Advised and represented a major disability service provider in hearings before the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability.
Dispute Resolution and Litigation Lawyers
For disputes ofConsequence
We act for companies, directors, financiers and private clients in commercial, regulatory and insurance disputes, in every Australian court up to the High Court.
Our Expertise
Five disciplines.
One disputes practice.

Complex Commercial Litigation
Contract, shareholder, fraud and construction disputes, from letter of demand to appeal.
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Regulatory Disputes & Investigations
ASIC, ACCC, SafeWork NSW, NSW Food Authority and ICAC investigations and proceedings.
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Insurance Coverage & Litigation
Declined, delayed and reduced claims under D&O, management liability, construction and property policies.
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Debt Recovery & Insolvency
Debt recovery, winding-up proceedings, insolvent trading and voidable transaction claims.
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Employment & Workplace
Dismissal, restraint, wage and workplace claims. For employers only.
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About
Traditional in principle.
Unconventional in approach.
GopherWood Lawyers is a specialist disputes practice for matters where the stakes are high and the path forward is rarely straightforward.
We advise companies, professionals and institutions on complex commercial litigation, regulatory investigations and insurance coverage disputes that demand clear judgment, strategic thinking and disciplined execution.
AboutWe act for
Companies & Corporates
Private companies, public companies and corporate groups facing complex commercial disputes, regulatory issues and significant financial or operational exposure.
Boards & Executives
Directors, boards, CEOs, CFOs and senior executives navigating disputes, investigations, directors’ duties and personal exposure.
Financial Services & Institutions
AFSL holders, financial institutions, wealth managers, investment businesses and financiers facing commercial, regulatory and financial disputes.
Insured Businesses & Professionals
Major corporates, institutions and professional firms facing complex coverage and indemnity disputes.
Experience
Matters in which our lawyers have acted.
Our lawyers have acted in some of Australia’s most complex and high-value disputes and regulatory matters, across a broad range of industries and jurisdictions.
Our experience spans major commercial litigation, regulatory investigations and prosecutions, insurance coverage disputes, class actions and complex construction matters.
Defended a major construction company in a $40 million Supreme Court claim brought by a racing club concerning defective turf works.
Acted for an Australian financial services licensee in proceedings arising from one of Australia’s largest investment frauds.
Acted in a class action arising from alleged professional misconduct involving the establishment of self-managed superannuation funds and the investment of clients’ superannuation in related entities.
Defended a major power distribution network operator in a substantial delay dispute arising from the late provision of a permanent electricity connection for a Sydney CBD residential development, affecting occupation certification.
Represented a major Australian food manufacturer in high-stakes NSW Food Authority prosecution proceedings arising from complex product labelling and food safety issues.
Represented a major construction company in complex SafeWork NSW proceedings arising from a workplace fatality involving catastrophic machinery and confined-space risks.
Advised a leading international construction group on complex liability and litigation arising from major projects across Australia and multiple international jurisdictions, including disputes exceeding $1 billion in value.
Acted in a $5 million professional indemnity coverage dispute concerning the scope of insured professional services, and whether losses arising from a major marine matter fell within the professional business defined by the policy.
Acted in a $10 million coverage dispute concerning an insurer’s duty of utmost good faith under s 13 of the Insurance Contracts Act 1984 (Cth), including complex questions of causation arising from claims-handling conduct, delay and the underlying insured event.
Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.
Market Insights
Expert insight that cuts through
legal complexity.

Served with NDIS Civil Penalty Proceedings? A Provider's Guide to the Federal Court
Regulatory Disputes & Investigations
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NDIS Investigations: When Directors and Executives Face Personal Liability
Regulatory Disputes & Investigations
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When the NSW Food Authority Arrives: Investigations, Orders and Your Right to Respond
Regulatory Disputes & Investigations
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Food Safety Prosecutions in NSW: What the Evidence Actually Proves
Regulatory Disputes & Investigations
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A Food Authority Fine Is Not Just a Fine: Court Proceedings and Publication Risks
Regulatory Disputes & Investigations
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Outside the Clinic: When a Health Practitioner's Private Conduct Puts Registration at Risk
Regulatory Disputes & Investigations
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Under Investigation by the NDIS Commission? What Providers and Workers Need to Know
Regulatory Disputes & Investigations
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ASIC v Hollard: When Insurance Claim Delays Become a Breach of Utmost Good Faith
Insurance Coverage & Litigation
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Is Your Product a Therapeutic Good? What Health Product Businesses Need to Know
Regulatory Disputes & Investigations
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The $4.5 Billion Airport Dispute: When a Data Room Puts the Whole Investment at Risk
Complex Commercial Litigation
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Peptides and Your Clinic: A Practical Compliance Guide
Regulatory Disputes & Investigations
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Unapproved Peptides: The TGA Crackdown and What It Means for Australian Clinics
Regulatory Disputes & Investigations
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The $3.7 Million Insurance Gap: When Your Business Is Insured, but Your Business Activities Are Not
Insurance Coverage & Litigation
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When a Finance Broker Gets It Wrong: Liability Across the Lending Chain
Regulatory Disputes & Investigations
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Professional Misconduct and AHPRA Investigations: Understanding Your Rights and Options
Regulatory Disputes & Investigations
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Cosmetic Clinic Complaints in NSW: Ahpra, Advertising and Your Right to Respond
Regulatory Disputes & Investigations
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Insolvent Trading Claims: Legal Defences and Options for Company Directors
Debt Recovery & Insolvency
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Private Lenders: How to Recover an Unpaid Loan
Debt Recovery & Insolvency
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Food Safety Prosecutions: When Can a Director Be Personally Liable?
Regulatory Disputes & Investigations
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Shareholder Deadlocks: What Are Your Options When Shareholders Cannot Agree?
Complex Commercial Litigation
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Shareholder Freeze-Outs: Legal Rights and Remedies for Excluded Shareholders
Complex Commercial Litigation
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A Company Owes You Money but Has No Assets. What Can You Do?
Debt Recovery & Insolvency
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High Court clarifies what regulators must actually consider: the MACH Energy decision
Regulatory Disputes & Investigations
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Christopher Fahmy named a finalist in the Lawyers Weekly 30 Under 30 Awards 2026
News
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Understanding Personal Advice Obligations: Navigating the Line Between Guidance and Compliance
Commercial Disputes
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A Turning Point for Professional Negligence and Pure Economic Loss
Commercial Disputes
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Specialist Coverage Counsel: Hidden Traps in Professional Indemnity Claims
Insurance
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Compliance Under the Food Act 2003 (NSW): Why Hospitality Businesses Cannot Afford to Get It Wrong
Dispute Resolution & Litigation
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Ex-Wotton Kearney senior associate launches standalone practice
News
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The Design and Building Practitioners Act 2020 (NSW): Expanding liability and the emerging question of certifier responsibility
Dispute Resolution & Litigation
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Debt Recovery in NSW: A Practical Guide for Businesses Owed Money
Debt Recovery
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