Helen Tiplady

She has particular experience in contractual disputes, class actions, trade practices, employment, insurance and professional negligence. Helen has also appeared in both international and domestic commercial arbitrations, particularly in the construction and resources sectors.

In addition to her commercial practice, Helen has extensive experience in Royal Commissions and Inquiries, appearing led and unled in numerous State and Commonwealth Royal Commissions, on behalf of the Victorian State Government and the Department of Justice and Community Safety.

Prior to coming to the Bar, Helen was an Associate to the Honourable Justice Jessup in the Federal Court of Australia. Helen also practised in private practice in Melbourne and London, and in-house in London.

Recent matters include:

• Mackrill v State of Tasmania (ongoing) – class action brought by junior doctors for the payment of unrostered overtime – unled.
• ASIC v Insurance Australia Limited (ongoing) – false and misleading representations, breach of s 912A Corporations Act, defective disclosure statements – led by Phil Solomon KC.
• Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees’ Association v Aldi Foods Pty Limited (ongoing) – class action brought by employees for unpaid entitlements – unled.
• The Community and Public Sector Union v State of Victoria (ongoing) – class action brought by employees for unpaid progression – led by Justin Bourke KC.
• Select Harvests Limited Pty Ltd v Jose Borrell SA (judgment delivered 30 October 2025; citation TBC) – application to set aside service and for permanent stay of proceeding – unled.
• ASIC v Falcon Capital Limited [2025] FCA 359 – application by ASIC for the winding up of a company – led by Michael Borsky KC.
• Tham v Australian Capital Territory [2024] FCA 1508 – class action brought by junior doctors for the payment of unrostered overtime – unled, with Franceska Leoncio.
• Ning Chiu & Company Inc v Target Australia Pty Ltd [2024] VCC 1514 – application for security for costs – unled.
• Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v EnergyAustralia Pty Ltd [2024] FCA 1126 – action by the ACCC for contravention of the Competition and Consumer (Industry Code—Electricity Retail) Regulations 2019 and the Australian Consumer Law – unled in the hearing; led in the matter by Nick de Young KC.
• Hastie Group Limited (in liq) v Multiplex Constructions Pty Ltd [2024] FCAFC 61; [2024] FCAFC 74 – application for leave to appeal from judgment concerning the application of ss 553, 553C, 459A and 467B of the Corporations Act and the use of bank guarantees – led by Jonathon Moore KC.
• Bolin Technology Co Ltd v BirdDog Technology Ltd [2024] FCA 286 – applications for anti-suit injunction and anti-anti-suit injunction – unled.
• Gaudry v Rello Finance Pty Ltd [2023] VSC 630; [2023] VSC 713 – application for removal of a warrant from folios of the Register for Titles – unled.
• ASMOF & Bolton v Peninsula Health [2023] FCA 939; [2023] FCA 1070 – class action brought by junior doctors for the payment of unrostered overtime – led by Frank Parry KC with Natalie Campbell.
• Dreamstreet Lending Pty Ltd v Weiss [2022] FCA 1179; [2023] FCA 684; [2023] FCA 825 – inducing breach of contract, breach of restraint of trade, copyright infringement, application for indemnity costs – unled.
• Commissioner for Taxation v PWC [2022] FCA 278 – briefed as amicus curiae in relation to privilege matters – led by David Batt KC with Julia Nikolic.
• Cargill Australia Limited v Viterra Malt Pty Ltd [2022] VSC 13 – misleading and deceptive conduct, breach of contract, negligent misrepresentation, deceit – led by Paul Anastassiou QC and Lisa Nichols QC.
• Freedom Foods Pty Ltd v Blue Diamond Growers [2021] FCA 172; [2021] FCA 461; [2021] FCAFC 86 – stay of arbitration pursuant to International Arbitration Act, franchising – led by Jonathon Moore KC.
• Lochard Energy (Iona Operations Holding) Pty Ltd v EnergyAustralia Investments Pty Ltd (settled 2021) – misleading and deceptive conduct, breach of warranties – led by Neil Young KC and Matt Collins KC.
• ACCC v TEG Live (settled 2020) – misleading and deceptive conduct alleged in connection with promotion of basketball games involving the US Basketball Team – led by Catherine Button QC.

Arbitration

• UNCITRAL Arbitration re base pricing provision of coal mining contract (Singapore) – contract pricing review – led by Alan Archibald KC and David Batt KC.
• UNCITRAL Arbitration re operating issues arising pursuant to coal mining contract (Singapore) – led by David Batt KC.
• UNCITRAL Arbitration re construction of gas pipeline (Perth) – led by Brahma Dharmananda SC.
• Arbitration under IAMA Rules re quantification of adjustment payment under construction contract (Perth) – led by Chris Zelestis SC and Marcus Solomon SC.

Royal Commissions and Inquiries

• Yoorrook Justice Commission (2002-2024) – briefed on behalf of the Victorian State Government – led by Richard Knowles KC and Georgina Coghlan KC.
• Royal Commission into the Casino Operator and Licence (2021) – briefed on behalf of the Victorian State Government – led by Peter Gray QC.
• Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System (2019-2020) – briefed on behalf of the Victorian State Government – led by Claire Harris KC.
• Royal Commission into National Natural Disaster Arrangements (2020) – briefed on behalf of the Victorian State Government – led by Richard Attiwill QC.
• COVID-19 Hotel Quarantine Inquiry (2020) – briefed on behalf of the Department of Justice and Community Safety – led by Dr Kris Hanscombe KC.
• Inspector-General for Emergency Management Inquiry into the 2019-2020 Victorian Fire Season (2020) – briefed on behalf of the Victorian Department for Environment, Land, Water and Planning – unled.

*Liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards legislation