Hicksons has extensive experience in providing commercial dispute resolution services to companies, financial institutions, the insurance industry and government department and agencies.

Headed by Senior Partner Alan Blanch, Hicksons has a highly experienced team representing clients in a broad range of commercial claims relating to:

• shareholder and partnership disputes
• misleading and deceptive conduct
• advising clients in investigations and inquiries
• property
• equity
• trusts
• IP and IT disputes
• Corporations Act matters
• breach of contract and indemnity issues
• Contracts Review Act matters, and
• international law.

Our no-nonsense and practical approach to commercial disputes supports clients to make early, informed assessments of the core legal and commercial issues and risks associated with any dispute. This includes assessing the best dispute resolution mechanism, such as mediation and arbitration, to minimise costs and achieve timely and certain results, wherever possible.

Partners Paul Hendriks and Dr Tim Channon are Accredited Specialists in Commercial Litigation.
Two of Hicksons partners, Alan Blanch and John Markos, are trained mediators.

Our lawyers have acted in many high profile and complex matters including the:

• HMAS Westralia litigation
• Sydney Airport third runway litigation
• Hardies enquiry
• Wood Royal Commission
• Kiama drownings
• Tamworth bus crash
• Glenbrook train disaster, and
• damages claim arising out of an explosion at Porgera in Papua New Guinea (PNG).

Our Dispute Resolution team works closely with our Transport Trade and Energy, Corporate and Commercial, Property and Finance, Insurance and Government practice groups to provide timely and practical advice on all disputes.

Special inquiries

Our lawyers also have extensive experience acting in special inquiries. We have advised clients called before the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC), Coronial Inquiries, Special Commissions of Inquiry, and on the Australian Crime Commission. Specific examples include:

• representing a council employee in the ICAC Inquiry into Wollongong City Council’s property developments
• representing an employee of the Roads and Traffic Authority NSW in the ICAC Inquiry into allegations of corrupt conduct involving defrauding the RTA in relation to payments for traffic tidal flow services
• the Jackson Inquiry (MRCF), and
• representing three Police Officers in the inquiry into the disappearance of anti-drugs campaigner Donald Mackay.

Our track record

Our team has acted in many high profile and complex disputes including:

• acting for a franchisee against claims for damages in the Federal Court relating to the HMAS Westralia disaster, arising from a fire that started due to allegedly defective fuel lines on the main engines. This matter involved issues of supply and installation, relations between franchisors and franchisees, and factually complex issues of negligence
• acting for employees of state owned corporations in numerous major investigations by ICAC
• acting for a dredging company in damages claims arising from the failing of the third runway sea walls at Sydney Airport, allegedly caused by defective design and construction. This high profile matter involved issues of interpretation of contractual warranties and indemnities
• acting in Kenny and Good Pty Ltd v MGICA (1992) Limited – a High Court of Australia appeal on causation in professional indemnity issues in which the High Court clarified the extent of valuer's liability for a negligently produced valuation
• acting for an insurer in damages claims arising out of the explosion at Porgera (PNG). The case lasted for 10 years and ultimately resulted in a verdict in favour of our client, including costs being paid by another party.