Dr Sedaghati’s core areas of practice are Commercial Law, Corporations Law, Building and Construction Law, Planning and Environment Law, and Private International Law. His practice extends to the infrastructure, construction, engineering, banking, finance, property, information and communication technology, intellectual property, energy including renewable energy, oil, gas, mining, resources, shipping, maritime and fast-moving consumer goods sectors. Dr Sedaghati also possesses particular expertise in international law and in matters where cross-jurisdictional issues arise.
Dr Sedaghati has been admitted as a Barrister in Australia and New Zealand, as a Registered Foreign Lawyer of the Singapore International Commercial Court and as a Solicitor of the Senior Courts of England and Wales. The diverse range of clients for whom he has acted include individuals and boutique companies, to some of the most recognised corporations and brands including Panasonic, Telstra, Vodafone, Optus, Burkert, KNet Technology and Blackmores. In 2018 he was part of the team that formulated the Financial Services Sector’s submissions to the Australian Royal Commission into Misconduct in the Banking, Superannuation and Financial Services Sector, known as the Banking Royal Commission.
In recognition of his expertise and the successful outcomes he has attained for his clients Dr Sedaghati was a finalist in the 2019 and 2020 Australian Law Awards for Barrister of the year for Australia.
Prior to being called to the Bar, Dr Sedaghati was a Partner of a law firm and General Counsel at one of Australia’s leading beverage companies. The depth and breadth of his experience in legal practice gained through successfully representing or supervising more than 4,000 legal matters has served to bolster his legal and commercial acumen, as well as his client skills. His extensive experience in litigation, compliance, corporate governance and risk allows him to take a well balanced approach to the resolution of his clients’ disputes. In this way, Dr Sedaghati is highly skilled in identifying and allocating risk and seeking effective solutions, and he uses this for the advantage of his clients when advising or representing them in courts and alternative dispute resolution forums.
He is commended for his technical knowledge, ability to think laterally and commercially, as well as his highly-developed negotiation and research skills. He also possesses a strong ability to quickly navigate through vast amounts of information and identify novel ideas to resolve complex legal issues.
Dr Sedaghati’s qualifications include degrees in Law, Economics, Banking and Finance, a Master of Laws and a Doctorate. As a part time lecturer and tutor at the University of Technology Sydney he teaches civil practice, corporate law, evidence and world trade law. He is also a mediator and an arbitrator, undertaking mediations, arbitrations and expert determinations. He is a registered mediator under the Australian National Mediator Accreditation System (NMAS), a NSW Bar Association accredited mediator, and an accredited mediator with the Supreme and District Courts of NSW. He is a member of the Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee of the NSW Bar Association, in addition to being a member of several national and industry committees for Corporations Law, Construction Law, International Arbitration and Domestic Arbitration.
Dr Sedaghati is available to represent clients in legal matters, including in arbitrations and mediations, in all Australian jurisdictions, Singapore, New Zealand, England, British Overseas Territories and upon request, may consider matters in other countries.
Admissions to practice
- Admitted as a Barrister in New Zealand
- Admitted as a Barrister in Australia
- Accredited Mediator of the National Mediator Accreditation System (NMAS) in Australia
- Admitted as a Registered Foreign Lawyer of the Singapore International Commercial Court
- Admitted as a Solicitor of the Senior Courts of England and Wales
- Admitted as a Barrister and Solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand
- Admitted as a Solicitor and Barrister of the High Court of Australia
Experience
- Barrister, Mediator, Arbitrator, Expert, Thirteen Wentworth Selborne Chambers
- Lecturer of Law, Faculty of Law, University of Technology Sydney (part-time)
- Principal Solicitor, NS Lawyers
- General Counsel, Head of Group Legal, Compliance and Company Secretariat, Think Spirits Pty Ltd
- Directorships and Board Appointments - cross sectional industries
- Non-Executive Director and Chairman, YHA Limited
- Solicitor, Partner, Dawson Sedaghati and Associates
Qualifications
- Doctor of Business Administration (DBA): Queensland University of Technology
- Oxford Advanced Management and Leadership Programme: Said Business School, University of Oxford
- ADC Mediator Accrediation: Australian Disputes Centre
- Graduate Certificate in Compliance Management: Governance Risk Compliance Institute
- Certificate IV in Building and Construction (Building): Master Builders Association of NSW
- The Chairman Course by Graham Bradley AM: Australian Institute of Company Directors
- Project Management: University of Sydney
- Company Directors Course Diploma: Australian Institute of Company Directors
- Master of Laws: Australian National University, Canberra
- Bachelor of Laws: University of Western Sydney
- Bachelor of Economics (Economics / Banking & Finance): University of Western Sydney
- Clearing House Electronic Subregister System (CHESS) Settlements: Australian Securities Exchange ASX) and Securities Institute of Australia
Memberships
- Fellow:Financial Services Institute of Australasia
- Certified Compliance Professional Fellow:Governance Risk Compliance Institute
- Internationally Certified Compliance Professional:International Federation of Compliance Associations
- Member:New South Wales Bar Association
- Member:New Zealand Bar Association
- Member:Law Council of Australia
- Member:Society of Construction Law Australia
- Member:The Commercial Law Association of Australia
- Member:Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD)
- Member:Environmental and Planning Law Association (NSW)
- Member:INSOL International (International Association of Restructuring, Insolvency and Bankruptcy Professionals)