Ben Dubé

Partner

Ben is a Partner at Sparke Helmore with over ten years experience in advocacy, litigation, workers compensation, administrative law and workplace relations.

Prior to joining Sparke Helmore, Ben worked for the Australian Government Solicitor, where his practice focussed on appearing as Counsel in Commonwealth Courts and Tribunals.

Ben specialises in workers compensation, superannuation, unfair dismissal and discipline matters for clients such as Telstra, Optus, Linfox, ABS, ComSuper, Comcare and Centrelink.

Ben appeared as counsel briefed not only by AGS lawyers, but also by private firms who are on the legal panels for various clients. Since joining Sparke Helmore Ben continues to be briefed by other panel firms including AGS.

Ben has appeared as Counsel in the High Court, Federal Court, Federal Magistrates Court, Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT), the Superannuation Complaints Tribunal, Australian Industrial Relations Commission, and the Family Court.

Ben is the practice group leader for the Compensation Group in Brisbane which undertakes workers' compensation work in the Commonwealth and State compensation schemes for many employers and self-insurers including Telstra, Queensland Rail, Xtracare, BHP, Comcare and Linfox.

Ben has particular expertise in complicated compensation claims for psychiatric injuries and cancer claims.

Ben's experience as counsel includes the following:

Appearing as junior counsel in High Court and Full Federal Court appeals for Comcare and as counsel in appeals in the Federal Court.
Acting as counsel for the ABS in a successful appeal to the Full Bench of the AIRC involving questions of trust and confidence.
Acting as counsel in the Federal Court in judicial review proceedings arising under the Administrative Decisions Judicial Review Act 1977 (Cth) and the Judiciary Act 1903.
Acting as counsel in successful matter for Aboriginal Hostels Limited in an AIRC dispute regarding a challenge of certified agreements.
Acting as counsel in successful matters in the AAT involving claims under the Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 1988 (SRC Act) alleging that exposure to radiation and chemicals in the course of military service gave rise to the applicants contracting cancer.
Acting as counsel in successful matters in the AAT under the SRC Act where the claims for compensation were denied on the basis that the applicants had made a false and willful statement that they had not previously suffered from the claimed disease.