Tim L’Estrange is an an experienced independent lawyer who specialises in resolving complex disputes as an arbitrator, mediator or facilitator. He also provides commercial strategic advisory services to boards and C-suite executives. 

He is a member of two world class groups of individuals that bring together leading independent professionals in their respective fields.

• Arbitration, Mediation or Facilitation (through Newmans Row )

• Corporate Advisory Services (through Blackhall & Pearl )

Tim has represented companies, boards and individuals in some of the highest profile corporate disputes and complex factual political and legal situations in a diverse range of jurisdictions during a career spanning 40 years.  

After completing his Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Laws at the University of New South Wales, Tim became an Associate to the late Honourable Justice John Lockhart AO QC one of the New South Wales Bar’s most outstanding members. His time with Justice Lockhart sparked his passion for litigation and dispute resolution and he joined Allen Allen & Hemsley (now Allens Linklaters).  In 1993 he was elected Managing Partner. In 2001, Tim became the firm’s National Head of Litigation and Dispute Resolution and a Board Member.

Having worked as General Counsel and subsequently as Managing Director for Europe and America, and Global Head of Governance for ANZ Bank, and interacted with domestic regulators (ASIC, and APRA) together with foreign regulators in the United States (the OCC), Germany (BaFin), UK (the FSA), gives him a unique understanding and perspective of global banking.

Tim joined Jones Day in 2013, as a Partner in the firm’s Global Disputes practice. During his career spanning 11 years with Jones Day, he became the Partner in Charge of both Sydney and then Melbourne.  

He has exceptional experience in corporate and shareholder disputes, mining and resources, oil and gas, professional indemnity, shipping, maritime and sport disputes.  Tim was Honorary Permanent Secretary at the Court of Arbitration for Sport, (CAS) (Oceania Division) from 1995 to 2003 and he acted as the Tribunal Secretary in many arbitral hearings over his time with CAS, including during the CAS Ad Hoc Panel established for the Sydney Olympics in 2000. He also participated ex officio in meetings of the International Counsel of Arbitration for Sport (ICAS) in Lausanne. 

He was also Director of the Australian Centre of Commercial Arbitration (ACICA) from 2002 to 2005.

In his career Tim has acted in many of the landmark mediations in Australia, most recently in a claim by parties involved in the cancellation of the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne.

Qualifications

1978: Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Laws,  University of New South Wales

1981: Solicitor of the Supreme Court of New South Wales, Supreme Court of Victoria, Supreme Court of Queensland, Supreme Court of Western Australia and the High Court of Australia.

2000: Arbitrator, University of Adelaide in association with the Institute of Arbitrators and Mediators,  Australia (IAMA)

2024: Mediator, Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution, London (CEDR) (Completion June 2024)

2024: Arbitrator, Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb) (Fellowship completion June 2024) 

Memberships

• Former Honorary Secretary to Court of Arbitration for Sport (Oceania Division)

• Member, Institute of Arbitrators and Mediators (IAMA) 

• Member, London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA)

• Member, Australian Centre for Commercial Arbitration (ACICA)

• Former Honorary Secretary, Maritime Law Association of Australia and New Zealand (NSW Branch)

• Former Honorary Secretary, Insolvency Practitioners Association (NSW Branch)