Welcome to James D. Catlin Barrister
James D. Catlin is a Barrister at the Victorian Bar with over 21 years experience.
James Catlin is a specialist fraud, defamation and whistleblowing Barrister in Melbourne at the Victorian Bar with 21 years experience specialising in commercial litigation. Immediately prior to joining the Bar, James was Associate to a County Court Judge for a year and a half. In addition to working as a solicitor, he has worked as a finance journalist for the Herald and Weekly Times and Fairfax publishers, giving him an excellent understanding of the language and needs of commercial clients. He has been Counsel in a number of high profile cases.
He was a Press Secretary and Advisor on Premier Kennett’s staff. This experience gives him a unique insight into media law and litigation involving government. His range of experience gives him the ability to comprehend a wide variety of factual and tactical issues.
James is an nationally accredited mediator. James is Chairman of Blueprint for Freespeech, a not for profit research organisation which conducts research and publishes best practice legislation in areas such as whistleblowing and freedom of speech.
James interviewed 12 high profile whistleblowers in the UK during July 2013 as part of Blueprint’s empirical research and co-wrote Blueprint’s submissions to the UK House of Commons review of the Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998: see Blue Print For Free Speech. He recently was the lead writer on the Victorian Parliamentary IBAC committee’s review of the Victorian Protected Disclosure Act.
He appears in all courts in all States of Australia.
Qualifications - LL. B., B. Ec., Grad. Dip. Media Comms. Law
Admission to Bar Roll - 05 December 1988



Commercial Litigation
Breach of contract, guarantees, defamation ...

Fraud Representation
Alleged Fraud, Search and Freezing orders ...

Whistleblowing Protected Disclosures
Protected, Public Interest Disclosures ...

Corporations Act.
Corporations Act ...

Bankruptcy Specialist
Liquidation, Insolvency and Bankruptcy ...

Defamation Misrepresentation
Defamation, Injurious Falsehood vs ...

Unfair Trade Practices
Trade practices and misrepresentation ...

Mediation Specialist
Nationally accredited experienced mediator ...

Family Provision Wills and Probate
Wills, Family Provision, Intestacy, ....

Employment Law Industrial Law
Employment contracts, unfair dismissal, sexual harassment ...

Heavy Vehicle Transport
Experienced in legal issues related to trucking ...

Crime, Prosecutions Coronial Inquests
Experienced judges associate ....
Recent Cases
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O'Brien v Bielecki [2021] VCC 813 (21 June 2021)
Subject: DEFAMATION - Catchwords: Defamatory imputation – defence of justification – common law and statutory qualified privilege - triviality Read More -
Fairbank's Selected Seed Co Pty Ltd v Amar Produce Pty Ltd 2017 VSCA 139 (16 June 2017)
TRADE PRACTICES – Misleading or deceptive conduct – Sale of goods – Representations –Reliance – Oral representations as to suitability of seeds – Whether representations… Read More -
Re Fitzgerald; Voss-Lassetter v Piacun [2020] VSC 784 (26 November 2020)
DISCOVERY – Where a plaintiff seeks discovery of documents in respect of potential lifetime transactions of the deceased – Grounds for discovery… Read More
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James has been involved in many high profile hard fought cases and knows the role of a Barrister in periods of pressure and stress and potentially existential danger to your client.
My Working Process
Has been created over nearly 20 years of trial and error and observation of my peers in appearances in Queensland, New South Wales, South Australia, Western Australia and my home state of Victoria.
1
I Read The Brief And I Listen.
This is my first chance to add value by spotting points that have been points of missed and wrong emphasis.
2
I Frame The Justice Of The Case. I Think Laterally And Creatively.
Why the law should help your client. I think laterally and creatively about forensic approaches to getting the best evidence to win and maintain ongoing contact with the client to discover everything that might assist.
3
My Instructor And I Are A Team.
Informal testing of ideas and strategies through regular phone calls (with the meter off) are encouraged, not just occasional formal update conferences. Phone calls are returned quickly. That flash of inspiration can’t be left to wait!
4
I Stay With You To The End.
In litigation you can have good quarters and bad quarters. It can can have a bumpy progression over years. Becoming 'jammed' at critical moments is not an option. To me the outcome is everything.