ON DEMAND: Space Masterclass | The Woomera Manual – The Law Applicable to Commercial and Military Activities in Space

Dr Dale Stephens is a Professor of Law at the University of Adelaide Law School. He was admitted to practice in 1989 and is a former Permanent Naval Legal Officer. He has occupied numerous senior positions within the Australian Defence Force, including Director of Operations and International Law, Fleet Legal Officer and Director of Navy Legal Services. His operational deployments include multiple tours of East Timor and Iraq. He has been awarded the Conspicuous Service Medal (CSM), the (US) Bronze Star, the (US) Meritorious Service Medal and numerous Australian Military and United Nations Commendations. He attained the rank of Captain in the Royal Australian Navy before transferring to the Reserve in 2013. Professor Stephens holds both a Masters degree (LL.M) and Doctorate (SJD) from Harvard Law School. He is Director of the Adelaide University Research Unit on Military Law and Ethics. He is a participating member of the San Remo Manual on the Law of Naval Warfare update project. He is an Editor and Chair of the Board of Directors of The Woomera Manual on the International Law of Military Space Activities and Operations. He is Chair of the SA Red Cross IHL Advisory Committee. He is the co-editor of The Law of Naval Warfare (2019), and Military Law in Australia (2019). In 2021 he was awarded the Distinguished Service Award by the Australian Red Cross. He is a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Law.

Travis is a Senior Associate in the firm’s Intellectual Property and Technology team, working alongside Tim O’Callaghan.

Travis works primarily in litigation and dispute resolution, and brings experience in trade mark, patent and copyright disputes in most Australian jurisdictions. He is an experienced commercial litigator and has advised defence contractors, national food and beverage retailers, international mining tools suppliers, financial service providers and SMEs on how to protect their intellectual property rights.

Travis has a strong background in consumer law, contract and directors’ liabilities disputes, and has acted in high profile South Australian decisions. Travis has the well-rounded experience and knowledge needed to advocate for clients and resolve disputes commercially, including advocacy experience in the Federal Circuit Court, Federal Court and all South Australian courts.

Travis has a keen interest in the Defence industry, and is a current serving board member of the Defence Teaming Centre, one of Australia’s leading defence industry advocacy bodies.  He is particularly interested in International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), and has presented seminars to defence industry leaders on this topic.

He is also a tutor at both the University of Adelaide and University of South Australia Law Schools, where he teaches intellectual property and contract law.  He also regularly contributes to Law Society publications, committees and seminars.