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Background

Stephen Ipp is a barrister specialising in arbitration, building and construction, commercial, corporations and insolvency law.

He acts in a wide range of disputes involving shareholder claims, commercial fraud, real property transactions, complex recoveries for financiers and liquidators, complex engineering and infrastructure disputes and general building and strata defect claims.

Stephen also acts as an arbitrator, an expert in expert determinations and as a mediator.

In 2017, Stephen completed a Master of Laws in Construction Law at the University of Melbourne, where he was awarded the 2014 Piper Alderman Award for Construction Dispute Resolution.

His other postgraduate qualifications include a Diploma in International Commercial Arbitration (CIArb), a Graduate Diploma in Advanced Insolvency Law & Practice (ARITA) and a Graduate Diploma in Applied Finance & Investment (FINSIA).

Before coming to the Bar in 2006, Stephen practised for over 12 years as a solicitor at Henry Davis York in Sydney and at Blake Dawson Waldron (now Ashurst) in Melbourne and Perth. He also worked in London as a solicitor on large scale international fraud litigation and insolvency investigations.

Stephen is recognised in The Best Lawyers in Australia 2021 - 2025 for his expertise in Insolvency and Reorganization Law, in 2023 in Insurance. Stephen is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (UK) (FCIArb).

Qualifications                                                 

  • Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (London)
  • Masters of Construction Law (University of Melbourne) 2017
  • Bachelor of Laws (University of Western Australia) 1992
  • Diploma of International Commercial Arbitration (Chartered Institute of Arbitrators) 2014
  • Graduate Diploma, Advanced Insolvency Law and Practice (Insolvency Practitioners of Australia) 2004
  • Graduate Diploma, Applied Finance and Investment (Financial Services Institute of Australia) 1995

Specialisations                                                 

  • Arbitration Law (International and Domestic)
  • Building and construction law
  • Commercial law and equity
  • Corporations law
  • Insolvency law
  • Real property law

Professional Recognition                          

  • FCIArb
  • The Best Lawyers in Australia 2021 to 2025 for Insolvency and Reorganization Law
  • The Best Lawyers in Australia 2023 to 2025 for Insurance
  • The Best Lawyers in Australia 2024 and 2025 for Banking and Finance
  • Piper Alderman Award for Construction Dispute Resolution 2014 (University of Melbourne)

Focus Areas + Select Cases

Building & Construction

The Owners Strata Plan No 87881 v Frasers Broadway Pty Ltd [2025] NSWSC 1073 (led by F. Hicks SC).

Appeared on behalf of an owners corporation on an application regarding claims for building defects at “One Central Park”, and the operation of the Residential Apartment Buildings (Compliance and Enforcement Powers) Act 2020 (NSW).

In 2023 and 2024, Stephen acted for a major contractor in an arbitration involving claims for $50 million in damages arising from the construction of a road tunnel in New South Wales.

In 2022, Stephen acted in arbitration and litigation proceedings for a major contractor in an infrastructure dispute involving claims for $40 million in damages arising from a water and sewerage treatment plant in Queensland.

Commercial Law and Equity

In the matter of Lamrock Place Property Pty Ltd [2026] NSWSC 52 (led by D.J. Williams KC).

Shareholder oppression claims regarding an incorporated joint venture and trustee company.

Special Gold Pty Ltd (in liq) v Dyldam Developments Pty Limited (subject to a Deed of Company Arrangement) (No 2) [2025] FCA 825.

Claims for breach of directors’ duties and fiduciary duties.

Catanese v La Cava (No 2); La Cava v Catanese [2025] NSWSC 1480.

Resulting trust claims and claims for recovery of costs from a fund.

Acting for a financier in Supreme Court proceedings regarding a claim for damages in excess of $120 million and claims for redemption and priority of mortgage securities.

Business Finance Pty Ltd (Recs and Mgrs Apptd) v Partner Invest Pty Ltd (In Liq) [2022] NSWSC 1.

Dispute regarding the assignment and priority of mortgage securities.

Business Finance Pty Ltd v Casula Projects Pty Ltd [2022] NSWSC 1156.

Dispute regarding claims for breach of directors' duties, fraud and reinstatement of a mortgage.

Mudge v Business Finance Pty Ltd (Recs and Mgrs Apptd) [2021] NSWCA 250.

Appeal regarding the removal of a caveat.

Blue Mirror Pty Ltd v Pegasus Australia Developments Pty Ltd [2021] NSWSC 961.

Application for a freezing order in relation to a claim for fraud.

Insolvency

Blundell, in the matter of Dyldam Developments Pty Ltd [2025] FCA 766.

Application for judicial advice involving the variation of a DOCA.

Snell v Deputy Commissioner of Taxation [2020] NSWCA 29.

Appeal involving director penalty notice claims.

Treset Pty Ltd v South Pelagic Holdings Pty Ltd (Recs and Mgrs Apptd) (Admins Apptd) [2020] FCA 187.

Application to adjourn a winding up application.

In the matter of Fellmane Pty Ltd (in liq) [2020] NSWSC 595.

Application regarding a guarantor's right of subrogation.

In the matter of Heavy Plant Leasing Pty Ltd (in liq) [2018] NSWSC 707.

Claims for insolvent trading, unfair preferences, breach of directors' duties and breach of fiduciary duties.

In the matter of Production Printing (Aust) (in liq) [2017] NSWSC 505.

Claims regarding a defective registration of a security interest under the Personal Property Securities Act.

RE TMTE Group Pty Ltd [2014] NSWSC 1895.

Application to adjourn a winding up application.

Canadian Solar v ACN 138 535 832 Pty Ltd, In the matter of ACN 138 535 832 Pty Ltd (Subject to a Deed of Company Arrangement) [2014] FCA 783.

Application to terminate a deed of company agreement.

RE Young (in his capacity as liquidator of Great Wall Resources Pty Ltd) (in liq) [2013] NSWSC 879.

Appeal against the rejection of a proof of debt.

Lodge Partners Pty Ltd v Pegum (2009) 255 ALR 516.

Application to set aside a statutory demand.

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