Steven Lewis

Steven has a strong reputation for his litigation skills and an equally strong commitment to social justice. He acts for plaintiffs and defendants across media, commercial and public interest disputes.

He regularly appears in the Supreme Court of New South Wales, the Court of Appeal, the Federal Court and the High Court, including on special leave applications, appeals and original jurisdiction matters.

His practice spans media and defamation, commercial disputes, class actions, trade practices and consumer law, insolvency, environmental and planning law, and employment law for employers and employees. He has acted for claimants in class actions against listed companies, financial services providers and international airlines, and has run landmark cases under the Racial Discrimination Act.

Steven is also a councillor on Waverley Council.

Notable matters

• Conceived and ran the world's first class action for travel agents against Qantas, British Airways and other international airlines to recover commission on fuel surcharges.
• Had Meta Platforms, Inc. committed for trial over alleged breaches of the Commonwealth Criminal Code arising from scam cryptocurrency advertisements on Facebook.
• Obtained a sentence of imprisonment for civil contempt against a Holocaust denier.
• Defeated an application by the Australian National Imams Council to strip a community radio station of its broadcast licence.
• Obtained Federal Court recognition of international arbitration awards against the Democratic Republic of Congo.
• Acted for retirees in a class action against financial planners following the Westpoint collapse.
• Acted for an author in complex defamation proceedings arising from a book on the Fine Cotton affair.
• Successfully defended and settled a shareholder class action against a public company director.
• Acted for a Canadian trading firm and its director in an injurious falsehood and defamation claim against ASIC.

Recognition

• 2025Best Lawyers Australia, Litigation