Philip Wallis

Called to the Bar in 2012 and with a wealth of prior experience as a Partner of a law firm and General Counsel for a retail property development group, Philip maintains a mixed practice that is centred on commercial law, equity, real property, wills and estates and family provisions matters. He accepts briefs from both law firms and in-house legal departments and having worked in these environments, has a deep appreciation for their legal and commercial imperatives.

Primarily appearing in the Supreme Court of New South Wales, almost exclusively unled, Philip is regularly briefed in disputes in which wills are challenged, as well as family provisions and general equity cases, such as the enforcement of equitable estoppel and general contractual disputes. He has also appeared in a range of matters in the Federal Court of Australia, Supreme, District and Local Courts of New South Wales, Federal Magistrates Court and various Tribunals. Notably, Philip has also been briefed in a group action for members of the Stolen Generation against the State of New South Wales.

Philip draws on the experience he has gained from his extensive litigation practice of almost 35 years in senior capacities in both law firms and in-house legal departments to offer superior advice and representation to his clients. In private practice, he acquired extensive litigation experience acting for individual clients in common law personal injury claims and general commercial matters. He also acted in local council prosecutions and for institutional and corporate clients in the Supreme and District Courts of New South Wales, including enforcement of mortgages and recovery of possession of land. His prior experience as General Counsel for a retail property development group encompassed advising on property transactions, retail and commercial leases, general corporate and commercial advice, complex property development agreements, as well as retail and commercial lease disputes.

An astute negotiator with highly developed interpersonal skills, Philip deploys his skills to achieve the most cost-effective and efficient outcome for his clients when representing them at mediations. He has also conducted mediations as a Mediator. Philip holds a Graduate Diploma in Company Secretarial Practice from the Chartered Secretaries Australia (now, Governance Institute of Australia), as well as a Master of Laws and Bachelor of Laws from the University of Sydney.