Ari specialises in Commercial and Equity disputes and litigation. He has particular experience in estate/succession disputes including family provision claims.

He regularly appears as an advocate in most State and Federal Courts and Tribunals as well as at mediations and settlement conferences.

Prior to being called to the Bar, Ari worked in the Corporate and Commercial legal team at a PwC Australia, providing expert advice in relation to commercial contracts, corporate insolvency, corporations law, shareholder rights, security documents (including mortgages), venture capital and private equity, and effective investment structures.

Ari is regularly briefed to advise and appear in complex commercial, trust, and estate matters.

Ari holds a Bachelor of Laws and a Bachelor of Arts from Macquarie University.

+61 2 8915 2006

Admitted to the Bar (New South Wales): 2014

Bankruptcy & Personal Insolvency
Building & Construction
Commercial & Contract Law
Corporation Law & Insolvency
Equity & Trusts
Family Provision Claims
Intellectual Property, Media & Internet Law
Insurance Law
Mortgage & Finance Law
Property Law
Succession,  Probate, Wills & Estates

Member, New South Wales Bar Association
Member, Commercial Law Association of Australia
Member, Bar Association of Queensland
JADE Expert Panel, Consumer Protection Law

Published judgments include:

• In the matters of Earth Civil Australia Pty Ltd, RCG CBD Pty Ltd, Bluemine Pty Ltd, Diamondwish Pty Ltd and Rackforce Pty Ltd (all in liq) [2021] NSWSC 966 – Appeared for the successful Defendant resisting a claim against her for approximately $35million arising from knowing assistance to a breach of director duties/fiduciary dutiesas part of a dishonest and fraudulent design.
• Wheatley v Salmon [2022] NSWSC 395 – Appeared for the successful Defendants resisting a claim in proprietary estoppel.
• Spata v Tumino (2018) 95 NSWLR 706  – Appeared for the successful Respondent in the New South Wales Court of Appeal – a leading authority on “dependency” in family provision claims.
• In the matters of Earth Civil Australia Pty Ltd, RCG CBD Pty Ltd, Bluemine Pty Ltd, Diamondwish Pty Ltd and Rackforce Pty Ltd (all in liq) [2020] NSWSC 293 – Admissibility of transcripts obtained of compulsory ATO interviews pursuant to s 353-10 of the Taxation Administration Act 1953 (Cth).
• Union Steel Pty Ltd v Union Steel Investments Pty Ltd [2020] NSWSC 1511 (led by M Ashhurst SC) – Resisting application for security for costs where it is alleged that the Plaintiff’s impecuniosity resulted from the breach of duty and misappropriation of the defendants.
• Ageist Pty Limited v More Than Skin Deep Pty Limited [2020] NSWSC 698 – Summons by Mortgagee to remove caveat – prima facie priority dispute.
• In the matter of an Application by Vernon [2020] NSWSC 608 – Proceedings concerning personal property rights in human tissue.
• McDonagh v Huxley (No. 3) [2020] NSWSC 1181 – Application to Set Aside Default Judgment after final hearing of substantive matter against other defendants.
• Chapman v South Eastern Sydney Local Health District (2018) 98 NSWLR 208 – The leading authority in New South Wales on Personal Property Rights in Human Tissue and Gametes.
• ASIL Foundation (Lending) Pty Ltd v Langridge [2019] NSWSC 1574 – Security for Costs.
• Brown v Hannover Life Re of Australasia Ltd [2020] FCA 1391 – Interest under the Insurance Contracts Act 1984 (Cth).
• In the matter of Beechworth Land Estates Pty Ltd (in liquidation) and Griffith Estates Pty Ltd (in liquidation) [2018] NSWSC 1703 – Declarations of Trust – Replacement of Trustees
• In the matter of Selin Australia Pty Limited [2016] NSWSC 1908 – Acted for the successful defendant in proceedings to set aside Statutory Demand.
• In the matter of HCAFE Chatswood Pty Ltd [2017] NSWSC 1828 – Appointment of Provisional Liquidator in Shareholder Oppression Case.
• Armstrong Scalisi Holdings Pty Ltd v Piscopo (Trustee), in the matter of Collins [2017] FCA 423 – Security for Costs.
• Perpetual Trustee Company Ltd v Ankat Investment Pty Ltd [2019] NSWSC 829 – Payment of Funds out of Court to Equitable Mortgagee/Chargee
• Mandile v Smith [2016] NSWSC 1621 – Redemption of Mortgage.
• Gonzales v State Coroner of New South Wales [2018] NSWSC 153 – Urgent Relief -Personal Property Rights in Human Tissue.
• Glenella One Pty Limited v Duncan [2015] NSWSC 165 – (led by G McGrath SC) Cross vesting Application from Supreme Court to Family Court.
• Lord v McMahon [2015] NSWSC 1619 – Proprietary Estoppel and Encroachment of Building Act.

• Probate Disputes: Testamentary Capacity, Knowledge and Approval and Undue Influence Paper delivered at the Langham Legal Seminar, November 2021
• Director Duties in Statute and Equity: Recent Cases Paper delivered at the Langham Legal Seminar, September 2021
• Discrimination, Harassment and Professional Responsibility Paper delivered at The Tilbury Group Legal Seminar, 2015 – 2019
• Family Provisions Claims in New South Wales: An Overview Paper delivered to the Langham Legal Seminar, June 2015
• Preliminary Discovery for Online Piracy: Dallas Buyers Club LLC v iiNet Limited [2015] FCA 317 (2015) Paper delivered to the Langham Legal Seminar, April 2015
• Additional Damages for Infringement – Section 126(2) of the Trade Marks Act 1995 (Cth) Paper delivered to the Langham Legal Seminar, April 2015
• Ari also publishes legal articles, posts and CPDs at his website.

+61 2 8915 2006 +61 2 9223 4204
akatsoulas@wentworthchambers.com.au