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Jay has growing common law practice, with particular focus on institutional abuse, WorkCover, TAC, intentional torts, and medical negligence. He is regularly briefed to draw statements of claim, prepare advice on liability, quantum and prospects, and appear at directions hearings, mediations, serious injury applications, and interlocutory matters.

In addition to court work, Jay is frequently briefed in complex paperwork matters. His drafting includes pleadings and submissions in tort, statutory compensation, and institutional liability claims. He brings a methodical and strategic approach to litigation preparation and negotiation.

Jay also accepts briefs in criminal and quasi-criminal matters, and has experience in select administrative law and public interest litigation. He is known for a trauma-informed and client-focused advocacy style.

Experience

Before coming to the Bar, Jay held senior roles at Victoria Legal Aid, including Associate Public Defender at VLA Chambers and Deputy Managing Lawyer in the Civil Justice Directorate. He was previously a Senior Lawyer at the Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service and began his career in litigation and employment law in regional and mid-tier firms.

Jay holds a Juris Doctor and Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Melbourne.

He read with David Seeman, and his senior mentor is Kateena O’Gorman SC.

Selected Cases

• King v Australaw Pty Ltd [2025] VSC 136
  https://www.austlii.edu.au/cgi-bin/viewdoc/au/cases/vic/VSC/2025/136.html
• Re EV (No 2) [2025] VSC 112
  https://www.austlii.edu.au/cgi-bin/viewdoc/au/cases/vic/VSC/2025/112.html
• Cousins (a pseudonym) v White [2024] VCC 1264
  https://www.austlii.edu.au/cgi-bin/viewdoc/au/cases/vic/VCC/2024/1264.html
• Pierson: Finding into death with inquest of Pierson, Phillip John (COR 2020 001612) [2023] VicCorC 28679
  https://www.austlii.edu.au/cgi-bin/viewdoc/au/cases/vic/VicCorC/2023/28679.html

Re WL (No 2) [2022] VSC 838
https://www.austlii.edu.au/cgi-bin/viewdoc/au/cases/vic/VSC/2022/838.html

Odette primarily practices in personal injury, insurance litigation and criminal law.

Odette accepts briefs to appear and prepare paperwork in transport accident, WorkCover, medical negligence, public liability, police torts, VOCAT and sexual abuse cases for both the plaintiff and defendant. She also accepts briefs in all criminal and quasi-criminal proceedings for both defence and prosecution and briefs in Testator’s Family Maintenance claims and Probate cases.

Prior to joining the Bar, Odette worked at the County Court of Victoria as Associate to his Honour Judge Georgiou in the Criminal Division and as Senior Associate to his Honour Judge O’Neill (retired) then Head of the Common Law Division.

Since her admission to the profession, Odette worked as a solicitor for plaintiffs at Robinson Gill Lawyers, Maurice Blackburn Lawyers and Arnold Thomas and Becker Lawyers across all areas of personal injury litigation. Odette also acted for defendants in medical negligence litigation and disciplinary proceedings against medical practitioners at TressCox Lawyers. Odette has previously managed a nationwide portfolio of liability, employment practices and professional indemnity claims for an insurer in the healthcare, aged care and education sectors.

Odette has appeared in the Magistrates’, County and Supreme Courts as well as VCAT and the Coroner’s Court. She has developed strong written and oral advocacy skills through her diverse experience.

Odette holds a Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Arts from Monash University.

Odette is reading with Diana Price. Her senior mentor is Jonathan Brett KC.

The information referred to above has been supplied by the barrister concerned. Neither Lennon’s List Barristers nor The Victorian Bar Inc have independently verified the accuracy or completeness of the information and neither accepts any responsibility in that regard.

Ray is an experienced lawyer, having practised as a barrister for more than ten years, and as a solicitor prior to coming to the Bar.  He works primarily in personal injury law, but also appears regularly in a variety of other matters, particularly administrative law and employment law matters.

Ray has particular experience in claims for psychiatric injury, and acts for clients in statutory entitlement schemes and the common law area including historical abuse matters.  He has significant expertise in handling all types of claims under the Commonwealth workers’ compensation system (‘Comcare’ work).

Ray was awarded the Public Interest / Justice Innovation Pro Bono Award in 2016, as part of team of three barristers, for work on the Hazelwood Mine Fire Board of Inquiry.

Ray was the Treasurer of the Compensation Law Bar Association from 2015 to 2024.  He has acted as reviewing author for the LexisNexis legal publication Court Forms, Precedents and Pleadings Victoria.

Ray completed degrees in Arts and Law (with Honours) at Monash University and then undertook articles at Sparke Helmore Lawyers.  He practised at that firm for a number of years until he took up a position at one of Australia’s best-known companies, where he worked for several years before coming to the Bar.

Ray is pleased to accept e-briefs or conventional hard-copy briefs.

Some notable and recent cases in which Ray appeared include:

• Aguilar and Australian Postal Corporation [2015] AATA 420
  
• Goulburn Valley Suns FC, 2015 FFV Tribunal (TA15022)
• Tye and Tase 0508 P/L [2016] FWCFB 8733
• Arumugam and TNT Australia P/L [2017] AATA 2660
• Halliday v Pomare & Pazzan [2017] MCV (21/6/17, a bailment case)
• Gates v Robinson [2018] VCAT 40
• KR v BR & Anor [2018] VSCA 159 (led by I Fehring)
• Gropel v Comcare [2018] FCA 1146 (led by N Horner)
• Li v West Sands P/L & Gao [2018] MCV (20/11/18, a civil penalties case under the Fair Work Act 2009)
• Courtney v Ray & State of Victoria [2019] VSC 175
• Barnes and Victorian Building Authority [2019] AATA 4796
• Davis and Australian Postal Corporation [2021] AATA 30
• Chung and Secretary, Attorney-General’s Department [2021] AATA 4804
• Sestan v Hollow Core Concrete [2022] VCC (21/9/22, a jury trial, led by T Tobin)
• Palin and National Disability Insurance Agency [2023] AATA 94

For a full list of decisions in cases where Ray appeared, please contact him directly.