Expertise

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

Tanya has a broad practice, enabling her to readily advise clients on a variety of legal claims, with the experience to conduct matters strategically and efficiently.

She predominately practices in the areas of contract, the Australian Consumer Law, claims in equity, intellectual property, directors’ duties, shareholder claims, insolvency, claims in tort, property, business sale and acquisition and civil fraud, with experience in competition, defamation, insurance and franchising.

Tanya has conducted litigation in all Victorian courts, the federal courts and higher interstate courts, as well as proceedings at VCAT and industry bodies such as the Australian Financial Complaints Authority and Grain Trade Australia arbitral tribunals. She is regularly involved in complex, often multi-party litigation as well as urgent applications, arbitrations and dealings with regulators.

Clients for whom Tanya acts and has acted include multinational corporations, high net worth individuals and SMEs. Their businesses span industries including digital technology, automotive, forestry and agriculture, professional and financial services, property, construction and retail.

Tanya has considerable experience in disputes involving complex, industry specific technique. She works to swiftly understand a client’s business, its legal and commercial needs and endeavours to secure cost-effective results.

Prior to joining SBA Law, Tanya held junior legal roles at Corrs 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:

• Re Credit Clear Limited – Romano Family Holdings Pty Ltd & ors ats C Capital Pty Ltd – Supreme Court of Victoria (2022 – 2023). Defence of claims concerning shareholder oppression. Matter resolved prior to trial.
• Australian Forest Products Pty Ltd & anor ats Koorool Constructions Pty Ltd – County Court of Victoria (2021 – 2023). Defence of a claim regarding quality of building materials. Matter resolved prior to trial.
• Unigrain Pty Ltd ats Mount Anne Pty Ltd – District Court of Western Australia (2022) and Grain Trade Australia arbitration (2021 – 2023). Successfully brought an application to stay a WA court proceeding against an agribusiness participant and obtained an indemnity costs award. Successfully defended GTA arbitration that followed concerning contract performance and obtained an indemnity costs award.
• Toyota Motor Corporation Limited ats D&V Plant Pty Ltd – Supreme Court of South Australia (2020 – 2021). Successfully resisted a breach of contract claim for ongoing client Toyota resulting in the discontinuance of the claim and legal costs’ entitlement.
• Sovereign Point Ltd Ltd v Ming Feng (Richard) Gu & Ors – Federal Court of Australia (2019 – 2021). Obtained default judgment for a joint venturer in a property development, arising from breach of director’s duties claims, and successfully defended a rehearing application and an application to review the damages assessment with costs awards.
• 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
• Impact Funds Management Pty Ltd & Impact Investment Group Pty Ltd ats Gerhana Pty Ltd & ors – Supreme Court of Victoria (2018 – 2020). Defence of claims concerning misleading or deceptive conduct and breach of agreements in relation to a property development of an investment trust. Matter resolved on the first day of trial.
• Apperley Holdings Pty Ltd v Central West Packing & Storage Pty Ltd – Federal Court of Australia (2019 – 2020). Claim by a FMCG manufacturer regarding infringement of its intellectual property. Matter resolved early in the 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.