Brian O’Donnell KC
Admission as Barrister 1983
Appointed Silk 1993
Overview
Brian is one of the leading commercial silks in Australia. He has successfully practiced as a leading commercial KC for over 20 years. His practice covers a wide range of advisory, appeal and trial work in State Supreme Courts and the Federal Court, in arbitrations and in various commissions. Brian is regularly briefed to appear in complex corporate, commercial and insolvency matters.
Areas of Practice
Administrative law, appeals, banking, class actions, equity and trusts, commercial disputes, contract, corporate insolvency and bankruptcy, corporations, insolvency, insurance, gas industry, leasing, mining industry, professional negligence, rail and port services, resources and energy, schemes of arrangement, trade practices and competition, taxation.
Recommendations
Awarded “Commercial Law Expert of the Year in Australia – 2026”in Corporate INTL’s Annual Awards.
Doyles Guide – Commercial Litigation & Dispute Resolution
2025 – Leading (Queensland)
2024 – Leading (Queensland)
2023 – Leading (Queensland)
2022 – Pre-eminent (Queensland) and Leading (Australia)
2021 – Leading (Australia)
2020 – Pre-eminent (Queensland) and Recommended (Australia)
2019 – Preeminent (Queensland) and Recommended (Australia)
2018 – Preeminent (Queensland)
2017 – Preeminent (Queensland) and Recommended (Australia)
2016 – Preeminent (Queensland) and Recommended (Australia)
2015 – Leading (Queensland)
Doyles Guide – Construction and Infrastructure
2026 – Recommended (Queensland)
2025 – Leading (Queensland)
2024 – Leading (Queensland)
2023 – Leading (Queensland) and Recommended (Australia)
2022 – Leading (Queensland) and Leading (Australia)
2021 – Leading (Queensland)
2020 – Leading (Queensland) and Recommended (Australia)
2019 – Recommended (Queensland)
2018 – Leading (Queensland) and Recommended (Australia)
2017 – Recommended (Queensland)
2016 – Recommended (Queensland)
2015 – Leading (Queensland)
Doyles Guide – Insolvency and Reconstruction
2025 – Leading (Queensland)
2023 – Leading (Queensland)
2022 – Leading (Queensland) and Recommended (Australia)
2021 – Leading (Queensland) and Recommended (Australia)
2020 – Leading (Queensland)
2019 – Leading (Queensland)
2018 – Preeminent (Queensland)
2017 – Recommended (Australia)
2016 – Preeminent (Queensland) and Recommended (Australia)
2015 – Preeminent (Queensland) and Leading (Australia)
Cases
2026
Antai Solar Australia Pty Ltd v Towers [2026] QSC 10
Impact Healthcare Pty Ltd v St Vincent’s Private Hospitals Ltd [2026] QCA 21
PBR Properties Pty Ltd v Chubb Insurance Australia Limited [2026] QSC 47
2025
Impact Healthcare Pty Ltd v St Vincent’s Private Hospitals Ltd [2025] QSC 117
Haggarty v RX Plastics Pty Ltd [2025] FCA 536
Brisbane Airport Corp Pty Ltd v Airservices Australia & Anor [No 2] [2025] QSC 081
Brisbane Airport Corp Pty Ltd v Airservices Australia & Anor [No 3] [2025] QSC 234
Brisbane Airport Corp Pty Ltd v Airservices Australia & Anor [No 4] [2025] QSC 291
Seafarms Group Ltd v McKinnon [2025] QSC 045
GPP Arundel Pty Ltd v Basford Pty Ltd [2025] QSC 165
2024
Project Sea Dragon Pty Ltd and Another v Canstruct Pty Ltd (2024) 305 FCR 465 and [2024] FCAFC 141
Civil Mining & Construction Pty Ltd v Wiggins Island Coal Export Terminal Pty Ltd [2024] QSC 28
Civil Mining & Construction Pty Ltd v Wiggins Island Coal Export Terminal Pty Ltd (No 2)
IG Power (Callide) Ltd (Admins Apptd), Re [2024] FCA 1012
Great Barrier Reef Yacht Club Villas Pty Ltd v Insurance Australia Ltd [2024] QSC 320
Brightman & Ors v Royal Pines Projects Pty Ltd (No 2) [2024] QSC 150
Wadren Pty Ltd v Algeri [2024] QSC 109
McComiskie v Smith [2024] QSC 77
2023
Canstruct Pty Ltd v Project Sea Dragon Pty Ltd (Subject to a Deed of Co Arrangement)
Civil Mining & Constructions Pty Ltd v Wiggins Island Coal Export Terminal Pty Ltd (2023) 14 QR 323
Kitchen v Director of Professional Services Review [2023] FCAFC 160
Merchant v Ernst & Young (2022) QSC 259
2022
Smith v National Australia Bank Ltd [2022] FCA 1186
Sentinel Property Group Pty Ltd v ABH Hotel Pty Ltd & Anor [2022] QSC 165
Kitchen v Director of Professional Services (2022) FCA 780
2021
Wiggins Island Coal Export Terminal Pty Ltd v Civil Mining & Construction Pty Ltd [2021] QCA 008
Compass Group Education Hospitality Services Pty Ltd v Commissioner of State Revenue (2021) 8 QR 1 and [2021] QCA 098
Hutson v Nerang Subdivision Pty Ltd & Ors [2021] QSC 323
2020
Compass Group Education Hospitality Services Pty Ltd v Commissioner of State Revenue [2020] QSC 261 and [2020] QSC 184
DMS Maritime Pty Ltd v Navigators Corporate Underwriters Ltd [2020] QSC 382
Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining & Energy Union v One Key Workforce Pty Ltd [2020] FCAFC 27
Civil Mining & Construction Pty Ltd v Wiggins Island Coal Export Terminal Pty Ltd [2020] QSC 1
2019
McConnell Dowell Constructors (Aust) Pty Ltd v Cardno (Qld) Pty Ltd [2019] QSC 320
Prime Constructions (Qld) Pty Ltd v HPS (Qld) Pty Ltd & Ors [2019] QSC 301
2018
Longley v Chief Executive, Dept of Environment and Heritage Protection [2018] QCA 32 and [2018] 3 Qd R 459
Burragubba v State of Queensland (No 2) (2018) FCAFC 65
2017
W.B. Rural v Commissioner of State Revenue (2017) 322 FLR 13 and (2018) 1 Qd R 526
Re Linc Energy Ltd (in liq) [2017] 2 Qd R 720
Burragubba v Queensland (2017) 254 FCR 175
CMC v Wiggins Island [2017] QSC 085
Linville Holdings Pty Ltd v Fraser Coast Regional Council [2017] QSC 252
Central Petroleum Ltd v Geoscience Resource Recovery LLC [2017] QSC 223
2016
ASIC v Managed Investments Ltd and Ors (No 9) (2016) 308 FLR 216
Mt Isa Mines v Port of Townsville [2016] QSC 112
Re Palmer v Parbery; Qld Nickel Pty Ltd (in liq) (2016) 153 ALD 475
Wilmar Sugar Australia Ltd v Queensland Sugar Ltd (2016) 335 ALR 72 (FCA)
2015
Qld North Australia Pty Ltd v Takeovers Panel [2015] 320 ALR 726
Qld North Australia Pty Ltd v Takeovers Panel (No 2) (2015) 236 FCR 370
2014
Westpac Banking Corp v Lomas [2014] QSC 117
2013
Anderson v ASIC [2013] 2 Qd R 401 (CA)
7 Eleven Stores v United Petroleum [2013] 1 Qd R 272 (CA)
Aquila Coal v Bowen Central (2013) QSC 082
Federal Commissioner of Taxation v Unit Trend Services (2013) 250 CLR 253 (HCA)
Filmana Pty Ltd and Ors v Tynan and Anor [2013] QCA 256
Groves v Groves [2013] QSC 277
2012
BG International v 400 George Street (2012) 2 Qd.R. 302 (CA)
Commissioner of Taxation v Crown Insurance Services Ltd (2012) 207 FCR 247
Hillam v Ample Source International Pty Ltd (2012) 202 FCR 336
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
Petroleum Nominees Pty Ltd v Central Petroleum (2012) 90 ACSR 611
2011
Ample Source International Ltd v Bonython Metals Group Pty Ltd (No.6) (2011) 285 ALR 488
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)
2010
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)
Lerinda Pty Ltd v Laertes Investments [2010] 2 Qd.R 312
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)
2009
Beach Retreat Pty Ltd v Mooloolaba Marina Ltd [2009] Qd R 356
Re City Pacific Ltd; City Pacific v Bacon (No.2) (2009) 178 FCR 81
2008
Lee v Surfers Paradise Beach Resort [2008] 2 Qd.R. 249 (CA)
2007
AMCI (IO) Pty Ltd v Aquila Steel Pty Ltd (2007) 64 ASCR 427
Cannon St v Karedis [2007] 1 Qd.R. 505 (CA)
Mincom Ltd v EAM Software Finance Pty Ltd (No 3) (2007) 213 FLR 364
2006
David Jones Ltd v Perpetual Ltd [2006] QSC 337
Expectation Pty Ltd v PRD Realty Pty Ltd [2006] FCA 360
Expectation Pty Ltd v PRD Realty Pty Ltd (No.2) (2006) 151 FCR 160
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
2005
Pacific National (ACT) Pty Ltd v Queensland Railways (2005) 215 ALR 544 and [2006] FCA 91
2004
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
2003
Elfic Ltd v Macks [2003] 2 Qd.R. 125
2002
Charter Pacific Corporation v Coventry [2002] QSC 301 and (2003) 179 FLR 438
Charter Pacific Corporate v Belrida [2002] QSC 254 and (2003) 2 Qd.R. 619
1999
Naomi Marble & Granite Pty Ltd v FAI General Insurance Company Limited (No.1) (1999) 1 Qd.R. 507
Naomi Marble & Granite PTY Ltd v FAI General Insurance Company Limited (No. 2) (1999) 1 Qd.R. 518
1995
Gore v Octahim Wise Limited [1995] 2 Qd R 242
1992
Deputy Commissioner of Taxation v State Bank NSW (1992) 174 CLR 219 (HCA)
Qualifications
Batchelor of Laws (with Honours), University of Queensland
Batchelor of Arts, University of Queensland
1993 – Appointed Queen’s Counsel
Current member of the Bar Association of Queensland (Member ID 50)
Address and contact details
McPherson Chambers
Level 17
239 George Street
BRISBANE QLD 4000
T – 07 3221 3055 M – 0435 351 705
E – bodonnell@mcphersonchambers.com.au
W – www.mcphersonchambers.com.au