Michael Rivette

• Arbitrators & Mediators
• Commercial Law
• Competition
• Employment & Industrial
• Equity
• Insurance & Reinsurance
• Intellectual Property
• Media, Entertainment & Broadcast
• Professional Negligence
• Public Law
• Sports, Gaming & Licensing

“It’s refreshing as a commercial lawyer to find a barrister who has a good commercial sense for not only analysing issues but also finding solutions. What differentiates working with Michael is that he’s prepared to give strong recommendations and I value his proactive commercial input.”

Richard, Corporate and Commercial Lawyer.

Michael Rivette brings business insight and experience to the practice of commercial law to provide clients with advice grounded in the real world of business and help them achieve the most positive commercial outcomes.

As Michael’s client, you are advised and represented by a globally-recognised leader in commercial, privacy, media, entertainment and intellectual property law.

With more than 20 years’ experience in business as an owner, director and board member of communications, marketing and media companies, clients benefit from Michael’s practical commercial knowledge combined with experience in the law.

Michael’s practice has developed through significant return business, fostering long-term client relationships and new client referrals based on his easy and collaborative, but decisive style.

A recognised leader in the development of privacy law, breach of confidence and data protection, Michael Rivette has regularly appeared as Counsel in major privacy related litigation since successfully arguing the landmark Giller v Procopets (2008) 24 VR 1. He has acted as Counsel in the Theiss Class Action and the Medibank Class Action, and was lead counsel for the Plaintiff in the first successful privacy class action in Evans v Health Administration [2019] NSWSC 1781.  He also regularly advises corporations and government departments on privacy compliance, risk and liability issues.

Michael is widely published including as the Australian co-author to international texts The Law of Privacy and the Media – Tugendhat and Christie (OUP) and Remedies for Breach of Privacy (Hart), and as author of Privacy Class Actions (2020) 94 ALJ 791.  He has also published numerous articles in the Privacy Law Bulletin, Media and Arts Law Review, and Intellectual Property Forum.

Michael is a member of the Advisory Board of the Centre for Media and Communications Law, the Editorial Board of the Privacy Law Bulletin (LexisNexis) and the Editorial Board of the Media, Technology and Communications Law Bulletin (LexisNexis).

He is recognised by Doyles Guide as a Leading Technology, Media and Telecommunications Barrister and a Leading Intellectual Property Barrister and by Best Lawyers, including as Lawyer of the Year: Privacy and Data Protection.

Directory Recommendations

• Lawyer of the Year – Privacy and Data Protection:  Best Lawyers 2020
• Leading Intellectual Property Barrister:  Doyles Guide 2018
• Leading Technology, Media & Telecommunications Barrister:  Doyles Guide 2019
• Leading Lawyer – Privacy and Data Protection:  Best Lawyers 2019
• Leading Lawyer – Privacy and Data Protection:  Best Lawyers 2021
• Leading Lawyer – Privacy and Data Protection:  Best Lawyers 2022
• Leading Lawyer – Privacy and Data Protection:  Best Lawyers 2023
• Leading Lawyer – Privacy and Data Protection:  Best Lawyers 2024

Michael is sought after as a speaker and lecturer. He contributes regularly in the undergraduate and post-graduate teaching programs at the Melbourne University Law School, and presents at seminars and conferences to legal professionals throughout Australia on advocacy, privacy, breach of confidence, media, intellectual property and commercial law.

“I’ve been dealing with lawyers for 35 years and there are two things I value most about working with Michael. Firstly, he’s prepared to give you an opinion and secondly, as a businessman himself he has a good commercial understanding of what we do. The value of having someone who speaks our language cannot be overstated. Michael works with us to get the best commercial outcome.”

Nicholas Dower, Chairman
Niche Group and Oliver’s Real Food Group.

To view Michael’s CV, please click here.

Liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards legislation. The information referred to above has been supplied by the barrister concerned. Neither Victorian Bar Inc nor the barrister's clerk have independently verified the accuracy or completeness of the information and neither accepts any responsibility in that regard.