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Toby Boys

LLB (Hons), BA, Accredited Specialist in Commercial Litigation - Queensland Law Society, Accredited Mediator - Queensland Law Society

Partner - Brisbane

Areas of Expertise

Dispute Resolution & Litigation, Competition & Consumer Law, Intellectual Property, Startups & Emerging Enterprises, Royal Commissions & Commissions of Inquiry, White Collar Crime & Regulatory Investigations

Contact Toby

+61 7 3135 0649 toby.boys@holdingredlich.com Connect

Expertise

Toby is an Accredited Specialist in Commercial Litigation with the Queensland Law Society (QLS) and is former a member of the QLS’ Commercial Litigation Specialist Accreditation Advisory Committee. 

Toby has been listed in the 2017 to 2023 editions of The Best Lawyers in Australia for Alternative Dispute Resolution, Commercial Law and Litigation. He is also recognised in the 2018 to 2020 editions of Doyles Guides as a recommended and leading lawyer in Commercial Litigation & Dispute Resolution for Queensland, and has been listed as a recommended lawyer for Commercial Litigation in The Legal 500 Asia Pacific.

Toby is also a National Accredited Mediator and has been acting as a mediator and facilitator for 20 years. He is currently the Chair of the QLS Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee and is a Member of the Law Council’s ADR Committee. Toby is recognised in the 2020 edition of Doyles Guide as leading Mediator for Queensland. He is regularly appointed by parties and nominating authorities to act as an independent mediator and facilitator. He was formerly a dispute resolution adviser with Europe’s largest ADR organisation, the Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution (CEDR), in London. 

Experience

Toby acts for clients in commercial dispute resolution matters in courts, tribunals and arbitrations including in mining, property and leasing, commercial, corporate, insolvency, intellectual property, regulatory inquiries and mediations.

His experience includes the following:

Mining

  • acting for a Queensland mining company in unique Land Court compensation proceedings arising from special purpose legislation enacted by the Queensland Parliament
  • acting for parties in a large, complex mining joint venture dispute in the Queensland Supreme Court
  • acting for mining companies in a coal terminal pricing review arbitration
  • assisting in representing an international mining company in a dispute against a rail operator arising from rail contracts.

Corporate and insolvency

  • acting for the plaintiff shareholders in a shareholder oppression claim related to a mining joint venture company
  • acting in a winding-up application based on ‘just and equitable’ grounds
  • advising a shareholder in relation to a claim for breach of  a shareholders agreement and bad faith
  • advising a shareholder in relation to an application for access to company books and records and rectification of  the share register
  • advising a party in relation to membership rights in a company limited by guarantee
  • acting for board members in a Supreme Court proceeding regarding validity of  director and annual general meetings
  • advising administrators and liquidators, including the liquidator of  a mining exploration company in relation to proof  of  debt appeals and a shareholders dispute
  • advising a liquidator in relation to the issues arising in the liquidation of  a vocational education training (VET) company
  • advising directors in relation to ASIC investigations, including a significant investigation into alleged breaches of the "insider trading" provision of the Corporations Act
  • acting for directors and other parties to defend claims by liquidators, banks and regulators following insolvency events, including for preference claims, uncommercial transactions, enforcement of securities and guarantee disputes
  • advising parties in relation to prosecuting and defending debt recovery and enforcement proceedings, including statutory demand disputes and winding-up in insolvency proceedings applications.

Commercial

  • acting as the Court-appointed "Independent Solicitor" on an Anton Piller (i.e. Search) order in a confidential information matter 
  • acting for an engineering company in relation to disputes arising from an EPCM contract with Chinese and Australian companies
  • acting for a Chinese company in a Hong Kong International Arbitration in relation to iron ore commodities contracts
  • acting for a solar industry supplier in relation to claims made about defective products
  • advising a rural property owner in relation to the terms of  a sharefarming agreement.

Property and leasing

  • advising large landlord clients in relation to a range of  issues, including tenant compensation claims arising from redevelopments and rent reviews, and issues arising from tenant insolvency and recovery of  premises
  • acting for an international franchisor in a retail lease disputes.

Inquiries

  • acting for a bulk water authority and the senior engineer in the Queensland Floods Commission of  Inquiry 2011 including issues in relation to the operation of  Wivenhoe Dam.

Toby also has experience in financial services and regulation having previously worked in the Enforcement Division of the UK’s Financial Services Authorities on major market abuse and insider dealing investigations.

Mediation

Toby has extensive mediation and facilitation experience in both Australia and the UK and has acted as a mediator or facilitator in a wide range of areas including:

  • commercial and business disputes of all types and size
  • competition and consumer law matters (e.g. misleading and deceptive conduct and unconscionable conduct claims)
  • shareholders, joint venture and partnership disputes, including disputes between directors and senior managers
  • property and leasing (former member of the QCAT Retail Shop Leases mediation panel)
  • Franchising Code and Oil Code (current member Office of the Franchising Mediation Adviser panel of mediators for franchising and oil code matters
  • intellectual property (current member of the panel of mediators for IP Australia’s Mediation Referral Service Register)
  • corporate insolvency and bankruptcy matters, including mediating claims made by liquidators and bankruptcy trustee
  • employment related matters, including disputes about restraints of trade and confidential information

Toby has also been engaged as a mediation trainer and coach for a number of organisations such as the University of Queensland, Resolution Institute and The Real Estate Institute of Queensland (REIQ).

View Toby's full mediation experience here.

Publications

27 September 2022 - Knowledge

Court says to avoid ‘commercial nonsense’ when interpreting dispute resolution clauses

#Dispute Resolution & Litigation

A recent Supreme Court case in Queensland provides valuable insights into how dispute resolution clauses are interpreted and the court’s attitude towards parties attempting to circumvent these clauses.

10 August 2022 - Knowledge

Twitter seeking ‘specific performance’ against Elon Musk for breach of contract – what does it all mean?

#Dispute Resolution & Litigation

When a commercial agreement breaks down, the party trying to back out of the deal is normally made to compensate the other party for breaking the deal. However, in exceptional circumstances, a court can make an order of specific performance which requires the parties to fulfil their obligations under the agreement.

20 April 2022 - Knowledge

Alternative Dispute Resolution: How can your organisation use ADR clauses to settle disputes?

#Dispute Resolution & Litigation

In this third instalment of a series on dispute resolution as a practical alternative to costly litigation, we look at the practical application of Alternative Dispute Resolution systems and the critical role they play in the commercial world.

09 March 2022 - Knowledge

ATO obtains a $220 million freezing order in takeover deal with energy giants

#Dispute Resolution & Litigation, #Taxation

A recent Federal Court decision has demonstrated that the Commissioner of Taxation can seek freezing orders to enforce tax debts against overseas parties.

17 November 2021 - Knowledge

Can a company use a trade mark as parody or satire?

#Intellectual Property, #Dispute Resolution & Litigation

We look at a recent Federal Court decision that confirms using another company’s logo for parody or satirical purposes does not constitute copyright or trade mark infringement.

15 September 2021 - Knowledge

Dispute resolution across international borders: Should we be using arbitration?

#Dispute Resolution & Litigation

The use of commercial arbitration by Australian companies is increasing, especially in the context of cross-border business.

14 September 2021 - Knowledge

Dispute resolution: A practical alternative to costly litigation

#Dispute Resolution & Litigation

In the first part of our dispute resolution series for Dynamic Business, we examine the practicality of alternative dispute resolution processes in the commercial world.

14 September 2021 - Knowledge

Dispute resolution: How facilitators can simplify commercial negotiations

#Dispute Resolution & Litigation

In the second part of our dispute resolution series for Dynamic Business, we break down the role of an independent person who can facilitate discussions between parties, help them to resolve their differences and get back to business.

09 April 2021 - Knowledge

Model litigant obligations

#Government, #Dispute Resolution & Litigation, #Local Government

We examine the Commonwealth government's model litigant obligations, how these obligations are enforced and provide some key tips to help government lawyers comply with these obligations.

12 March 2021 - Knowledge

Model litigant obligations

#Dispute Resolution & Litigation, #Government, #Local Government

We examine the Government's model litigant obligations, how these obligations are enforced and provide some key tips to help government lawyers comply with these obligations.

02 February 2021 - Knowledge

A guide to managing large and complex disputes

#Dispute Resolution & Litigation

Our commercial litigation experts set out key strategies to help organisations manage large commercial disputes, regulatory investigations and royal commissions.

04 November 2020 - Knowledge

Force majeure and COVID-19 – is the pandemic enough?

#Dispute Resolution & Litigation, #COVID-19

A recent judgment from NSW highlights that it will not be enough to simply point to the pandemic as a complete basis for failing to meet contractual obligations.

28 October 2020 - Knowledge

Shareholder disputes: How to avoid an ugly corporate divorce

#Corporate & Commercial Law, #Dispute Resolution & Litigation

COVID-19 has brought a spike in shareholder disputes and now is a good time to reflect on key issues that business owners can consider when taking a shareholding in a private Australian company. In this article, we set out some points to assist shareholders avoid a painful corporate divorce.

14 October 2020 - Knowledge

COVID-19 and the virtual courtroom – is technology a friend or foe?

#Dispute Resolution & Litigation, #COVID-19

We consider the range of steps taken by Australian courts and the legal profession broadly to utilise technology in this unprecedented era, and analyse the benefits and challenges of the 'virtual courtroom'.

Upcoming Seminars

22 Mar 22 to 09 Nov 22

Major projects seminar series 2022

In this seminar series, we look at the opportunities and issues for major infrastructure projects across a range of sectors, including health, housing and new energy. This seminar series is being offered in our Brisbane office and online. Registration for this seminar series is complimentary and now open.

Register now

07 Apr 22 to 10 Nov 22

National ports program 2022

More than ever, ports are vital nodes for an increasingly complex web of international trade and supply chains. Ports have become an increasing focus for security, environmental and competition regulation and their role and efficiency within global supply chains is being scrutinised by governments and industry alike. At the same time, ports find themselves at the forefront of the development and facilitation of alternative energy sources, often literally acting as the gatekeepers for the inflow of such technology and projects into Australia or out to the rest of the world. This series will look at how Australian ports might navigate these challenges and opportunities in 2022.

Register now

10 May 22 to 29 Nov 22

Queensland local government seminar series 2022

Holding Redlich is pleased to invite you to our 2022 Queensland local government seminar series which we have tailored specifically for mayors, councillors and Queensland local government employees including lawyers, town planners and compliance officers. These seminars will offer you insights, updates and practical tips from our experts on topics which we consider to be particularly relevant for local governments.

Register now

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