Sam practises primarily in commercial, public and industrial law.
Before coming to the Bar, Sam practised as a senior solicitor in constitutional and public law at the Victorian Government Solicitor’s Office and as a solicitor in commercial litigation at Herbert Smith Freehills. Sam was also an Associate to Justice Bromberg of the Federal Court of Australia where he worked on public law, major torts, industrial, and native title matters.
A selection of matters in which Sam has been briefed since coming to the bar include:
- Otto Dann & Anor v Chief Executive Officer (Housing) (NTD24/2022) – class action – application for security for costs – led by Alexander Edwards with Jack Gracey, instructed by Phi Finney McDonald (ongoing);
- John Doe (As litigation representative for his minor daughter, Jean Doe) v A High School (VID359/2026) – interim injunction under s 46PP of the Australian Human Rights Commission Act 1986 (Cth) in respect of alleged breaches of the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (Cth) – led by Tim Jeffrie and subsequently Jess Moir, instructed by Brand Partners (ongoing);
- Citta Hobart Pty Ltd & Ors v Parliament Square Hobart Landowner Pty Ltd & Ors (S ECI 2024 03920) – breaches of contract, variations, quantum meruit, estoppel, misleading or deceptive conduct – led by Jeff Gleeson KC and Premala Thiagarajan SC with Will Stone and Panagiota Pisani, instructed by Arnold Bloch Leibler (ongoing);
- JFJF v Minister for Immigration and Citizenship (VID1593/2025) – judicial review – led by Min Guo, instructed by Russell Kennedy (ongoing);
- Secretary to the Department of Transport & Planning v The Greek Orthodox Community of Melbourne and Victoria (S ECI 2025 01122) – compulsory acquisition – preparation of lay evidence – led by Paul Chiappi SC with Tom Ellicott, instructed by Rigby Cooke;
- Genesalio & Genesalio (MLC7657/2018) – family law – equitable estoppel, sham agreements – drafting statement of claim – led by Albert Dinelli KC with Luisa Frederico, instructed by Mazzeo Lawyers (settled); and
- Giardina & Giardina (BP1009/2025) – application under s 225 of the Property Law Act 1958 (Vic) – unled, instructed by bdlegal (ongoing).
Sam holds a Bachelor of Civil Law (Distinction) from the University of Oxford where he studied on an Allan Myers Scholarship. He also holds a Juris Doctor (First Class Honours), a Bachelor of Arts (Classics) and a Diploma of Languages from the University of Melbourne.
Sam read with Tim Jeffrie. His senior mentor is Premala Thiagarajan SC.
*Liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards legislation
