Appointed Senior Counsel in 2021 at the age of 42, Charles is recognised as a leading commercial silk in Australia. Legal 500 describes him as “very strategic in his thinking and an outstanding advocate.”
He has a large trial and appellate practice, which includes class actions, contractual disputes, corporations matters, consumer disputes, constitutional law, equity and trusts, property matters and valuation.
Select recent matters include:
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- Shareholder class action against BHP in relatin to the failure of the Fundao Dam in Brazil
- Claim by Mercedes dealers in relation to the change from the dealer model to the agency model
- Class action by KFC employees in relation to rest breaks
- Claim by Holden dealers against General Motors in relation to the retirement of the Holden brand
- Appeals on the scope of VCAT’s jurisdiction arising from Thurin v Krongold Pty Ltd
Other significant matters include the dispute between Cargill and Viterra; the Timbercorp litigation; and the class actions arising from the Black Saturday bushfires.
Prior to coming to the Bar, Charles was Associate to the Hon KM Hayne AC KC at the High Court of Australia, and a solicitor in the litigation group at Freehills (now Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer).
Charles studied law at the University of Melbourne, attended Kings College London on a Menzies scholarship, and completed a doctorate at the University of Oxford on a Commonwealth Scholarship.
He has published widely, and his legal scholarship has been cited in decisions of the High Court of Australia and the Privy Council.
To view the CV of Dr Charles Parkinson KC, please click here.
*Liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards legislation
