Andrew Crowe KC

Having practised as a litigation solicitor for five years Andrew was called to the Bar in 1985 and appointed silk in 2000.

Andrew has a wide-ranging commercial practice as can be seen from the judgments section of his CV.

Andrew has developed a particular expertise in Intellectual Property and Class Actions.

Andrew has also developed a mediation practice having (as mediator) mediated in hundreds of commercial and other disputes.

For many years (until October 2022) Andrew was Chair of the Queensland Bar Association's Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee.

Andrew is a member (by invitation) of the International Academy of Mediators.

Since 2015 Andrew has also been Chair of the Queensland Bar Association’s South Pacific Region Legal Education Committee.

Since 2019 Andrew has been the Queensland Bar Association’s nominated representative on LawRight’s Management Committee which is a provider of pro bono legal services.

Andrew has been briefed in a number of class actions:

  • the Storm Financial litigation (for the Bank of Queensland);

  • the Palm Island litigation (for the State of Queensland);

  • Dodd v Shine Corporate Ltd (a securities claim);

  • the Queensland Stolen Wages litigation (for the State of Queensland);

  • Miskeljin v Morgans Financial Limited (financial advice); and

  • the Western Australia Stolen Wages litigation (for the State of Western Australia) - ongoing.

  • Qoin (crypto currency) litigation for the Applicant - ongoing.

The Queensland Stolen Wages class action litigation ran for approximately 3 years before settling for the amount of $190 million. This sum (less funder’s commission and costs) is being distributed under a complex distribution scheme to 14,000 Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islander people. Settlement occurred after lengthy and complex mediation sessions before 2 mediators.

Andrew has also been briefed (with Max Walker from Northbank Chambers) in the Western Australia Stolen Wages Class Action (for the State of Western Australia). This class action is of similar size and complexity to the Queensland Stolen Wages litigation. In November 2023 it settled (subject to Court approval) for up to $180.4m. The Court approval application has been set down for hearing in late October 2024 following a registration process for class members.

The Qoin class action is being run at the same time as a proceeding brought by ASIC against the operators of the Qoin ledger, tokens and wallets.

In the lead up to and during the 2018 Commonwealth Games Andrew was retained by the Organising Committee in respect of intellectual property issues.

In Doyle’s Guide to the Australian Legal Profession Andrew has the following listings:

  • Leading Intellectual Property Senior Counsel Australia - Recommended;

  • Leading Construction & Infrastructure Senior Counsel Queensland - Recommended;

  • Leading Intellectual Property & TMT Barristers Queensland - Leading;

  • Leading Mediators Queensland - Leading.

Contact

T: 07 3229 6137
M: 0419 771 508
E: acrowe@northbankchambers.com.au