Marcel practises in public and commercial law.
Marcel holds a Bachelor of Laws/Bachelor of Asia Pacific Studies from the Australian National University (ANU), where he graduated first in his honours’ cohort and received the Supreme Court Prize. He also holds a Bachelor of Civil Law (Distinction) from Oxford University, where he was awarded the Vinerian Scholarship for best overall performance. Marcel has taught equity and trusts at ANU, and his publications have appeared in the Journal of Equity and the Australian Bar Review.
Before coming to the bar, Marcel was a senior lawyer in the Office of General Counsel at the Australian Government Solicitor. He also worked at Herbert Smith Freehills, was manager of the police and prison accountability team at the North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency and was associate to Justice Leeming of the New South Wales Court of Appeal. A selection of the matters in which Marcel has been briefed since coming to the bar include:
High Court
- Austral v Northern Territory of Australia; Binsaris v Northern Territory of Australia; O’Shea v Northern Territory of Australia, Webster v Northern Territory of Australia – availability of exemplary damages for intentional torts committed against detainees in youth detention centre – led by Kathleen Foley SC with James McComish, instructed by North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency (judgment reserved)
- Reddit, Inc v Commonwealth of Australia; Digital Freedom Project, Inc v Commonwealth of Australia – constitutional validity of the Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Act 2024 (Cth) – led by Stephen Lloyd SC and Johanna Davidson SC with Tom Wood and Julia Wang, instructed by Australian Government Solicitor (ongoing)
State Supreme Courts and Courts of Appeal
- Dexus Capital Investment Services Pty Ltd v Australia Pacific Airports Corporation Ltd – dispute between the shareholders of Melbourne Airport concerning confidentiality obligations – led by Steven Finch SC with David Heaton, instructed by Baker McKenzie (judgment reserved)
- Slea Pty Ltd v Connective Services Pty Ltd – remedies for shareholder oppression – led by Jonathon Moore KC with Emma Beechey and Gary Zhang, instructed by Arnold Bloch Leibler
- Millsave Holdings Pty Ltd v Connective Services Pty Ltd [2025] VSCA 342 – application for variation of Court of Appeal orders – led by Jonathon Moore KC and Colette Minz, instructed by Arnold Bloch Leibler
Federal Court
- Re Pilato; in the matter of the Scorpion and the Frog Pty Ltd (in liq) [2026] FCA 98 – insolvency of trustee company, application for transfer of proceedings to Family Court – unled, instructed by Beswick Lynch
- Bonson v Commonwealth of Australia – class action concerning claims that the Community Development Programme contravened ss 9 and 10 of the Racial Discrimination Act 1975 – led by Kate Eastman SC and Zoe Maud SC with Kirsty Stewart, instructed by Australian Government Solicitor (ongoing)
Arbitration
- Termination dispute concerning contracts for purchase for a major energy asset relating to allegations of a material adverse change – led by Terry Mehigan SC with David Heaton, instructed by Jones Day
*Liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards legislation
