Sydney-based barrister Philippe Doyle Gray offers bespoke commercial and civil litigation representation, from preliminary legal advice to negotiation, mediation, facilitation, appearance at trial, and advocacy on appeal. He excels in commercial disputes with thorny problems posed by lost trust, difficult personalities, professional incompetence, and personal dishonesty.

Philippe has subject-matter expertise in disputes between barristers, solicitors, and clients over legal costs and legal-profession regulation. He has practice-area expertise in civil cases concerning crime, fraud, or other serious misconduct, and “commercial divorce” by successful business people.

Of greatest professional interest to him are the financial and taxation consequences to victims of white-collar crimes, professional discipline, professional negligence, and complex commercial litigation.

25 years and 3,500 cases

After 20 years at the Bar following 5 years as a solicitor, Philippe has the breadth and depth of experience to give frank, sensible advice with confident, effective advocacy.

Accepting briefs from solicitors in private practice, direct briefs from in-house legal departments, and direct access work from professional clients such as accountants and engineers, Philippe has represented a vast array of clients in most types of non-criminal disputes in over 3,500 cases.

He spends most time working in the Supreme Court of New South Wales, and occasionally in the Federal Court of Australia and the District Court of New South Wales. He has represented clients in most of the courts and tribunals of New South Wales, and several Commonwealth courts and tribunals including the Supreme Court of Norfolk Island and the High Court of Australia.

A lawyer’s lawyer

Philippe is regularly briefed by other barristers needing their own advocate and is regularly engaged for his counsel by solicitors needing advice for themselves.

He has advised and represented dozens of barristers, solicitors, and their families over many years.

Clear, forthright, and trustworthy

• Empathic, active listening in a safe space.

• Responsive with understanding and respect.

• Complex legal ideas are explained in a way that makes sense to you.

• Solutions in your best interests.

Resilient and committed

• Cool, calm, and collected in court, even when others are emotional.

• Philippe will stand up to judges ensuring your voice is heard.

• Motivated to find a solution, and committed to the client.

• Philippe will stick with you during tough times.

Reliable and collaborative

• Entirely paperless, cloud-based, and work-from-anywhere capable, accommodating clients and instructing solicitors who prefer paper, manual methods of legal practice, or are transitioning to digital—so everyone can work together in a way that suits them.

• Trained in Legal Project Management: the ability to estimate and manage time, money, and deliverables.

• Open, honest, and polite communication, even about unpleasant subjects like time, money, and deliverables!

Economical and transparent

• Optimised, documented, and continuously refined workflows.

• A skilled executive assistant/paralegal, so tasks are performed by the least expensive person.

• In-house production of Court Books and Appeal Books, saving thousands of dollars.

• Invoices written and itemised to be understood by end-clients and cost assessors, maximising the value of orders for party/party costs.

• Paperless trials creating a better experience for barrister and solicitor colleagues, and cost savings for clients.

Prudent and reasonable

• Careful and prudent behaviour to keep client secrets.

• Frosted glass and no stray papers, so when visiting his chambers you never see another client’s name—and nobody ever sees yours.

• Encryption of client information using complex, unique passwords coupled with multifactor authentication.

Experienced

• Strategic perspective after 25 years in practice and 3,500 disputes.

• Meticulous attention to detail, elegant oratory, and persuasive advocacy.

• The experience and gravitas to help avoid others’ mistakes.

Professional focus

• Complex commercial litigation and business disputes

• Fraud and dishonesty in personal, business, family, and workplace relationships

• Legal costs, overcharging, and inaccurate fee estimates

• Professional negligence, unethical conduct, and regulatory oversight of professionals

• Science and digital technology disputes

• Elder abuse and financial exploitation of the vulnerable

• Legal project management (certified in the USA)

• Civil litigation due diligence (aka “preliminary legal work”)

Experience by industry

• Professional, scientific and technical services

• Financial and Insurance Services

• Property

• Business franchises

• Manufacturing

• Mining

• Building and construction

• Consumer Goods & Services