LinkedIn Shortlist

Christopher Withers SC

Silk 2020
Call 2006
Email withers@banco.net.au
Phone +61 2 9376 0676
PDF

LinkedIn Shortlist

Christopher was called to the bar in 2006. Prior to that, he spent six years working as a commercial litigator at Davis Polk & Wardwell in New York and two years at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer in London. He has a BCL from Oxford University. He was appointed Senior Counsel in 2020.

Christopher practices in a range of commercial law proceedings including trials and appeals in the Supreme and Federal Courts. His practice includes financial services litigation, trust litigation, insolvency and corporations matters, contract disputes, civil penalty and regulatory proceedings. Christopher regularly acts for both plaintiffs and defendants, including in representative proceedings.

Examples of Christopher’s practice include:

  • representing the plaintiffs in various successful actions brought against the ratings agencies Standard & Poor's and Fitch.
  • representing Bianca Rinehart and John Hancock in various actions against Gina Rinehart and Hancock Prospecting in the in the Supreme Court of NSW, the Federal Court of Australia, the WA Supreme Court and in arbitration.
  • representing Iluka Resources in a shareholder class action in the Federal Court of Australia.
  • representing Boral Limited in a shareholder class action in the Federal Court of Australia.
  • representing the a2 Milk Company Ltd in a shareholder class action in the Supreme Court of Victoria.
  • representing the Kingdom of Spain in proceedings seeking enforcement of an ICSID arbitration award in the Federal Court of Australia.
  • representing BCC and Tokio Marine in multiple disputes in the Supreme Court of NSW and Federal Court of Australia regarding trade credit insurance.
  • representing Sev.en Gamma in proceedings in the Supreme Court of Queensland seeking to appoint special purpose administrators to a joint venture.
  • representing the former chief financial officer of Forge Group Ltd in the Swiss Re litigation in the Supreme Court of NSW.
  • representing Wendy Botsman as the appellant in the Victorian Court of Appeal in the Banksia litigation.

    A CV is available on request.

Rankings

Best Lawyers 2025 – Ranked in Commercial Litigation, Corporate Law, and for Insolvency & Reorganisation

The Legal 500 Guide 2024 – Tier 2 Leading Silk in Commercial Disputes

Chambers & Partners Asia Pacific Guide 2024 – Band 4 Dispute Resolution - "Christopher is described as being 'very able, very determined, and never takes a step backwards'."

Chambers & Partners Asia Pacific Guide 2022-2023 – Band 4 Dispute Resolution Senior Counsel - "Chris is particularly noted for his familiarity with financial services, insolvency and regulatory matters and, increasingly, as an advocate on behalf of plaintiffs in prominent class actions. He is described by one interviewee as 'an impressive, natural silk who's across the detail and gives confidence to both instructors and funders,' while another calls him 'strategically brilliant, with an ease and assuredness in his manner and in dialogue with judges, who have confidence in his legal reasoning.'"

Doyles Guide 2023 (Australia-wide) – Leading Class Action Senior Counsel