Alec Tonkin

As a Senior Associate at Watson Webb, Alec draws upon eight years of coalface litigation experience at firms in Sydney, Bangkok, and Shenzhen. Alec maintains a broad and dynamic practice with a special focus on complex commercial disputes (including restraints of trade), equity and trusts, corporations law (including shareholder disputes and oppression suits), and intellectual property across copyright, patents, trademarks, and designs.

Alec represents both domestic and international private and public companies across a wide range of sectors including industrial design and manufacturing, complex supply chain and distribution, SAAS, training and education, aviation (including medevac operations), cosmetic medicine, major construction, energy, commercial leasing, creative art and literary authorship, and financial services (including fintech), among others. His experience includes acting in substantial cross-border disputes, high-value customs and tariffs disputes, and major investment and trade arbitration matters.

Alec acts for clients in the Supreme Court of New South Wales (including the Court of Appeal), the Federal Court of Australia (including the Full Court), and in the lower courts and specialist tribunals. Beyond contentious matters, Alec provides strategic advice across intellectual property protection, media and reputational issues, employment law (particularly restraints of trade), consumer and competition issues, privacy and data breach response, and broader pre-litigation risk and strategy.

Alec is a technically brilliant lawyer and this, combined with his hands-on wide experience and energetic approach, makes him an asset to the firm and the clients he works with.

Qualifications
‍Bachelor of Laws (Hons.) (MQ)
Bachelor of Arts - Psychology (MQ)
Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice

Memberships and Recognition
New Colombo Plan Scholar
Macquarie University Merit Scholar

Admissions
Supreme Court of New South Wales
High Court of Australia

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EXPERIENCE
‍In the matter of Bailey Roberts Group Pty Ltd (in liq) [2025] NSWSC 227.
Acted for the defendants in complex shareholder oppression case involving financial services business with six shareholder entities and two directors across two (consolidated) proceedings, including novel relief issues. Successfully obtained security for costs. No oppression relief granted to plaintiff. Costs ordered in favour of clients.

In the matter of Bailey Roberts Group Pty Ltd (in liq) [2023] (Supreme Court of New South Wales, unreported)
Acting for the respondents in an application for leave to bring a statutory derivative action alleging breach of directors’ duties. Leave was refused and costs were awarded in favour of the director-clients.

In the matter of Bailey Roberts Group Pty Ltd (in liq) (New South Wales Court of Appeal, 2025/144303), ongoing
Acting for respondents in appeal concerning relief in related oppression proceedings. Successfully obtained security for costs; notice of contention filed. Appeal heard in November 2025 with judgment reserved.

All Valve Industries and Cimberio S.p.A v Comino (Federal Court of Australia, NSD 1337/2021 and NSD 1335/2021), ongoing
Acting for an Italian industrial designer‑manufacturer and Australian distributor in complex, multi‑issue IP and commercial proceedings involving design entitlement and invalidity, copyright infringement, Australian Consumer Law issues, breach of contract, breach of confidence, unjustified threats, and claims for additional damages. Cross‑claims include patent infringement, design infringement, and patent invalidity. Achieved judgment in favour of clients on liability and entitlement (Watson Webb Pty Ltd v Comino [2025] FCA 871) and a further favourable costs judgment, including third‑party costs (Watson Webb Pty Ltd v Comino (No 2) [2025] FCA 1294).

All Valve Industries and Cimberio S.p.A v Comino (Full Court of the Federal Court of Australia, NSD 1656, 1998 and 2057 of 2025), ongoing
Acting in two appeals brought by the Comino parties on relief and costs, with across‑appeal on unjustified threats relief and a notice of contention filed. Appeals listed for hearing in March 2026.

All Valve Industries v Strongcast Pty Ltd & Anor (District Court of New South Wales, 2020/00108196), ongoing
Acting in proceedings concerning breach of a distribution agreement and alleged contraventions of the Australian Consumer Law. Cross‑claim involves tortious passing off, breach of contract, and further ACL issues. Matter ongoing.

Narellan Franchise Pty Ltd v RBME Pty Ltd (No 2) [2022] NSWSC 1590
Acted for franchisee in litigation concerning alleged breaches of restraints of trade and confidentiality. Initial interlocutory restraints obtained by the franchisor were not converted to final relief. Final injunctions refused, with costs awarded to the franchisee.

Narellan Franchise Pty Ltd v RBME Pty Ltd [2023] NSWCA 139
Acted for franchisee on appeal. The franchisor’s challenge to the primary judge’s findings on construction and entitlement to injunctive relief was dismissed. Costs awarded to the franchisee.

Epoch Group v Carrodus and Another (Federal Court of Australia, NSD 527/2022)
Acted in proceedings involving allegations of breach of confidentiality and copyright. Urgent ex parte search orders had been made against the ex-employee client. Matter settled.

Katz v Epoch Group (Supreme Court of New South Wales, 2021/284014)
Acted in proceedings concerning alleged obligations to pay accrued bonuses and issues regarding buy‑back of shares. Matter settled.

Hartex Engineering & Installation Services Pty Ltd v Krishnaratna & Ors (Federal Court of Australia, NSD 204/2025)
Acted in proceedings involving complex allegations of breach of confidentiality and copyright said to subsist in industrial design drawings. Complex allegations regarding subsistence of copyright and attribution (where contractors located in. Matter settled.

Marjens Medical Services Pty Ltd v Yastrebov & Anor (Supreme Court of New South Wales, 2024/00061415)
Acting in proceedings involving complex allegations of breach of confidence in a medical practice context. Preliminary discovery granted. Matter ongoing.

In the matter of Octinova Holdings Pty Ltd and Ors (Supreme Court of New South Wales, 2024/00250372)
Acted in proceedings concerning the proposed removal of a director in circumstances involving issues of potential mental incapacity. Applications for receivers, a guardian, and winding‑up were ultimately resolved by settlement.

In the matter of ANIT Australia Pty Ltd (Supreme Court of Victoria), ongoing
Acting for defendants in complex oppression proceedings involving large registered training organisation. Oppression found against shareholder-clients, with questions of relief outstanding ([2024] VSC 705). Complex valuation expert referee process completed with a hearing on valuation in March 2026.

Klevo Rewards Limited v Macquarie Bank Limited & Anor (Supreme Court of Victoria, S ECI 2025 06967)
Acted for a director of a public company in proceedings commenced by the company seeking release of investment funds. Matter settled.

Richard Albarran in his capacity as Liquidator of CGA (Aust) Pty Ltd (In Liquidation) v Colemans Fencing Group Pty Ltd & Ors (Supreme Court of New South Wales, 2023/41377)
Acted for the liquidator in a high-value voidable transaction claim including allegations of shadow directorship and complex liability layering in corporate entities. Matter settled.

In the matter of Epic Mining Pty Ltd (in Liquidation) (Receivers and Managers Appointed) (Supreme Court of New South Wales, 2024/00183463)
Acting for receivers in a dispute with subsequent administrators and liquidators regarding complex issues relating to receivers’ appointment, powers and the validity of their exercise, remuneration and indemnity, Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) s 596AC issues, and Trustee Act 1925 (NSW) s 85(1) issues. Matter settled.