EXPERIENCE & EXPERTISE
Ben has managed national legal teams in the public and private sectors and has expertise in:
- Advising corporate and non-corporate government clients on a range of matters administrative law, work health and safety (WHS), employment law, migration and citizenship, privacy, human rights, discrimination, freedom of information, general contract, general insurance and debt recovery
- Representing Commonwealth, ACT Government and private clients in relation to merits review, judicial review and appeal proceedings
- Drafting complex legislative instruments, instructing on tied drafting, and drafting explanatory material, regulation impact statements, human rights compatibility statements, responses to Parliamentary committees and associated briefings to all levels of the Executive
- Claims under statutory schemes (including under the National Disability Insurance Scheme and Comcare, Seacare, military compensation, veterans’ entitlements and Commonwealth superannuation schemes) and administrative, Act of Grace and ex gratia schemes
- Catastrophic injury and death claims arising out of civilian employment or defence service
- Asbestos-related disease claims involving the Commonwealth including recovery claims
- Compliance and enforcement under the national workplace relations framework.
In his various roles, Ben has worked closely with government and private employers, insurers, claims mangers, regulators, policy-makers and legislators. He is regularly seconded to Australian Government departments to provide litigation, legislation, and program advice, and to work on legislation projects.
He has run, defended, and advised in relation to compensation claims in most Australian jurisdictions, various civil and administrative tribunals, the Administrative Appeals Tribunal, Federal Court, and High Court.
Having been as a Senior Executive Lawyer and Assistant Secretary in the Australian Public Service, Ben has hands-on experience with Australian Government departments and agencies, advisers and stakeholders, Parliamentary processes, the Commonwealth resource management framework, the Commonwealth Procurement Rules, the Legal Services Directions and the Commonwealth’s obligation to act as a model litigant.
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Ben has advised private and government clients in relation to a number significant matters arising under Commonwealth compensation schemes, including the Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986, the Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 1988, the Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation (Defence-related Claims) Act 1988, the Seafarers Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 1992, the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004 and the Fair Entitlements Guarantee Act 2012.
He has also assisted in the establishment of several Commonwealth schemes including the Australian Government Digital ID Scheme, the Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation (Defence-related Claims) Act 1988, the Parliamentary Injury Compensation Scheme and the COVID-19 Vaccine Claims Scheme.
RECOGNITION
Publication and Papers
Ben authored the ACT Legal Handbook chapter on ACT Government and Commonwealth Workers Compensation (Comcare Scheme). The ACT Legal Handbook is the product of a partnership between Legal Aid ACT and the Australasian Legal Information Institute.
Academic Appointments
Ben is invited to give regular guest lectures on Administrative Law at the University of Technology, Sydney.