Mark Robertson, KC, has emerged as Australia’s most expensive lawyer, commanding a staggering $6250 per hour and $50,000 for an eight-hour day. His unparalleled expertise in revenue law has positioned him well above his peers, with leading barristers such as Bret Walker, SC, charging about $25,000 a day.
Robertson operates out of chambers in Brisbane and Sydney, boasting a distinguished career that includes appearances in landmark cases involving prominent entities such as PwC, iron ore magnate Gina Rinehart, and Crown Resorts’ Perth casino. His extensive experience and acumen have made him a sought-after figure in the legal community, particularly in revenue law, where the stakes are often exceptionally high.
Market Leader in Fees
The Australian Financial Review’s confidential survey of instructing solicitors and barristers’ clerks identified Robertson as the top earner in the field. While a handful of tax barristers, including Melbourne-based silks John de Wijn, KC, David Bloom, KC, and Jennifer Batrouney, KC, charge upwards of $30,000 a day, Robertson stands out for his ability to command more than double that amount due to his business acumen and superior communication skills.
“He’s just so good with clients,” remarked one solicitor. “Boards love him.” Despite his high-profile clientele, Robertson has maintained a low media profile, with his only notable mention being his purchase of a $12.5 million riverside mansion in Tennyson, Brisbane, in 2022.
A Career of Distinction
Robertson’s journey began as an associate to Justice Trevor Hartigan of the Federal Court. He then honed his skills at PriceWaterhouse and Blake Dawson Waldron (now Ashurst) before joining the bar in 1996 and achieving silk in 2013. One of his significant early cases was the Commissioner of Taxation v Clark in 2009, a landmark Full Federal Court case on costs and amended assessments of income tax, where the High Court refused leave to appeal.
Throughout his career, Robertson has handled numerous high-stakes cases in the Federal Court and High Court, often involving complex tax arrangements for multinational corporations. His chambers profile highlights his specialization in all aspects of revenue law, trust law, and administrative law. His doctoral thesis on the rights of beneficiaries in a capital gains tax context influenced significant tax reforms proposed by major Australian tax institutions.
The Premium on Expertise
Tax specialists have always commanded higher fees than their counterparts in other areas of commercial law. Standard rates for tax advice typically range 20 to 25 percent higher than general commercial work due to the complexity and the higher insurance premiums associated with revenue law.
Top revenue law solicitors can charge upwards of $1500 an hour, with clerks often quoting both hourly and daily rates that reflect the intensive nature of the work. Despite a sharp increase in his rates a few years ago, Robertson has seen no decline in demand for his services.
Staying on Top
Unlike other prominent tax specialists, such as Mark Richmond, SC, and James Hmelnitsky, SC, who have transitioned to judicial roles, Robertson shows no interest in becoming a judge. His focus remains on providing exceptional legal counsel in revenue law, allowing him to command fees that outpace those of even the most recognized leaders of the bar.
While a select few commercial law silks can demand $25,000 a day and more for their services, including Bret Walker, SC; Noel Hutley, SC; Justin Gleeson, SC; John Sheahan, KC; Philip Crutchfield, KC; and Peter Dunning, KC, it is Robertson’s unmatched expertise and client relations that set him apart as the highest-earning silk in the country.
As his fees are tax-deductible as a business expense, clients are willing to invest in his top-tier services, ensuring that Mark Robertson, KC, remains at the pinnacle of Australia’s legal profession.
