Hugh Northam

Hugh Northam is a highly regarded commercial litigation lawyer. His reputation in dispute resolution and commercial litigation is well established across both the Supreme and Federal Courts of Australia, recognized by colleagues within the legal profession and the broader commercial community. With over 35 years of experience, Hugh has distinguished himself as a leading figure in commercial litigation and corporations law, with particular expertise in complex areas such as directors’ duties, shareholders’ rights, trade practices, and defamation and reputation management. Notably, he conducted Australia’s first internet defamation case, which remains the authoritative reference on the place of publication for online defamation. Hugh has represented and advised numerous CEOs, senior executives of prominent public corporations, high-profile politicians, celebrities, and senior counsel at the Victorian Bar. Renowned for his analytical approach and commitment to providing practical, commercially focused advice, he combines deep technical expertise with a thorough understanding of his clients' needs. His professionalism and integrity are consistently acknowledged by peers within the legal field. Reflecting his considerable achievements, Australia’s “Legal Profiles” directory lists him in the “Premier” category for commercial litigation, defamation, and administrative law—a testament to his status among Melbourne’s most experienced commercial litigators and dispute resolution practitioners.