Natale is a commercial litigation and dispute resolution specialist. He has a broad range of experience as a commercial litigator, advising and acting on behalf of clients on dispute avoidance, risk mitigation, and litigation. His clients range from individuals to small, medium and large corporate enterprises, including publicly listed entities.
Experience
Natale is recognised for his ability to navigate complex factual and legal matters, quickly identify the key issues at hand, and develop an effective strategy to achieve a commercial outcome for his clients. He is also known for his keen negotiation and advocacy skills, which often lead to early resolution of disputes and significant cost savings.
Natale's area of expertise include:
- large scale corporate and commercial litigation
- trade practices advice and litigation, including in compliance and regulatory matters
- director, officer and shareholder disputes
- regulatory investigations and prosecutions
- intellectual property advice and litigation
- defamation
- contract law advice and complex disputes
Career highlights
Natale's career highlights include:
- acting for of Ford Motor Company of Australia Limited, as plaintiff, in long running and complex contempt proceedings and related proceedings in the Supreme Court of NSW (including on appeal) for breach of settlement deed against a former franchisee and its sole director and shareholder. Natale has appeared, without counsel, in several complex and contested interlocutory applications
- advising and acting for an ASX-listed company in the mining and resources sector in relation to matters arising under the Mining Act 1992 and Mining Regulation 2016 in the Land & Environment Court and the Supreme Court of NSW (including on appeal)
- advising First State Super and its subsidiaries and directors and officers in relation to its involvement as an equity investor into the Sydney Light Rail project
- acting for several small and medium companies in Federal Court of Australia proceedings involving claims of trademark infringement and passing off (including on appeal)
- acting in several high-profile defamation proceedings in the Federal Court of Australia
- acting for Bunnings Group in relation to a dispute with a major home improvement retailer as to the terms of a commercial lease
- acting as an independent reviewer of claims decisions of a major insurer, in the wake of the findings of the Banking Royal Commission