About Michelle

Michelle Dixon is a partner in our Dispute Resolution and Litigation team. She is a highly regarded litigation lawyer, having worked in a wide range of disputes with a particular expertise in corporations matters, competition claims and trusts disputes. Her experience spans both private sector companies and public sector clients, including government departments, state-owned businesses and statutory authorities.

Between 2014 and 2020 Michelle was the firm’s CEO. She also has extensive governance experience as a Non Executive Director. This experience means that she brings a business focused lens to disputes.

Michelle has been listed as a leading litigation lawyer in Best Lawyers each year since 2014. In 2015 she was named as one of the Australian Financial Review’s 100 Women of Influence. She has also been recognised in the Legal 500 Asia Pacific Guide (2023) and Doyles for her work in Dispute Resolution: Litigation. Her leadership as CEO has also been recognised by numerous industry awards.

Experience

• NSW Independent Liquor and Gaming Authority

  Acting as solicitors assisting the Bell Inquiry into The Star casino under sections 30 and 141 of the Casino Control Act 1992 (NSW), into whether the operator was suitable to hold the casino licence.

• Oz Minerals

  Acted in Federal Court proceedings commenced by Zinifex's former shareholders, arising out of its merger with another large Australian mining company, Oxiana. The claims involved allegations of a failure to disclose relevant details of U.S. debt facilities, worth up to US$640 million in contravention of the Corporations Act and ASIC Act.

• Cartel Claim

  Successfully defended civil liability proceedings commenced against Lawrence & Hanson Group Pty Ltd by the ACCC for alleged cartel conduct in contravention of the Competition and Consumer Act 2010. The matter involved multiple parties including two of the largest electrical manufacturers in Australia.

• Cheung Kong Infrastructure Limited (CKI)

  Acted for CKI in proceedings against BlueScope Steel Limited and Merrill Lynch International (Australia) Ltd in Federal Court proceedings in NSW for misleading and deceptive conduct in relation to the sale of a mine in New Zealand. The Australian proceedings involved applications for a permanent stay, as well as anti-suit injunctions.

• Consumer Protection

  Acted for Australia’s regulator of the .au domain name space in numerous consumer protection proceedings in the Federal Court of Australia.

• Dispute resolution & litigation

  Investigations and advice for a major Australian corporation in relation to claims against former directors. Investigations included tracing funds through offshore investment trusts

• Dispute resolution & litigation

  Acted in the defence of a class action brought on behalf of more than 800 residents’ in group action claims of negligence and nuisance arising from landfill gas migration from a closed landfill.