Christian Jennings KC

Christian Jennings QC
Called to the bar in 2003
Took silk in 2020

Christian Jennings has a broad commercial and commercial chancery practice, and acts in public law matters. As an advocate, he appears in all jurisdictions in State and Federal Courts, commissions of inquiry, mediations, and arbitrations. He has a wide advisory practice and has acted for prominent Australian individuals, companies, and institutions.

He appears frequently at trial, in complicated applications in the Supreme or Federal Courts (seeking final or interlocutory orders), and in appeals before the Court of Appeal or Full Court of the Federal Court. He has recently acted in matters concerning corporate insolvency, partnerships, property, design and engineering, banking and finance, defamation, professional negligence, confiscation and administrative review.

 

 

Cases

Merker v Merker [2023]QCA 277

Concerning the validity of claims based on knowing receipt of trust property in the context of an alleged failed joint endeavour constructive trust.

Cooke v Denovan [2023]QSC 93

Concerning an application for leave to bring a statutory derivative action under s237 of the Corporations Act 2001.

McMahon (as trustee) v Aynsley [2022]QSC 140

An application under the Trusts Act 1973 for directions or an order authorising and conferring power on a trustee in the context of a joint venture and proposed sale of land.

Schoonwinkel v Queensland Rail Ltd [2022]QSC 153

Concerning an application for a statutory right of user over a rail line.

PD v President of the Australian Human Rights Commission [2022]294 FCR 221

Appeared as amicus curiae on an application to set aside orders requiring the use of a pseudonym and on issues of apprehended bias.

Paradise Dam Commission of Inquiry [2020]

Appeared for SMEC Australia Pty Ltd.

Gladstone Ports Corp Ltd v Murphy Operator Pty Ltd [2020]6 QR 497

Concerning the validity of a litigation funding agreement in Queensland, its proper construction, and the existence of the tort of maintenance and champerty in Queensland, in the context of a class action.

Birbilis Bros Pty Ltd v Chubb Fire & Security Pty Ltd & AAI Limited [2019]

Concerning a multimillion-dollar loss of opportunity claim for breach of contract.

QM Properties Pty Ltd v Belscorp Pty Ltd [2019]QCA 138 (appeal)

Concerning issues of causation and the quantification of loss following misleading and deceptive conduct arising in the purchase of land.

Staatz v Berry; Wollumbin Horizons Pty Ltd (in liq) (No 3) [2019]FCA 924 (trial)

Concerning a liquidator’s application for directions for the sale of property held on bare trust and whether investors in a community scheme were beneficiaries or creditors of that company.

Murphy Operator Pty Ltd v Gladstone Ports Corp Ltd (No 3) [2019]QSC 118 (application)

Concerning the appropriateness of a case stated to the court of appeal on the validity of a litigation funding agreement in a class action.

Education

BA, LLB, LLM (Commercial Law), University of Queensland

Career

2002
Articled law clerk, MacGillivrays Solicitors
2001
Associate to the Honourable Mr Justice Chesterman of the Supreme Court of Queensland

Awards

2006
Dean’s Honour Roll (awarded for outstanding academic excellence in Master of Laws)

Appointments

Member of the executive of the Bar Association of Queensland
Chair of the General Litigation Committee of the BAQ
Member of the Professional Conduct Committee of the BAQ
Member of the New Bar (Readership/Junior Bar) Committee of the BAQ
Member of the Supreme Court Library Committee
Secretary of the University of Queensland Law Alumni Association Ltd
Reader for The Incorporated Council of Law Reporting for the State of Queensland, 2004 – 2010

Publications

2023
UCPR Disclosure of Solicitor's Notes of Conference with Expert Witness
2011
Retention of title in sale of goods, CPDS
2011
Terminating contracts in the contemporary property environment: rights and remedies, LexisNexis
2008
Bottom’s Up: An examination of Lumbers v W Cook Builders Pty Ltd, Hearsay (Bar Association of Queensland e-journal)
2007
The prosecution and defence of civil contempt proceedings, jointly with Mr Lilley SC, Bar Association of Queensland

Recommendations

Doyles Guide: Recommended as a leading Commercial Litigation & Dispute Resolution Junior Counsel
Doyles Guide: Recommended as a leading Insolvency & Restructuring Junior Counsel