Kumar Jeyakkumar

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Senior Associate

+61 2 9234 4500

kjeyakkumar@moray.com.au

Kumar has 8 years’ experience working as an administrative law litigator. During this time, he has handled hundreds of merits and judicial review matters for various State and Federal Government Departments, and other high-profile businesses and State Institutions.

These matters were heard before various Commonwealth and State Courts and Tribunals (including the High Court of Australia). Kumar is well-versed in solicitor advocacy and has appeared in a plethora of applications, hearings and conferences to advocate his clients' cases.

EXPERIENCE & EXPERTISE

Some of the clients Kumar has regularly represented include the Department of Home Affairs, the National Disability Insurance Agency and multiple Universities across Australia.

Kumar has also gone on multiple secondments at Government Departments. As such, he has a deep understanding as to how Government Departments handle their administrative law litigation caseloads and what issues they take into consideration before they provide instructions to their external legal service providers. Kumar regularly tailors his advice and overall legal strategy to litigate each matter based on his experience.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Successfully defended one of Australia’s largest energy providers in a matter where Environment Victoria Inc sought judicial review of Environment Protection Authority's decision to amend Kumar’s client’s licence to operate a power station.
Successfully defended one of Australia’s leading Universities in a High Court of Australia application for constitutional or other writ which was brought on by one of the University’s former staff members.
Generally prepared for and instructed the Solicitor-General of Australia in a final hearing before the Full Court of the High Court of Australia. Kumar’s client was the Department of Home Affairs. It was a landmark win for the Minister that helped shape numerous future administrative law decisions, not just in the immigration space.
Represented a mining company in a matter in which it objected to another mineral company’s application for an exploration licence which was made pursuant to the Mineral Resources (Sustainable Development) Act 1990 (Vic). Kumar’s client’s objections relied on both interpretations of the Act as well as estoppel principles.
Provided advice to a company with respect to making out a defamation claim as well as a tort of injurious falsehood claim. This advice also covered how to procure evidence to make out such a claim, including prospects of seeking preliminary discovery pursuant to Order 32 of the Supreme Court (General Civil Procedure) Rules 2015 (Vic).
Successfully assisted an Australian University in restructuring its Academic Senate from 90 to 49 academics. This involved assessing the legality of the University's actions after considering its Governing Act By-Laws, in addition to internal guidelines and rules relating to the restructure. Further, Kumar advised the University in relation to potential judicial review grounds that could be raised by potential Plaintiffs because of their actions, including to advise on the steps they could take to mitigate the potential for any grounds of review being made out. As a result of Kumar’s work, no academic filed a judicial review application challenging the validity of the University’s restructure.
Provided legal advice to one of Australia’s leading Universities in relation to its involvement with the Federal Parliament's Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security in its inquiry into national security risks affecting the Australian Higher Education and Research Sector. In a separate matter, Kumar provided advice to the same University with respect to any jurisdictional errors that may arise should they revoke the Honorary Degree awarded to the former Chairperson of Melbourne Health.