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A highly experienced litigator, Alice McCormick heads our Canberra Government Law team and Dispute Resolution group. Alice has extensive litigation experience in the Federal Court, Federal Circuit Court, Administrative Appeals Tribunal and Supreme Court. She is independently recognised for her litigation and alternative dispute resolution expertise in Best Lawyers International: Australia.
In her strong government practice, Alice provides strategic and litigious advice to various agencies on administrative decisions, contract disputes, indemnity and Comcover issues as well as managing immigration and citizenship appeals.
Adept at managing large caseloads, she has represented the Commonwealth in a number of highly sensitive and complex proceedings. She undertakes reviews of policies and procedure in relation to administrative decision-making and provides related training to government agencies. Alice provides advice in relation to statutory interpretation, freedom of information, privacy and ombudsman matters.
In addition, Alice has over 20 years’ insurance experience advising on professional indemnity claims and acting in medical malpractice actions and inquiries. She also works with aged care providers on compliance, accreditation and complaints.
Where possible, Alice employs alternative dispute resolution techniques to resolve claims at an early stage.
Areas of expertise include:
Alice is highly experienced in representing Commonwealth agencies in relation to challenges to administrative decisions and other administrative law issues. She regularly advises private and public sector clients on statutory interpretation, freedom of information, privacy and ombudsman matters. She also represents Commonwealth agencies in appeals to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal, Federal Circuit Court and the Federal Court. Alice was recently recognised for her alternative dispute resolution and litigation expertise in Best Lawyers International: Australia.
Alice is a dispute resolution specialist advising both public and private clients, principally in government and administrative law matters. Where possible, she uses alternative dispute resolution techniques to resolve claims at an early stage. Alice's strengths lie in her technical, legal and communication skills and her ability to manage complex litigation. She regularly represents Commonwealth agencies in appeals to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal, Supreme Court, Federal Circuit Court and Federal court.
Alice has a thorough understanding of the Commonwealth litigation framework established under legislation, directions, model litigant policy and court and tribunal rules and procedures, as well as wide ranging issue-specific legislation.
Alice is a Freedom of Information specialist. She provides government clients with strategic advice on the management of FOI requests, including the application of exemptions and interactions with the Offices of the Australian Information Commissioner. She also represents agencies in FOI appeals in the Administrative Appeals Tribunal. Highly regarded in this area and widely published on FOI reforms, Alice often prepares FOI agency manuals and delivers FOI training.
In addition to FOI, Alice advises agencies on other access to information requests such as parliamentary inquiries and subpoenas, and the interaction between access and disclosure obligations with privacy, confidentiality and secrecy.
Alice has been advising Government clients for more than 17 years. Under her guidance, MinterEllison's Canberra office is an established centre for excellence in administrative law and administrative law litigation. Well-versed in the machinery of government, she is seen as a strategic advisor in dispute resolution, litigation, access to information and all aspects of administrative law. She is adept at handling large litigation caseloads, as well as managing national teams of lawyers to efficiently meet the needs of Commonwealth clients in all States and Territories.
In addition to her insurance and medical malpractice expertise, Alice works with aged care providers on compliance, accreditation and complaints. She ensures compliance with the Aged Care Act 1997; accreditation by the Aged Care Standards and Accreditation Agency; complaints to the Aged Care Complaints Commissioner; and sanctions imposed by the Department of Health and Ageing; as well as assisting in writing Act-compliant policies. Alice also advises the firm's Health and Ageing clients on the Health Insurance Act 1973 and the Private Health Insurance Act 2007.
Alice has advised insurance companies for close to 20 years. Her expertise includes professional indemnity claims against solicitors, hospitals, valuers, surveyors, financial advisers, architects and engineers, as well as acting for hospitals, and health professionals in medical malpractice actions. This includes inquiries by Health Complaints Commissioner and Coroner. She also advises on issues surrounding the Health Insurance Act 1973 and the Private Health Insurance Act 2007.
For many years, Alice has advised Comcover, the Commonwealth's self-managed fund for insurable risks, on claims and policy interpretation. She has also led numerous seminars for government agencies on Comcover policy and managing risk.
As part of her strong government and administrative law litigation practice, Alice is the firm’s client relationship partner for the Department of Immigration and Border Protection. She manages appeals to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal, the Federal Circuit Court and Federal Court and the High Court on behalf of the Minister and the Department.