Dougal Ross Special Counsel

Dougal is a litigator specialising in complex commercial disputes.

He has extensive experience practising in both state and federal jurisdictions, covering areas including competition and trade practices issues, insolvency, directors' liability, professional negligence, employment, and debt recovery.

In addition to numerous high profile commercial disputes, Dougal has acted for individual, corporate and regulator clients on major corporate regulator investigations and penalty proceedings, liquidator examinations, ICAC Inquiries, and large scale class action proceedings.

Dougal’s significant experience and expertise extends to both the strategy, management and organisation required for long running, “big” litigation, as well as the high pressure demands of urgent injunction proceedings.

Experience

Commercial Litigation

AMP Services Ltd

Acted and achieved a successful resolution of proceedings commenced in the Federal Court by AMP’s former General Counsel of Litigation, whose employment with AMP was terminated for serious misconduct.

Former directors of Tamaya Resources

Representing former directors and officers in Federal Court proceedings commenced by liquidator, seeking in excess of $35 million for alleged breaches of directors duties and insolvent trading.

Prysmian

Defending long-running ACCC penalty proceedings for alleged global cartel in relation to the supply of land and submarine energy cables.

Qantas Airways

ACCC investigation and related penalty proceedings concerning an alleged global air cargo cartel in relation to fuel surcharges.

Seven Network

Successfully defending the Seven Network in Supreme Court proceedings brought by the Ten Network in relation to the employment of a senior programming executive, and acted in the high profile Supreme Court proceedings successfully restraining a former Seven employee acting in breach of her confidentiality obligations.

Yahoo!7

Successfully defending the CEO of Yahoo!7 in urgent injunction proceedings brought by Fairfax, seeking to enforce post-employment restraint provisions.

Ramsay Health Care

Defending significant ACCC penalty proceedings regarding alleged misuse of market power and exclusive dealing in relation to its Coffs Harbour private hospital.

Jetstar Airways

Defending ACCC penalty proceedings in relation to the imposition of a booking and service fee for online ticket sales.

Linc Energy (In Liquidation)

Successfully acted for the liquidators (PwC) of Linc Energy in ground-breaking proceedings against the State of Queensland regarding the liquidators’ obligations in respect of a company’s environmental liabilities.

Class actions

IPO Wealth Fund

Acting for Vasco Trustees and D H Flinders in defending class action proceedings commenced by Slater + Gordon on behalf of investors in the failed $80 million IPO Wealth Fund.

Qantas Airways

Defending long-running Federal Court class action proceedings brought against multiple international airlines in relation to an alleged global air cargo cartel.

Advanta Seeds Class Action

Acting as co-counsel for plaintiffs in class action proceedings brought by Queensland and NSW farmers against Advanta Seeds concerning contaminated sorghum seed.

Tamaya Resources

Acting for former directors and officers of company in Federal Court class action proceedings brought by shareholders for alleged misleading and deceptive conduct in relation to capital raisings.

Commissions and Inquiries

Gladys Berejiklian

Representing the former Premier of NSW in the ICAC Operation Keppel Inquiry, concerning the approval of two multi-million dollar regional infrastructure projects in the electoral district of Wagga Wagga.

Australian Labor Party (NSW Branch)

Representing NSW Labor in the ICAC Operation Aero Public Inquiry, concerning a $100,000 cash donation arising from a Chinese community fundraising dinner.

ASIC

Acting for ASIC in relation to the Financial Services Royal Commission, in particular supervising numerous large scale document productions by the regulator.

Recognition

Career & qualifications

Qualifications

  • Bachelor of Laws (Hons), University of Adelaide
  • Bachelor of Science, University of Adelaide

Memberships

  • Law Society of New South Wales
  • St Peter’s Collegians’ Association (New South Wales)

Insights Read more insight

Shareholder oppression: careful, unfairness adds up

When business partners fall out with each other, disagree as to the direction of a company, or simply face circumstances that leave a minority shareholder feeling harshly dealt with, threats of an...

More
Linc Energy – High Court refuses special leave to Qld State Government

The High Court has refused to grant the Queensland State Government (Qld Government) special leave to appeal the Queensland Court of Appeal’s March 2018 decision in favour of the liquidators of...

More
Linc Energy: appeal decision delivered

JWS has achieved a significant win on the Linc Energy appeal, in which we acted for Linc’s liquidators, PPB, against the Queensland State Government. The matter relates to the obligation of the...

More