Expertise

Tanya Cross has over 20 years’ experience as a commercial litigator.

Her experience spans many areas including contract and consumer law claims, shareholder and corporate governance cases, business and property disputes, insolvency, intellectual property, fraudulent conduct and regulatory matters.

Tanya brings to her matters commercial sense as well as strategic and, where needed, lateral thinking. From large scale corporate litigation to smaller family disputes, she aims to produce efficient results.

Adept in conducting complex cases and managing an excellent team of lawyers, Tanya has a deep understanding of her matters and is able to provide an empathetic and steady hand to clients. She has an ease of manner yet unwavering tenacity to work to obtain the best outcomes for her clients.

Tanya has acted for multinational corporations to sole traders and across a broad range of industries including automotive, forestry and agriculture, professional and financial services, property, construction, IT, accommodation, education, health, fashion and retail.

She has conducted litigation in all Victorian courts, the federal courts and higher interstate courts, as well as VCAT and industry adjudication bodies including the Australian Financial Complaints Authority and Grain Trade Australia.

Prior to joining SBA Law, Tanya held junior legal roles at Corrs Chambers Westgarth and a boutique commercial practice.

Education

Tanya holds a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Laws from Monash University.

Experience

Recent cases / matters involving Tanya include:

• Successfully resisted a breach of contract claim against a multinational car manufacturer in the Supreme Court of South Australia resulting in the discontinuance of the claim and costs paid.
• Obtained default judgment in a Federal Court proceeding for a joint venturer in a Melbourne property development and successfully defended a rehearing application and an application to review the damages assessment.
• Sovereign Point Pty Ltd v Gu [2019] FCA 1753
• Sovereign Point Pty Ltd v Gu (No 2) [2020] FCA 1377
• Sovereign Point Pty Ltd v Gu (No 3) [2021] FCA 384
• Raised and secured insurance coverage for a property investment group defending a Supreme Court of Victoria proceeding which covered a commercial settlement and costs.
• Successfully brought a stay application against an agribusiness participant in a Western Australia District Court proceeding and obtained indemnity costs.
• Negotiated a favourable settlement against a real estate agency for consumer law and breach of contract claims.
• Obtained a Grain Trade Australia arbitration award including costs in favour of a grain trader for a breach of contract claim.
• Successful action for clients against infringers of their intellectual property resulting in removal of infringing material, as well as the favourable resolution of a Federal Court proceeding.

Awards and recognition

Tanya was included in the 2017 edition of Doyle’s Guide in the areas of commercial litigation and dispute resolution in Victoria.