Practice Areas

Commercial Disputes

Regulation

Competition Law

Australian Consumer Law

Administrative & Public Law

Inquests

Public Interest Immunity and confidential information

Franchising disputes

Climate change

Michael's CV (updated August 2022) is available here.

About

Michael Rennie was called to the NSW Bar in 2011. He specialises in public and commercial law with particular focus on regulatory matters, matters involving the management of sensitive information and commercial disputes involving the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth) and the Australian Consumer Law.

As an indication, recent matters include managing the public interest immunity concerns in a significant murder trial, resolving a number of franchising matters out of Court, and merit review in relation to State and Federal regulatory decisions in the solar panel industry.

Background

Michael Rennie was admitted as a legal practitioner in 2000 in the Australian Capital Territory and was called to the NSW Bar in May 2011.

Prior to coming to the Bar, Michael was a Senior Lawyer with the Australian Government Solicitor focussing on Commonwealth regulatory enforcement litigation, and spent 3 years as a seconded lawyer to the ACCC.  Michael also spent a number of years working on matters under the National Security Information (Criminal and Civil Proceedings ) Act 2004 (Cth) for ASIO, the Attorney-General’s Department and the AFP.

Michael has significant expertise in relation to enforcement action by ACCC, ASIC, APRA, ABCC and other State and Commonwealth regulators, and in managing large scale, high profile litigation.  Michael brings that experience to bear for the benefit of his clients in both public and private spheres.

Equally, Michael has a deep appreciation of the demands of litigation on the individuals that can get caught in such disputes.

Publications

Australian Emissions Trading Law

The Hardiman Principle: The role of decision maker as contradictor in judicial review

Control of Government Information in Legal Proceedings: Public Interest Immunity

Non-Publication and Suppression Orders

Qualifications

Master of Laws (Australian National University)

Bachelor of Laws (Australian National University)

Bachelor of Arts (University of Sydney)