Founder
Mark Geoffrey O'Brien
Media and commercial lawyer with more than 40 years of experience, and one of Australia's best known defamation lawyers.
- Band 1 Media, Chambers
- 40+ years
- Federal and Supreme Courts
MOMark founded the firm and is one of Australia's best known defamation lawyers. Over four decades he has supervised significant litigation in the Federal Court and the Supreme Courts of Australia.
He specialises in defamation, intellectual property, commercial law and taxation, acting for media corporations, public figures and businesses. He advises media companies on defamation, broadcasting, copyright and commercial issues, and has extensive experience dealing with government.
Mark also guides corporations and individuals through ICAC and ASIC investigations and advises on international commercial disputes.
Notable matters
- Acting for a billionaire falsely accused of bribing a President of the UN General Assembly.
- Acting for an international cricketer falsely accused of indecent exposure in a team dressing room.
- Successfully representing a former senior Australian politician in defamation proceedings against mass media.
- Acting for Publishing and Broadcasting Limited and the Australian Rugby League in the Super League dispute with News Limited.
- Acting for the Seven Network against Network Ten to restrain a senior executive from joining a rival network.
- Federal Court proceedings against Airservices Australia over the regulation of Australian airspace.
- Defending defamation proceedings brought against national television broadcasters.
- Representing government ministers at ICAC private and public hearings.
- Acting with US attorneys in civil RICO proceedings in the US District Court concerning Timor Sea oil and gas concessions.
- Representing white collar defendants in ASIC prosecutions for insider trading and money laundering.
- Representing prominent sportspeople in disputes with the Australian Rugby Union and the National Rugby League.
Recognition
- 2019Chambers Asia Pacific, Band 1 Media
- 2018The Sydney Morning Herald: one of the nation's most feared defamation lawyers
- 2018B&T Magazine: one of the country's top defamation lawyers
- 2018The Australian, Margin Call: feared defamation lawyer
Our principals
Meet the team.
Paul Svilans
One of Australia's foremost media lawyers, with over three decades defending and advising Australia's leading publishers and broadcasters.
Steven Lewis
Litigator of more than 30 years who has run landmark cases in the High Court, Federal Court and NSW Court of Appeal, including class actions.
Speak directly with a principal.
Every matter is run personally by one of our three principals.