Justin Quill

Practice Areas

Justin Quill is one of Australia’s most experienced media law practitioners, practising exclusively in the area for 24 years.

Justin is highly sought after by high profile media entities for urgent advice on significant matters. He is also extremely well regarded as a litigator and a strategic thinker.

Justin specialises in defamation, contempt of court, suppression orders, urgent injunctions, confidential information claims, freedom of information requests, journalists’ sources, prepublication advice, defending breach of legislation claims and racial vilification claims.

He provides 24/7 for prepublication advice on a full range of mediums (print, online, television and radio) to most of Australia’s largest media organisations.

His passion for free speech motivates him to work hard for his clients and his love of the subject means he has developed a deep understanding of the importance of his clients’ right to publish. This makes him the choice of high profile clients and organisations when these principles and livelihoods are at stake.

Justin’s clients include both major Australian newspaper publishers – News Corporation and Nine Entertainment, all three commercial television networks in Australia (Channels Seven, Nine and Ten), national radio stations, AFL Media and the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.

“Clients come to us for quality advice, not just good service. I was well trained and work really hard for my clients – we think those factors make our team the best at what we do.”

Work Highlights

* Defended Nationwide News, in what became Victoria’s longest running defamation trial, 34 sitting days. Atkinson Prakash Charan sued Nationwide News over an article published in The Australian newspaper, which he allegedly conveyed he engaged in unscrupulous business practices in the management of a group of registered training organisations. Justin and team successfully defended the claim. Mr Charan appealed the decision, which was dismissed by the Court of Appeal in early 2019 and Nationwide News was awarded its appeal costs.

* Successfully defended Channel Nine in relation to a defamation claim brought by the parents of Nadia Tabbaa, who featured in a 60 minutes broadcast detailing her forced marriage at the age of 13 an being held against her will after being tricked by her family into travelling to Syria. Justin and team acted for Channel Nine in the three proceedings, spanning almost five weeks, held in the NSW Supreme Court.

* Successfully defended Nationwide News in relation to an award winning article published titled “Inside the house of Ibrahim: Unauthorised”. The article was published following an extensive undercover police operation by the Australian Federal Police that culminated in one of Australia’s largest drug busts. The drug bust involved various members of the infamous Ibrahim family, including John Ibrahim. The plaintiff, Daniel Taylor, John Ibrahim’s son, sued The Sunday Telegraph alleging that the article conveyed imputations that he was a mobster, a member of the mafia and a criminal involved in organised crime.