Michael Allen

Michael Allen specialises in criminal law, regulatory proceedings, inquests, and inquiries.   

Criminal Law  

Michael practises in all areas of criminal law. He is regularly briefed in complex and serious criminal proceedings, including cases concerning white-collar fraud, proceeds of crime, and regulatory offences. He regularly accepts briefs to advise. He holds an Indictable Crime Certificate and is on the VLA Criminal Trial Preferred Barrister List.

Regulatory Proceedings 

Michael has significant experience in advising and appearing in regulatory proceedings. He has been briefed in such proceedings for private individuals, corporations, and government departments and agencies. 

His experience includes acting (both for and against regulators) in proceedings and actions instituted by a range of government and statutory authorities, including: the Environment Protection Authority (EPA); the Victorian Building Authority (VBA); WorkSafe; Energy Safe Victoria; the Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission (VGCCC); the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (Vic); the NSW Department of Education; PrimeSafe Victoria; and various municipal councils. He provides advice on statutory interpretation and enforcement issues in relation to regulatory regimes. 

Inquests, Inquiries, and Disciplinary Proceedings

Michael also has significant experience acting as counsel in inquests, inquires, and professional disciplinary proceedings. His experience includes having been briefed to advise and/or appear in the following investigatory and inquisitorial settings: 

• Inquests before the Coroners Court of Victoria;
• The AFL commissioned Independent Inquiry into allegations of inappropriate conduct at the Hawthorn Football Club;
• The Royal Commission into the Management of Police Informants (one of junior Counsel Assisting the Commission);
• The Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission (IBAC) (counsel for witnesses / parties in both public and private hearings); 
• Board of Inquiry into the COVID-19 Hotel Quarantine Program; 
• Investigations conducted by the Victorian Ombudsman; 
• Workplace investigations into alleged misconduct; 
• Investigations conducted by the Department of Education (Vic); 
• Inquiries before the Suitability Panel under the Children, Youth and Families Act 2005;
• Professional conduct inquiries by the Architects Tribunal;
• Disciplinary proceedings before the Building Practitioners Board / VBA; and
• Review / appeal proceedings in relation to disciplinary processes before the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT).

Background

Prior to signing the Bar Roll, Michael was a solicitor at Galbally & O’Bryan.

He holds a Bachelor of Arts and a Juris Doctor from the University of Melbourne. 

Michael read with Andrew Woods, who specialises in administrative and commercial law, and Scott Johns SC (now his Honour Judge Johns), who specialised in criminal law.