Bernice practices in commercial, insolvency and public law.

Before coming to the Bar, Bernice was a Senior Associate in Ashurst’s Insolvency team, where she acted on a variety of complex commercial disputes, regulatory and securities matters.  In 2022, Bernice was a finalist for the 30 under 30 Awards in Insolvency.

Between 2019-2020, Bernice was Associate to Justice Hargrave at the Victorian Court of Appeal.

Bernice holds a Bachelor of Laws (First Class Honours) from the ANU, where she was awarded subject prizes for Commonwealth Constitutional Law and Takeovers and Securities Law. Her honours thesis on the doctrine of precedent was published in the Australian Law Journal. Bernice also has a Bachelor of Economics from the ANU.

Bernice read with Tamieka Spencer Bruce S.C. and her senior mentor is Stewart Maiden KC.

Matters Bernice has been involved in include:

Insolvency

•   Nipps (liquidator), in the matter of i-Prosperity Pty Ltd (in liq) [2024] FCA 1527 – s 477(2B) application, unled, instructed by Norton Rose Fulbright

•   Sev.en Gamma a.s v IG Power (Callide) Pty Ltd (Administrators Appointed) (No 2) [2024] FCA 184 – special purpose administrators’ entry into funding deed; general purpose administrators’ and creditors’ rights to information – led by Stewart Maiden KC, instructed by Gilbert + Tobin

•   Sparks, in the matter of IG Energy Holdings (Australia) Pty Ltd (Administrators Appointed) (No 2) [2024] FCA 648 – security for period of deferral of Daisytek application – led by Adam Pomerenke KC, instructed by Gilbert + Tobin

•   Confidential dispute regarding performance bonds in the context of a corporate collapse and creditors’ trust – led by Julie Taylor SC and Premala Thiagarajan

General Commercial

•  Citta Hobart Pty Ltd v Parliament Square Hobart Landowner Pty Ltd – construction dispute, VSC, ongoing – led by Jeff Gleeson KC and Premala Thiagarajan KC, instructed by Arnold Bloch Liebler

•   Vermile Pty Ltd and Westpac Banking Corporation v O’Shea – debt recovery, fiduciary duties, VSC, settled – led by Tamieka Spencer Bruce SC, instructed by Ashurst

 •   Aviation 3030 Pty Ltd (in liq) v Lao Holdings Pty Ltd [2024] VSC 800 – stamp duty recovery under Duties Act s 85(2); Anshun estoppel – with Andrew Roe, instructed by Ashurst

•   PNB Consolidated No 2 Pty Ltd v Thomson & Sons Investments Pty Ltd – dispute arising from sale of business, VSC, settled – with Andrew Cameron, instructed by Minter Ellison

•   Northwest Healthcare Australia Re Limited v Solomon [2024] VSC 494 – debt recovery – unled, instructed by Ashurst

•   Sunshine International Australia Pty Ltd v Sun – shareholder dispute, fiduciary duties, contract, unjust enrichment, VSC, settled – with Alexander di Stefano, instructed by Becketts

•   Pact Group Holdings (Australia) Pty Ltd v Qube Logistics (Aust) Pty Ltd (unreported, Supreme Court of Victoria, 8 June 2023, Delany J) – successful application for mandatory injunction for delivery up of materials – led by Hamish Austin KC, instructed by Ashurst

Regulatory

•  Confidential matters for the Australian Securities and Investments Commission

*Liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards legislation.

Areas of Practice

Cases

• Citta Hobart Pty Ltd v Parliament Square Hobart Landowner Pty Ltd
• Nipps (liquidator), in the matter of i-Prosperity Pty Ltd (in liq) [2024] FCA 1527
• Sev.en Gamma a.s v IG Power (Callide) Pty Ltd (Administrators Appointed) (No 2) [2024] FCA 184
• Sparks, in the matter of IG Energy Holdings (Australia) Pty Ltd (Administrators Appointed) (No 2) [2024] FCA 648
• Vermile Pty Ltd and Westpac Banking Corporation v O’Shea
• Aviation 3030 Pty Ltd (in liq) v Lao Holdings Pty Ltd [2024] VSC 800
• PNB Consolidated No 2 Pty Ltd v Thomson & Sons Investments Pty Ltd
• Northwest Healthcare Australia Re Limited v Solomon [2024] VSC 494
• Sunshine International Australia Pty Ltd v Sun
• Pact Group Holdings (Australia) Pty Ltd v Qube Logistics (Aust) Pty Ltd