Biography

    Colleen is partner in Gilbert + Tobin’s Disputes + Investigations group.

    She has extensive experience in commercial litigation, class actions litigation and proceedings involving insolvency issues and restructuring.  Colleen has over 25 years’ experience in all aspects of commercial litigation, including high profile and highly contested litigation and regulatory investigations.  She is considered one of the pre-eminent commercial litigators in Australia and is highly regarded for providing strategic advice, dealing with complex issues and obtaining commercial outcomes.

    Colleen also has substantial experience in advising high profile directors and companies involved in investigations, Royal Commissions and litigation brought by ASIC, the ACCC and liquidators and administrators.

    Colleen’s experience includes:

    • Lead Partner - Successfully acting for New Hope Corporation Group and a number of its subsidiaries in legal proceedings commenced in the Supreme Court against Wiggins Island Coal Export Terminal Pty Ltd disputing claims that New Hope had guaranteed more than $155 million worth of debt for two of its subsidiaries. Both in the first instance and on appeal, the Courts resoundingly found in New Hope’s favour in both instances
    • Lead Partner – Advising the Insurance Council of Australia on its response to the Royal Commission into Misconduct in the Banking, Superannuation and Financial Services Industry.
    • Lead Partner - Successfully acting for Google Inc (instructed directly by US parent) in defending proceedings brought by the ACCC regarding alleged misleading and deceptive conduct over sponsored links which appear on Google’s search result pages. This is one of the world’s leading cases in online advertising and the responsibility of search engines and Google was successful on all counts in the High Court of Australia.
    • Lead Partner - Securing a $280 million settlement - the largest settlement of a misleading and deceptive conduct claim in Australian corporate history - for the RiverCity companies in proceedings against AECOM Australia in the Federal Court of Australia in relation to Brisbane’s Clem 7 Tunnel.
    • Lead Partner - Successfully represented RiverCity Services in defending a securities class action in the Federal Court of Australia for over $250 million.
    • Lead Partner - Acting for the BrisConnections Group in its claim in excess of $1 billion against Arup for misleading or deceptive conduct and negligence in undertaking the traffic forecasting for the AirportlinkM7. A class action had also been commenced by retail equity investors against Arup.
    • Lead Partner - Acting for Vocation Limited (in liquidation) in a multi-million dollar class action brought by the shareholders of Vocation Limited.
    • Representing Lowe’s (US) in numerous proceedings against Woolworths in relation to the exit and unwinding of their joint venture hardware businesses, Masters and Home, Timber & Hardware.
    • Advising companies and professional advisers involved in investigations and litigation by both the Australian and Securities Investments Commission (ASIC) and the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), and also advising companies in respect of Schemes of Arrangements.
    • Representing major corporates in complex joint venture, shareholder and contractual disputes and in major arbitrations.

    Colleen is ranked Band 2 in Dispute Resolution. 

    The Legal 500 Asia-Pacific 2024

    Colleen is recognised as a Best Lawyer in Alternative Dispute Resolution, Insolvency and Reorganization Law, Litigation and Regulatory Practice.

    Best Lawyers Australia 2008 - 2024

    Colleen is consistently ranked as a leading individual in Dispute Resolution.

    Chambers Asia Pacific 2015 - 2024

    Colleen is recognised as a preeminent practitioner for Commercial Litigation & Dispute Resolution in NSW. 

    Doyle's Guide 2022

    Recognised as a leading practitioner in Professional Negligence.

    Who’s Who Legal 2021

    Colleen won the Outstanding Female award in the Insolvency and/or Restructuring Industry. 

    Women's Insolvency Network 2018

    Colleen was awarded Disputes Star of the Year – Australia.

    Asialaw Asia Pacific Dispute Resolution Awards in Hong Kong 2016

    Colleen was awarded Disputes Star of the Year – Australia.

    Asialaw Asia Pacific Dispute Resolution Awards in Hong Kong 2015

    Finalist for Partner of the Year. 

    Australian Law Awards 2016 & 2018

    Colleen was named as a leading Disputes lawyer in Benchmark Asia Pacific. 

    Benchmark Asia Pacific 2015

    Colleen was included on the Australasian Lawyer’s List of Hot 40 Lawyers for 2014, 2015 and 2016. 

    Australasian Lawyer’s List of Hot 40 Lawyers

    “Colleen is the person you want on your side for high-stakes matters. She is calm, thoughtful and knowledgeable.” 

    CHAMBERS ASIA-PACIFIC

    “Colleen is the person I would wish to have working for me if I was facing a disaster. She is uncompromising in her pursuit of an effective outcome for her clients and possesses a remarkable insight into the ways to achieve optimal results without running unnecessary risks.”

    The Legal 500 Asia Pacific

    Colleen Platford is variously viewed by market sources as a "great, dynamic and very strategic lawyer" and "premium litigator," while a client, who similarly characterises her as a "terrific litigator," adds: "I would always want her in my corner in a dispute." 

    Chambers Asia-Pacific

    "Colleen Platford at Gilbert + Tobin is a superb practitioner who has deep expertise advising directors involved in investigations and litigation brought by regulators.”

    WHO'S WHO LEGAL

    An "intellectually very capable lawyer who picks a path through a lot of complex issues to come up with the best position for us as a client."

    Chambers Asia-Pacific

    Colleen is recommended as "an extraordinarily thorough bet-the-company litigation practitioner”, whose peers note, "You know you are in for a hard fight, but for sensible strategic discussions too."

    Chambers Asia-Pacific

    Colleen receives enthusiastic praise from market commentators, one characterising her as an "extraordinarily capable lawyer" who stands out, not only for being "incredibly passionate about the interests of the client," but also for "great flexibility of mind and coming up with ideas no one else had thought of."

    Chambers Asia Pacific