Tom Darbyshire is a Partner in Litigation and Insolvency, bringing nearly 30 years of experience practising commercial litigation in Western Australia. Throughout his career, Tom has appeared as counsel in all State and Federal Courts except the High Court, demonstrating a broad range of advocacy skills. His expertise encompasses a diverse array of matters, with a focus on bankruptcy, corporate turnaround and insolvency, trust disputes, property conflicts, and consumer protection issues. Tom is also well-versed in advising clients on governance and compliance topics, including the Privacy Act, data protection, whistleblower protection in both public and private sectors, and directors’ duties. In addition to his legal practice, Tom has significant experience in legal management. He led the Commercial Dispute Resolution team at Kott Gunning, a respected mid-tier Perth law firm, for 15 years, and has undertaken two terms as managing partner. Tom is a Fellow of the Governance Institute of Australia and holds professional membership with the Australian Reconstruction Insolvency and Turnaround Association (ARITA), reflecting his commitment to ongoing professional development and governance standards.
Partner, Dispute Resolution and Insolvency
McWilliams Davis Lawyers
Aug 2022 - Present • 4 years 3 months
Partner
Edwards Mac Scovell
Nov 2020 - Aug 2022 • 1 year 9 months
Head of Commercial Dispute Resolution
Kott Gunning
Feb 2016 - Oct 2020 • 4 years 8 months
Managing Partner
Kott Gunning Lawyers
Feb 2014 - Feb 2016 • 2 years
Partner in Commercial Dispute Resolution
Kott Gunning Lawyers
Dec 2001 - Dec 2013 • 12 years
Solicitor
Kott Gunning Lawyers
Dec 1996 - Dec 2001 • 5 years
LLB
The University of Western Australia
