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Gowri Kangeson

Gowri Kangeson

Partner
About

Gowri is a partner at DLA Piper widely respected for her expertise in commercial litigation, regulatory investigations, and international arbitration.

Gowri's ability to connect with clients cements her role as their valued advisor and confidante. They trust her to help them navigate complex situations with clarity, pragmatism and commerciality using her characteristic no-nonsense approach.

Having spent over two decades in Australia and originating from Malaysia, Gowri's unique perspective is shaped by her rich heritage and global experience.

With a focus on diversity and equality, she is passionate about fairness, equality, and justice for all. This commitment is showcased in her roles as DLA Piper's partner for the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) and diversity committee member of the Australian Centre for International Commercial Arbitration.

As an ardent believer in education, Gowri actively participates in the Continued Legal Education season annually and frequently speaks at conferences. She is also a regular contributor to publications with a particular emphasis on the topic of investigations and determining issues of legal professional privilege.

Gowri's strength is in her belief in contributing to the world and doing so with an open and flexible mindset. As her client, you will see that her purpose is to ensure you are heard and understood so she can bring a just resolution for you, and always with straight-shooting honesty.

Professional QualificationsAdvocate and Solicitor of the High Court of MalaysiaSolicitor of the Supreme Court of VictoriaSolicitor of the High Court of AustraliaSolicitor of the Senior Courts of England and Wales

EXPERIENCE

  • Acted for Fortescue Metals Group in a high profile occupational health and safety prosecution in Perth involving contractual, agency, construction and criminal law issues. Fortescue was cleared of all 21 criminal charges.  Gowri was one of the principal instructing solicitors in the litigation and had a key project management and reporting to client responsibility.  She was also responsible for finalising the investigations into what occurred at the site, preparing the evidence of key witnesses and developing the litigation strategy
  • Acted in a series of urgent arbitrations before the Hon Murray Gleeson AC QC relating to the operation of the Basslink interconnector.  Our client was successful in the defence of an arbitration instigated by Hydro Tasmania (HT), and the successful prosecution of one of two arbitrations instigated by our client. Gowri also acted for our client in an urgent injunction application, to prevent the issue of a default notice and to refer certain disputes to arbitration, where an injunction was granted in favour of our client.  Gowri was the lead litigation lawyer in this matter and led a team of over 10 lawyers involved in all aspects of the arbitration
  • Acted for Virgin Airlines Australia in relation to a proceedings brought by John Holland Aviation Services in the Supreme Court of Victoria.  The proceedings contained 11 claims related to an Alliance Agreement that was entered by the parties in 2008.  The proceeding raised a number of novel and untested issues. The action also raised a number of complex issues including the obligations of an Alliance partner, alleged frustration of the Alliance arrangement, the extent of good faith obligations and the assessment of any payments to be made under the arrangement.  The matter settled on favourable terms after service of compelling lay and expert evidence
  • Acting for an ASX listed company in relation to proceedings in the Supreme Court of Western Australia in relation to the interpretation of the Share Sale Agreement, interpretation of accounting standards and earn out provisions
  • Part of the core employment and litigation team acting for McDermott Australia in urgent Federal Court injunction proceedings and litigation to protect Esso’s Kipper Tuna Turrum Project from interruption due to labour disputes.  The matter settled on favourable terms
  • Acted for a national health organisation in relation to proceedings brought by the ACCC involving allegations that certain contractual provisions had/have the purpose of substantially lessening competition, in contravention of sections 47 or 45 of the Competition and Consumer Act.  The matter settled on favourable terms
Education
  • University of Melbourne, Master of Commercial Law, 2004
  • Gary's Inn, London, Utter Barrister, 1997
  • University of Glamorgan, Wales, Bachelor of Laws (Hons), 1996

Publications

  • Appeal dismissed: Difficult to avoid public IBAC probe, 21 Mar 2016
  • Definition of corrupt conduct: The High Court has limited the scope of the New South Wales Independent Commission Against Corruption's powers, 7 May 2015
  • Foreign bribery and corruption update - Australian law, 27 Feb 2015

Memberships And Affiliations

  • Australian and Malaysian Business Council
  • Law Institute of Victoria
  • Australian Corporate Lawyers Association

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