Sam Merrylees
Senior Associate
+61 3 8600 6022
smerrylees@aitken.com.au
Sam Merrylees
Areas of Law: Insolvency, Intellectual Property, Litigation, Employment Law
Qualifications: Bachelor of Laws I Bachelor of Commerce (Major: Finance)
Office Location: Melbourne
Sam is a Senior Associate with a diverse litigious practice, being a member of Aitken Partners' litigation, insolvency and intellectual property teams.
Sam commenced working at Aitken Partners as a paralegal while studying, and went on to complete his supervised legal training with the firm as a graduate.
Given the broad range of Sam's practice, throughout his time at Aitken Partners, he has developed strong relationships with commercial clients by providing them with advice on an array of legal issues relevant to their business needs.
Sam has instructed in the following recent unreported judgments:
- Bremner v French (No 5); Aesthete 101 Pty Ltd v Stone [2024] NSWSC 835
- Bremner v French (No 4); Aesthete 101 Pty Ltd v Stone [2024] NSWSC 793
- Trustd Figures Pty Ltd v Pinnacle Strategic Holdings Pty Ltd WIPO Case No. DAU2024-0004
- Pinnacle Strategic Holdings Pty Ltd v Trustd Figures Pty Ltd [2023] ATMO 200
- Bremner v French [2023] NSWSC 1488
- Nguyen Trong Thin v Posh Lifestyle Pte Pty Ltd [2023] ATMO 54
- Guerin v Rose Guerin and Partners Pty Ltd (in liq) (receivers and managers appointed), in the matter of Rose Guerin and Partners Pty Ltd (in liq) (receivers and managers appointed) FCA [2023] 816
- Al Shakhshir v Victorian Institute of Teaching (Review and Regulation) [2023] VCAT 577
- Dixon (Liquidator), in the matter of Victoria Project Pty Ltd v Austhome Group Pty Ltd [2023] FCA 42
- In the matter of Credit Clear Limited [2022] VSC 206
- Re Slodyczka & Farren Pty Ltd (Costs) [2022] VSC 102
- Rohrt, in the matter of Rose Guerin and Partners Pty Ltd (in liq) v Princes Square W24NY Pty Ltd [2021] FCA 483
- Re Bradbury Industrial Services Pty Ltd [2021] VSC 54
Sam also regularly appears for clients across all jurisdictions. A recent example of an unreported judgment in which Sam appeared is:
- Owners Corporation PS419696X v SCJAR Mandorla Pty Ltd (Owners Corporations) [2021] VCAT 795.
Experience
- Acting and advising in insolvency and bankruptcy matters, including in relation to public examinations, insolvent trading, unfair preference and other voidable transaction claims, creditors petitions, winding up applications, receiver and manager appointments, obtaining and executing warrants.
- Acting for a publicly listed company in a complex oppressive conduct proceeding.
- Advising on professional negligence litigation.
- Advising shareholders in respect of shareholder disputes involving oppressive conduct, termination of employment and share valuation issues.
- Registration of trade marks in Australia and the WIPO Madrid System.
- Advising on trade mark infringements, oppositions, non-use actions and other issues arising under the Trade Marks Act 1995 (Cth).
- Acting and advising clients in copyright infringement disputes.
- Acting and appearing for both employers and employees in disputes under the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth).
- Acting for an array of clients, including aged care providers and owners corporations, in respect of debt recovery matters.
- Acting in various appellate proceedings.