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 October 2024) is available here.

About

Michael Rennie was called to the NSW Bar in 2011. Michael’s practice focuses on regulatory enforcement litigation and commercial disputes. Michael has expertise in relation to enforcement action by ACCC, ABCC, ASIC, APRA, TGA, NSW Fair Trading and other regulators, and brings that experience to bear in related fields.

Recent matters include:

• Merit review in State and Federal decisions in the air cargo and solar panel industries: Wiseway Logistics Pty Ltd and Secretary, Department of Home Affairs [2024] AATA 2250; Bell Solar Pty Ltd v Commissioner for Fair Trading (NSW) [2021] NSWATOD 70;

• Interlocutory appeal and suppression orders in the Federal Court: Wiseway Logistics Pty Ltd v Secretary, Department of Home Affairs [2024] FCA 427; Wiseway Logistics Pty Ltd v Secretary, Department of Home Affairs (No 3) [2024] FCA 463;

• Challenging subpoenas on behalf of ASIC: R v Bigatton [2022] NSWDC 144 and R v Bigatton (No 2) [2023] NSWDC 290.

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 the Attorney-General’s Department and the AFP.

Michael has significant expertise in relation to enforcement action by ACCC, ASIC, APRA, ABCC, TGA 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.

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)