Chris Moore

Chris Moore is a commercial litigator who has practised in commercial litigation and insurance law for almost 40 years, having spent over 17 years with two top-tier Australian firms and over 16 years with a mid-tier firm - as well as practising for 7 years as a barrister.

His commercial litigation experience includes property, securities and complex multiparty commercial disputes and all facets of insolvency and Corporations Act matters. It also includes partnership/shareholder disputes, major contractual disputes, intellectual property disputes, confidential information disputes, restraint cases, significant estate litigation, defamation and administrative law issues (including at both State and Federal levels).

While his primary focus is on commercial litigation, he has in the past undertaken work for insurer defendants and corporate plaintiffs in all aspects of general and liability insurance.   

Chris has advised stakeholders in connection with a significant number of class actions in Australia, including securities and product liability actions. He has been involved with and appeared in numerous class actions.

In order to offer sustainable value, Chris has significant experience in alternative dispute resolution methods to deliver cost-effective outcomes for clients. He brings to bear his wealth of commercial experience to assist and advise on achieving sensible commercial results for his clients.

Chris has been recognised in Best Lawyers in Australia for Commercial Law and Litigation continuously since 2020 to date.

 

Qualifications/Memberships

• Bachelor of Laws (UNSW)

• Securities Institute of Australia Certificate – Australian Stock Exchange

• Solicitor of the Supreme Court of NSW and the High Court of Australia 1988

 

A word from Chris

After many years in practice, I believe that I am in a good position to identify the full range of potential outcomes from any situation, which enables me to work with clients to determine the best possible commercial result and the best way to achieve it. In the vast majority of cases, that means avoiding the cost and expense of a court hearing, which is in my view a last resort after all other possibilities have been exhausted.

 

Career Highlights

• Acting for the group members of a class action alleging misleading conduct in connection with prospectus documentation for a $55m bond issue, which was settled shortly before trial.

• Acting in a significant class action arising from the collapse of the Australian beef export market caused by contamination from a new agricultural chemical used in cotton farming – during a prolonged period of drought, the remains of the cotton plants after harvest were fed to cattle. The case involved around 20 parties, including various State and Federal Government agencies. The client was successful at first instance in the Federal Court and on appeal.

• Acting in a raft of proceedings commenced by an unsuccessful applicant for a practising certificate against the NSW Bar Association. The various proceedings spanned in excess of 3 years and included contempt proceedings filed against individual members of the Bar Association and solicitors involved in the substantive proceedings. The matters finally concluded with the applicant’s unsuccessful application for special leave to appeal to the High Court.

• Successfully representing an investor in a questionable investment scheme, against the promoters, including a high-profile Sydney art dealer. Our client succeeded substantially at first instance and improved his position to complete success on a cross-appeal.

 

Specific areas of focus

• Commercial Dispute Resolution

• Financial Services

• Professional Conduct and Discipline

• Insolvency and Reconstruction

• Competition and Consumer

• Insurance Sector

• Professional Indemnity

• Property Services