Ella Delany

Ella practises in commercial and public law, with a particular focus on commercial disputes. Ella is recommended by Doyle’s Guide as a Leading Commercial Litigation & Dispute Resolution Junior Counsel.

Before coming to the bar, Ella was Associate to Justice Gordon at the High Court, Associate to Justice Dixon at the Supreme Court, and a solicitor in commercial litigation at Arnold Bloch Leibler. She completed her undergraduate law degree at Cambridge University on a Cambridge Commonwealth Trust scholarship and received the Richard Akinjide Prize for exceptional academic performance. Ella also holds an LLM from Melbourne University, Masters from Columbia University, and a teaching fellowship from Columbia University.

A selection of matters in which Ella has been briefed include:

Commercial law

• Marianne Haverkort v Qantas Airways Limited (Federal Court): consumer law class action, led by Dr Oren Bigos KC, Michael Hodge KC, and Thomas Bagley, instructed by Echo Law
• Star Entertainment Group Class Action (Supreme Court): securities class action, led by William Edwards KC, Ryan May and Rebecca Howe, instructed by Maurice Blackburn
• Warner v Ansell Limited (Supreme Court): securities class action, led by Michael Rush KC and Kane Loxley, instructed by Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer
• Advice for significant corporate group in relation to various commercial and tax issues, led by Allan Myers AM KC
• Habrok (Dalgaranga) Pty Ltd v Gasgoyne Resources Ltd (Federal Court), insolvency, led by Bret Walker SC, Dr Elizabeth Boros KC and Tim Boyle, instructed by ABL
• Braham Investments Pty Ltd v Charles Wantrup (Supreme Court): dispute over managed investment scheme, led by Mark Costello KC, instructed by MinterEllison
• Butler v Total Tools Holdings Pty Ltd (Federal Court) contractual dispute, led by Stephen Parmenter KC, instructed by Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer
• Advice in relation to significant loan agreement, led by Allan Myers AM KC, instructed by Piper Alderman
• Barrett v Head, Transport for Victoria (Supreme Court), disputed land acquisition, led by David Batt KC and Lisa Hannon KC, instructed by Maddocks
• PharmX Pty Ltd (in its capacity as trustee of the PharmX Unit Trust) v Fred IT Group (Supreme Court): shareholder dispute, led by Carl Moller SC, instructed by Bridges Lawyers

Appeals

• Grand Ridge v Valuer General of Victoria (Court of Appeal), meaning of capital improved value, led by David Batt KC and Geoff Kozminsky, instructed by Victorian Valuer-General
• Jeshing Property Management Pty Ltd v Yang & Ors (Court of Appeal), construction of registered instrument, led by Sam Horgan KC, instructed by JT Lawyers

Public Law/Commissions and Inquiries

• Royal Commission into the Casino Operator and Licence (Crown Royal Commission): briefed for the Commission, instructed by Corrs Chambers Westgarth, led by Adrian Finanzio SC, Penny Neskovcin KC, Meg O’Sullivan KC and Geoffrey Kozminsky
• Advice as to impacts of religious discrimination bill, led by Bret Walker SC, Kathleen Foley SC, and Brendan Lim, direct brief
• Friends of Nyah-Viniferah Park Inc v Minister for Environment & Water & Anor (Federal Court), judicial review proceedings relating to the Murray Darling Basin plan, led by Brendan Lim, instructed by Environmental Justice Australia
• Advice as to constitutional validity of certain Northern Territory laws, led by Mark Costello SC, instructed by NAAJA
• Advice on significant native title claims involving Northern Territory property (unled), instructed by Piper Alderman
• McIver v Australian Capital Territory (Special Leave), statutory construction, led by Kathleen Foley SC and James McComish, instructed by Ken Cush 
• 390A Queens Pde Pty Ltd v Yarra City Council (Supreme Court): judicial review, led by Stuart Morris KC, instructed by Best Hooper

Ella was a reporter for the Commonwealth Law Reports between 2019-2024. Ella read with Kathleen Foley SC, and her senior mentor is Dr Catherine Button KC.

*Liability limited under a scheme approved under Professional Standards legislation