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Senior Associate

D  +61 8 6383 7509 

M  +61 430 051 428

E    patrick@steedmanstagg.com.au

Before joining Steedman Stagg Lawyers in July 2021, Patrick worked in the financial services industry gaining valuable commercial and financial transaction experience.

Patrick has developed solid legal experience working as a Law Clerk to prominent Perth King’s counsel, Mr Tom Percy KC, and Brisbane based King’s Counsel, Mr Rob Anderson KC.

Following his admission in May 2022, Patrick has appeared unled in the Federal Court of Australia, Supreme Court of Western Australia, District Court of Western Australia, Magistrates Court of Western Australia, Children’s Court of Western Australia, Warden’s Court, and as junior counsel in defamation proceedings in the Supreme Court of Western Australia.

Patrick has acted for media organisations in relation to suppression applications, plaintiffs and defendants in defamation proceedings, criminal defendants, subcontractors and building companies, and for both plaintiffs and defendants in a broad range of commercial disputes and litigation.

Patrick also appears at short notice in respect of applications concerning court reporting, suppression/non-publication orders and provides pre-publication legal advice to media organisations across a range of mediums (print, online, television, radio and podcasts). He is often sought out for urgent advice concerning defamation, contempt of court, copyright, freedom of information requests, confidential information and reporting restrictions.

EXPERIENCE

• McGarry & Anor v Mangano – Defamation; meaning; identification; publication of public documents; justification; common law qualified privilege; fair report of proceedings of public concern; Defamation Act 2005 (WA) ss 25; damages – for the plaintiffs; led by Rob Anderson KC.
• Darling v Daniels [2025] FCA 81 – Defamation; successfully obtaining orders striking out the applicant’s statement of claim; liability for publications; costs – led by Rob Anderson KC.
• CDL v Seven West Media [2025] WASC 53 – Defamation; admissibility of evidence that seeks to displace criminal convictions; principle of incontrovertibility – for the defendants; led by Rachael Young SC.
• Winn v West Australian Newspapers Ltd – Defamation proceedings in the Supreme Court of WA; meaning; justification; contextual truth; common law qualified privilege; Defamation Act 2005 (WA) ss 26 and 30; mitigation of damages – for the defendant; led by Rachael Young SC.
• Lazos v West Australian Newspapers Ltd (No 2) [2024] WASC 238 – Defamation; fair summary of public document and proceedings of public concern; common law qualified privilege; Defamation Act 2005 (WA) s 30; damages; costs – led by Rob Anderson KC.
• Appeared for West Australian Newspapers Ltd in Supreme Court of WA – Defamation claim; successfully opposed interlocutory application for a temporary stay of defamation proceedings – for the defendant; led by Rachael Young SC.
• Appeared for West Australian Newspapers Ltd and Channel Seven Perth Pty Ltd –  successfully obtained access to court documents and exhibits from the Children’s Court of Western Australia; common law doctrine of public interest immunity; confidentiality orders; prohibition on publishing accounts of proceedings.
• Appeared for West Australian Newspapers Ltd in Supreme Court of WA – defamation proceedings; Defamation Act 2005 (WA) ss 28 29; public documents; fair report of proceedings of public concern; Limitation Act 2005 (WA);  successfully striking out statement of claim.
• Appeared for West Australian Newspapers Ltd and Channel Seven Perth Pty Ltd in the Federal Court of Australia in contested suppression/non-publication order proceedings succeeding in having secrecy orders overturned.
• Warden’s Court proceedings; mining disputes; tenement applications and objection proceedings; Mining Act 1978 (WA) s 58(1)(b) compliance.
• Appeared for West Australian Newspapers Ltd and Channel Seven Perth Pty Ltd in Supreme Court of WA defamation proceedings, successfully obtaining orders striking out the plaintiff’s statement of claim, Limitation Act 2005 (WA).
• Appeared as junior counsel in defamation proceedings in Supreme Court of WA on a strike‑out application ‑ led by Rob Anderson KC.
• Australian Securities and Investments Commission v Dunjey (No 2) [2023] FCA 610 – appeared as counsel for the West Australian Newspapers Ltd on contested application for suppression/non-publication orders, successfully opposed orders under s 37AF(1) of the Federal Court Act.
• Nash v The West Australian Newspapers Ltd and/or for Shannon Hampton [2023] WADC 40 –instructing Counsel in defamation proceedings in the WA District Court, summary judgment for the defendants.
• In The Matter of Competing Applications For Exploration Licences By Ariela Nominees Pty Ltd And Others [2023] WAMW 4 – acted for one of the applicants in proceedings in the Warden’s Court, compliance with initial requirements, Mining Act 1978 (WA) section 58(1)(b), section 105A(3) ballots to address priority.
• Advising plaintiff on claim for damages arising out of breach of contract and misleading and deceptive conduct. Successfully opposed application by the defendant to set aside default judgment.
• Advising a defendant charged with assault occasioning bodily harm. Charge downgraded to common assault and received a spent conviction.
• Advising WA farmers on dispute with the Department of Water and Environment Regulation in relation to water rights under the Rights in Water and Irrigation Act 1914. 
• Advising subcontractors on adjudications of payment disputes under the Constructions Contracts Act 2004 and Building and Construction Industry (Security of Payments) Act 2021.
• Advising builders on complaints brought under the Building Services (Complaint Resolution and Administration) Act 2011 and proceedings in the State Administrative Tribunal.