Join us in navigating the NCAT legal landscape, delve into the intricacies of NCAT's divisions and their functions. Understand the jurisdiction for appealing NCAT decisions, appeal grounds, and invaluable other tips. Equip yourself with practical advocacy tips to enhance your effectiveness in NCAT matters.

Presenters

Mark Harrowell, Deputy President and Division Head of the Consumer and Commercial Division, NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal
Mark Harrowell is a legal practitioner with 40 years having been admitted in 1982. He has a background in litigation, specialising in commercial litigation where he has acted for both large corporations and individuals in a range of building disputes. Areas of practice include Contract Law, Trade Practices, Corporation’s Law, Trusts and Intellectual Property disputes. In addition he has undertaken some work in Criminal Law. From 1990 until 2012 he was a partner in two large Sydney law firms, principally practicing in the area of commercial litigation. Between 1999 and 2003 he was a managing partner of one of those law firms. In 2012 he became a part time Senior Member of the Consumer, Trader and Tenancy Tribunal. In 2013 he became a full time Member of the CTTT, being appointed as the Deputy Chairperson (Determinations). Upon the creation of NCAT in 2014 he became a Principal Member and List Manager of the Consumer and Commercial Division of the Tribunal. In 2016, he became a Principal Member of Appeals. In Sept 2019 he was appointed Deputy President and Division Head of the Consumer and Commercial Division. In addition to his work as division head, he continues to sit on the Appeal Panel of the Tribunal in relation to appeals from the Consumer and Commercial division and other divisions of the Tribunal.


Chris Koikas, Barrister, Martin Place Chambers
Chris Koikas is a Barrister at Martin Place Chambers. His experience is in Planning and Environment, Criminal and Civil law, but accepts briefs to advise and appear in disputes of all kinds. Chris was admitted as a solicitor in 2019 and was called to the Bar in 2021. Chris holds a Bachelor of Laws and a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of New South Wales. Prior to becoming a Barrister, Chris was a solicitor in a private legal practice, specialising in Planning and Environment litigation.


Mark Robinson SC, Macquarie Street Chambers
Mark Robinson is a senior counsel based in Sydney practicing in administrative law and general law. He was a founding part-time Judicial Member of the Administrative Decisions Tribunal of New South Wales in the General Division - hearing matters on privacy and freedom of information. He served on that tribunal and its Appeal Panel for seven years. For sixteen years, Mark was an occasional part-time lecturer in undergraduate ‘Administrative Law’ in the Law Faculties of the University of Sydney and the University of New South Wales. For twenty six years, Mark acted as the lead author and editor of New South Wales Administrative Law, a two volume looseleaf service, published by Thomson Reuters (since 1996) which covers Supreme Court judicial review, the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NCAT), statutory interpretation, freedom of information and privacy. Mark has authored and edited three legal texts (each published by Thomson Reuters): Judicial Review: The Laws of Australia published in 2014, with an encyclopaedic coverage of judicial review Australia wide; NCAT - Practice and Procedure, 2nd ed, published in 2020; and Administrative Law: The Laws of Australia, published in 2017. It concerns State and Federal tribunals and it also covers the Ombudsmen and freedom of information around Australia.