our lawyers have been named in the ‘Ones to Watch’ list, with the following practitioners recognised across our litigation practice team:
- Tony Abbott – Alternative Dispute Resolution, Litigation, Trade Law
- Nick Burkett – Alternative Dispute Resolution, Ethics and Professional Responsibility Practice, Insurance Law, Legal Malpractice Litigation, Litigation, Professional Malpractice Litigation
- Anne Freeman – Alternative Dispute Resolution
- Tom Griffith – Alternative Dispute Resolution
- Meriel Steadman – Litigation
- Sian Ede – Ones to Watch: Alternative Dispute Resolution, Litigation
- Timothy Ward – Ones to Watch: Alternative Dispute Resolution
- Hannah Veldre – Ones to Watch: Alternative Dispute Resolution, Litigation
Doyle’s Guide
We are proud to have the following lawyers recognised as leaders in the 2025 edition of Doyle’s Guide:
- Martin del Gallego and Kate Sambrook, nationally recognised as Leading Australian Class Actions Lawyers;
- Tom Griffith, recognised as a Leading Commercial Litigation & Dispute Resolution Lawyers in South Australia.
Chambers and Partners, Asia-Pacific
In the 2026 edition of Chambers and Partners Asia-Pacific, Martin del Gallego was recognised as a notable practitioner in both Dispute Resolution: Class Action (Plaintiff) and Dispute Resolution: Litigation.
Our clients recognise our practice team’s experience in handling “the additional requirements of complex and sophisticated matters and well able to meet the additional demands of such cases.”
The Legal 500 Asia Pacific
Finally, in the 2025 edition of The Legal 500 Asia Pacific, Piper Alderman was recognised across 15 areas of law including:
- Dispute Resolution: Class Actions, and highlighting Martin del Gallego, Greg Whyte, Kate Sambrook and Millie Byrnes Howe.
- Dispute Resolution: Litigation, and highlighting Martin del Gallego, Greg Whyte and Anne Freeman.
Thought leadership
Our practice team actively produced and published a number of timely insights while partaking in a multitude of client and industry-facing events, sponsorships, and partnerships. Our team was also involved in producing some memorable content and has a fantastic line-up of content for 2026 in the works for our clients.