Stephen Lee

E: sjlee@qldbar.asn.au
T: (07) 32214221
M: +61 (0)419103841

Areas of Practice

  • Administrative Law
  • Appellate
  • Arbitration
  • Banking and Finance
  • Commercial Litigation
  • Constitutional Law
  • Contract
  • Deceased Estates
  • Equity
  • Insurance
  • Property
  • Professional Negligence
  • Tort
  • Trade Practices

Qualifications

  • 2013 – DipICArb (Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, London and Singapore);
  • 1999 – JSD (Columbia, New York) (Equity in the Conflict of Laws)
  • 1990 – BCL (Oxford) (Evidence, Restitution, Trusts, Conflict of Laws)
  • 1985/1988 – BA/LLB (Hons) (University of Queensland)

Professional Accreditations and Memberships

  • 2015 – Called to the Bar of England and Wales (Middle Temple)
  • 2014 – Fellow, Charted Institute of Arbitrators
  • 2010 – Australian National Accreditation as Mediator
  • 1994 – Attorney-at-Law, New York
  • 1988 – Barrister-at-Law, Queensland

Summary

Before commencing practice at the Queensland Bar in 1995, Stephen served as an Associate to a Justice of the Supreme Court of Queensland and worked for two private law firms, Morris Fletcher & Cross in Brisbane, and Freehill Hollingdale & Page in Sydney. He has completed postgraduate studies in law at Oxford and at Columbia Law School, New York.  Stephen has appeared in complex cases in a wide range of courts and tribunals, including 18 matters in the High Court of Australia with a 100% success rate in special leave applications.

Selected Cases

  • Allen v G Developments Pty Ltd & Anor [2019] QCA 287 (commercial, loan agreement, interest)
  • EDH17 v Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs [2019] FCA 1947 (migration)
  • Palmer v Palmer [2018] QSC 217 (removal of trustee)  
  • Hunter v Hunter [2015] FamCA 1075 (trusts, exoneration, property settlement)  
  • Diehm v DPP (Nauru) [2013] HCA 42 (criminal law)
  • CBFC Limited v Corporate Consulting (Australia) Pty Ltd [2010] QSC 395 (registration of charge out of time, equitable lien)
  • Lerinda Pty Ltd v Laertes as Trustee for the Ap-Pack Deveney Unit Trust [2010] 2 Qd R 312, [2009] QSC 251 (deed of company arrangement, trusts, subrogation)
  • Shinelia Resources Ltd v Henan Shenhuo Group Ltd [2007] QLRT 63 (mining licence, law of priorities, trusts)
  • Ruhani v Director of Police (2005) 222 CLR 489, [2005] HCA 42 and Ruhani (No 2) (2005) 222 CLR 580, [2005] HCA 43 (constitutional law, migration)
  • Re Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs, Ex Parte Lam (2003) 214 CLR 1, [2003] HCA 6 (procedural fairness)  
  • Attorney-General (Qld) v Australian Industrial Relations Commission (2002) 213 CLR 485, [2002] HCA 42 (statutory construction)
  • Maggbury Pty Ltd v Hafele Australia Pty Ltd (2001) 210 CLR 181, [2001] HCA 70 (confidentiality agreement)
  • Re Pacific Coal (2000) 203 CLR 346, [2000] HCA 34 (constitutional law)

Selected Publications