MEMBERSHIPS AND EXPERIENCE

Steven is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators.  Please see below a selection of recent appointments:

• Sole Arbitrator in a SIAC arbitration relating to alleged unpaid sums under a Master Service Agreement.
• Presiding arbitrator in an LMAA arbitration relating to contaminated cargo.
• Presiding arbitrator in an LMAA arbitration relating to alleged claims for shipment of coal.
• Co-arbitrator in two ACICA arbitrations relating to claims made by Hospital management companies against a local authority. 

In 2022, Steven qualified as a mediator at Harvard Law School.  Please see below a selection of recent appointments:

• Shareholder dispute: two long term partners in internationally successful business fell out and one commenced oppression proceedings. A judge ordered that mediation occur after court expert valued businesses. 
• Pre litigation mediation clause: government department told contractor it was considering terminating services supply contract and suspended contractor’s engagements. Contract required pre litigation mediation. One party alleged other involved in improper activity. 
• Marine sale and insurance dispute: vendor agreed to deliver boat to purchaser. Boat sank in course of delivery. Purchaser sued vendor. Vendor denied liability under contract but sued its marine insurer who denied claim on basis property had passed. Court ordered the parties to mediate. 
• Legal partnership dispute: oppression claim in court proceeding by one partner in law firm against other two. Claim for buy-out. 
• Class action against multiple firms for defective audits: court ordered parties to mediate class action claims against multiple audit firms for failures to detect fraud by superannuation investment adviser. 

Steven was a judge of the Federal Court of Australia for nearly 18 years and sat in all areas of its general civil jurisdiction both at first instance and on appeal. He delivered over 1,200 judgments including in Admiralty and maritime (shipping), arbitration, insurance, commercial, cross-border and general insolvency, public international law, corporate, intellectual property (patents, trademarks and designs), administrative law, regulatory, native title, defamation and media law, professional negligence, and employment matters. He also heard criminal jury trials as a judge of the Supreme Courts of the Australian Capital Territory and Norfolk Island and sat in criminal appeals in the former. A list of some of his significant decisions is available by downloading my CV.

Steven had an extensive general practice at the bar both before and after taking silk in November 1993. He practised in all Australian jurisdictions at first instance and on appeal. His areas of practice included Admiralty and maritime, insurance, commercial, arbitration, insolvency, corporate, intellectual property, defamation and media law, professional negligence, administrative law, regulatory, family, professional conduct and aviation matters. A list of some significant cases in which he appeared as counsel is by downloading my CV. 

• Asian International Arbitration Centre (AIAC)
• Fellow of the Australian Centre for International Commercial Arbitration (ACICA)
• Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (FCIArb)
• Australian Disputes Centre Panel (ADC)
• ARIAS Asia Panel of Arbitrators (ARIAS Asia)
• BVI International Arbitration Centre (BVI IAC)
• Dubai International Arbitration Centre (DIAC)
• Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre (HKIAC)
• International Chamber of Commerce, International Court of Arbitration (ICC)
• London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA)
• Member of the London Court of International Arbitration Asia Pacific Users’ Council (LCIA Asia-Pacific)
• Supporting member of the London Maritime Arbitrators Association (LMAA)
• Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC)
• Member of the Panel Singapore Chamber of Maritime Arbitration (SCMA)
• Titulary member of the Comité Maritime International (CMI)
• Member of the Maritime Law Association of Australia and New Zealand
• Member, International Working Group on Offshore Activities of CMI
• Member of the ICC Australia Arbitration Committee
• Current member since 2025 and formerly presiding member, Admiralty Rules Committee under the Admiralty Act 1988 (Cth)  2011-2024
• Member and former president (2019-2021) of the Australasian Institute of Judicial Administration
• Member and former president (2014-2016) of the Judicial Conference of Australia
• Professional member, Resolution Institute
• Non-practising member, New South Wales Bar Association
• Fellow of the Australian Academy of Law
• Member of the Intellectual Property Society of Australia and New Zealand
• Appointed member of the Judicial Commission of New South Wales (2004)-2005) under the Judicial Officers Act 1986 (NSW)