Brian O’Donnell QC

I was called to the Bar in 1983, and appointed a Queen’s Counsel in 1993. I hold degrees of Bachelor of Laws (Hons) and Bachelor of Arts from the University of Queensland.
My time at the Bar has involved practising in commercial litigation, i.e. civil disputes usually arising out of business transactions and usually involving corporations. The majority of my work concerns or arises out of company matters, insolvency, insurance matters, trade practices litigation, contractual disputes, professional indemnity claims, taxation, mining and intellectual property matters.

I have acted for, or on the instructions of, many large public companies, private companies, insurers, banks and government agencies. I have acted in many matters, a sample of which includes:

Deputy Commissioner of Taxation v State Bank NSW (1992) 174 CLR 219 (HCA)
Gore v Octahim Wise Limited [1995] 2 Qd R 242
Naomi Marble & Granite Pty Ltd v FAI General Insurance (1999) 1 Qd.R. 507 and (1999) 1 Qd.R. 518.
Charter Pacific Corporate v Belrida [2002] QSC 254 and (2003) 2 Qd.R. 619 (CA)
Charter Pacific Corporation v Coventry (2002) QSC 301 and (2003) 179 FLR 438
Elfic Ltd v Marks (2003) 2 Qd.R. 125
Denham Bros v Freestone Leasing [2004] 1 Qd.R. 500 (CA)
Emanuel Management Pty Ltd (in liq) v Foster’s Brewing Group Ltd [2004] 2 Qd R 11
Pacific National (ACT) Pty Ltd v Queensland Railways (2005) 215 ALR 544 and (2006) FCA 91 (FCA)
David Jones Ltd v Perpetual Ltd [2006] QSC 337
Lifetime Investments Pty Ltd v Commercial (Worldwide) Financial Services Pty Ltd [2006] FCA 495
Peppercorn Holdings No 1 Pty Ltd v DDH Graham Ltd and Ors [2006] QSC 156
Expectation Pty Ltd v PRD Realty Pty Ltd (No.2) (2006) 151 FCR 160
Cannon St v Karedis [2007] 1 Qd.R. 505 (CA)
Lanepoint Enterprises Pty Ltd (recs and mgrs apptd), Re; Fraser v Australian Securities and Investments Commission (2007) 159 FCR 424
Mincom Ltd v EAM Software Finance Pty Ltd (No 3) (2007) 213 FLR 364
Lee v Surfers Paradise Beach Resort [2008] 2 Qd.R. 249 (CA)
Westpac Banking Corp v McMillan in his Capacity as Trustee for the CSA – Melbas Unit Trust and Melbas On The Park Pty Ltd [2008] QSC 206
Beach Retreat Pty Ltd v Mooloolaba Marina Ltd [2009] Qd R 356
AA Shi Pty Ltd v Avbar Pty Ltd (No 2) (2010) 186 FCR 148
Body Corporate for Sun City Resort CTS 24674 v Sunland Constructions Pty Ltd [2010] QSC 463
Boss v Hamilton Island Enterprises (2010) 2 Qd.R. 115 (CA)
Raschilla and Anor v Westpac Banking Corporation [2010] QCA 255
Wright and Ors v Westpac Banking Corporation [2010] QCA 190
Yara Nipro Pty Ltd v Interfert Australia Pty Ltd [2010] QCA 128 (CA)
CVC Private Equity v Suncorp Metway; Drapac Management Ltd v Glennington [2011] 1 Qd.R. 101
Mulherin Rigging & Cranes Australia Pty Ltd v Roberts & Schaefer Australia Pty Ltd [2011] 1 Qd R 139
Vale Belvedere v B.D. Coal (2011) 2 Qd.R. 285 (CA)
Williamson & McGillivray & Ors v JIA Holdings & Anor [2011] QCA 346
BG International v 400 George Street (2012) 2 Qd.R. 302 (CA)
Hogno v Racing Qld Limited (2012) QSC 303 and (2013) QCA 139
McIvor v Westpac Banking Corporation [2012] QSC 404
Proprietors Cathedral Village Building Units Plan No. 106957 v Cathedral Place Community Body Corporate [2012] QSC 301 and [2013] QCA 264
Aquila Coal v Bowen Central (2013) QSC 082
Commissioner Taxation v Unit Trend Services (2013) 250 CLR 253 (HCA)
Filmana Pty Ltd and Ors v Tynan and Anor [2013] QCA 256
7 Eleven Stores v United Petroleum (2013) 1 Qd.R. 272 (CA)
Groves v Groves [2013] QSC 277
Stepping Stones Childcare Centre (ACT) Pty Ltd v Early Learning Services Ltd (2013) 95 ACSR 179 (ACTSC)
Westpac Banking Corp v Lomas [2014] QSC 117
Queensland North Australia Pty Ltd v Takeovers Panel (No 2) (2015) 236 FCR 370
ASIC v Anderson (No.9) (2016) 308 FLR 216 and (2013) 2 Qd.R. 401 (CA)
Mt Isa Mines v Port of Townsville [2016] QSC 112
Wilmar Sugar Australia Ltd v Queensland Sugar Ltd (2016) 335 ALR 72 (FCA)
Beenleigh Housing & Devt Company Ltd v Isaiah Jumeirah Kahrter Pty Ltd as Trustee For Isjuka Trust [2017] QSC 170
CMC v Wiggins Island (2017) QSC 085
Burragubba v Queensland (2017) 254 FCR 175 and Burragubba v State of Queensland (No 2) (2018) FCAFC 65
Central Petroleum Ltd v Geoscience Resource Recovery LLC [2017] QSC 223
W.B. Rural v Commissioner of State Revenue (2017) 322 FLR 13, (2018) 1 Qd.R. 526
Linville Holdings Pty Ltd v Fraser Coast Regional Council [2017] QSC 252
Longley v Chief Executive, Dept of Environment and Heritage Protection (2018) 331 FLR 33
Civil Mining & Construction Pty Ltd v Wiggins Island Coal Export Terminal Pty Ltd (No 3) (2018) QSC 060
Re Linc Energy Ltd (in liq) [2017] 2 Qd R 720 and [2018] QCA 032
Rodriguez & Sons Pty Ltd v Queensland Bulk Water Supply Authority trading as Seqwater (Proceedings 2014/200854) (judgment reserved)