With a primary focus on media and communications law, I act for Australia’s leading media institutions — including the Nine Network; The Age, Crikey, Capital Brief, plus international publishers including The New York Times; CNN and Bloomberg.

In addition to acting for media companies, I advise prominent individuals, corporations and public-sector clients in complex and strategic litigation.

Career highlights

• Leading the successful defence of The Age and its journalists in the Ben Roberts-Smith proceedings in the Federal Court of Australia and the High Court of Australia.
• Representing Getax Australia in relation to pecuniary-penalty order proceedings and foreign-bribery charges in the Queensland Supreme and District Courts.
• Acting for John Pesutto MP in defamation proceedings commenced by Moira Deeming MP.
• Advising state government departments and local councils in connection with inquiries and investigations. 
• Defending Al Jazeera in Federal Court of Australia defamation proceedings. 

Client testimonials

• "Dean is excellent. He's detail-focused, responsive, smart and a pleasure to deal with. He's someone whose advice I believe I could trust implicitly."
• For his work on the high-profile Defamation proceedings by Ben Roberts-Smith, Dean has been described by the client as "the most remarkable lawyer I’ve ever worked with.” 

MinterEllison’s TMT: Media practice is ranked Band 1 in Australia by Chambers & Partners in 2025, reflecting a leading practice for media, communications and online content matters. 

I am also a Board Member of the Melbourne Press Club.