WILLIAM ISDALE
Areas of Practice
Administrative and Public Law
Commercial (including Corporations and Contract)
Defamation
Employment / Industrial Relations
Environment and Planning
Equity and Trusts
Estate litigation
Inquests, Commissions of Inquiry & Statutory Tribunals
Insurance
Intellectual Property
Mining, Energy and Resources
Native Title
Professional Negligence
Property
Regulatory disputes (Inc Health, Law, Mining, OH&S)
Taxation
Trade Practices and Competition
Contact
Phone: 07 3333 9916
Email: wisdale@qldbar.asn.au
Reception: 07 3333 9921
William has a broad commercial and public law practice. He also practices in employment and succession matters.
Prior to being called to the Bar, William worked at a top-tier firm and focused on regulatory and financial matters. He also worked as a Senior Legal Officer at the Australian Law Reform Commission, focusing on the Corporations and Financial Services Inquiry.
Previously he has served as an Associate to the Hon. Justice Dowsett AM on the Federal Court of Australia, and to Commissioner Neate AM on the Queensland Industrial Relations Commission and Industrial Court of Queensland.
William holds a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) from the University of Queensland, a LLM in International Financial and Commercial Law from King’s College London, and a PhD in Law from the University of Queensland. He was the recipient of the Holt Prize in 2021 for his PhD thesis, which has since been published as a book (‘Compensation for Native Title’) by The Federation Press.
William has been a regular contributor to the Queensland Law Reporter, having contributed in excess of 250 summaries of superior court decisions for that publication. He has also contributed to the Australian Law Reports and numerous other publications.
William’s recent court experience includes:
Appellate
High Court of Australia: Mpweremper Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC v Minister for Territory Families and Urban Housing as delegate of the Minister for the Environment & Anor (D14/2025) – led by Jonathan Horton KC – acting for a respondent agriculture company in an appeal concerning judicial review of a significant water licence decision in the Northern Territory
Court of Appeal: Chief Executive, Department of Environment, Science and Innovation v Nagana Yarrbayn Wangan and Jagalingou Cultural Custodians Ltd [2026] QCA 7 – led by Jonathan Horton KC – acting for the Chief Executive in an appeal concerning judicial review relating to a coal mine and alleged environmental impacts
Court of Appeal: Valuer-General, Department of Natural Resources and Mines, Manufacturing and Regional and Rural Development v Western Downs Green Power Hub Pty Ltd – led by Mitchel Batty KC – acting for the Valuer-General in relation to an appeal concerning the categorisation of land used for a large-scale solar farm and battery installation under land valuation legislation
Land Appeal Court: Cost Pty Ltd & Ors v Valuer-General (LAC006-009/25) – led by Edward Goodwin KC – acting for the Valuer-General in relation to appeals concerning commercial land valuation objections
Land Appeal Court: Comiskey and Comiskey v Fairhill Coking Coal Pty Ltd (LAC012-25) – led by Jonathan Horton KC – acting for appellant pastoralists in an appeal concerning a contractual / compensation dispute with a mining company
Land Appeal Court: Clark v Sunshine Coast Regional Council (LAC001/26) – led by Jonathan Horton KC – acting for the respondent Council in an appeal concerning compensation for compulsory resumption of a prestige lifestyle property
Commercial
Supreme Court: Georgina Pastoral Company Pty Ltd v Brayley Electrical Pty Ltd (291/26) – led by Jonathan Horton KC – acting for plaintiff company in proceedings alleging breach of contract and negligence in relation to the performance of electrical works
Supreme Court: SLB Investments Queensland Pty Ltd v Queensland Motorways Management Pty Ltd & Ors (8932/20) – led by Jonathan Horton KC and Doug Quayle, with Kingsley Grimshaw – acting for respondent Council in a class action relating to imposition of toll road charges for motor-vehicles
Federal Court of Australia: ASP Foundation Piling Pty Ltd v Berkley Insurance Company (QUD94/2024) – led by Adrian Duffy KC – acting for a respondent insurer in proceedings concerning alleged professional negligence relating to a large construction project and
Supreme Court: Rolleston Coal Holdings Pty Ltd v McDonald (BS1923/24) – [2024] QSC 310 – led by Jonathan Horton KC and Douglas Campbell KC, variously – acting for respondent pastoralists in relation to a contractual dispute concerning an environmental offsets area
Supreme Court: McNaught & Ors v Riversky Farms Pty Ltd (2992/25) – led by Jonathan Horton KC – acting for plaintiffs in relation to a dispute relating to ownership and use of farming land
Supreme Court: Bunyoung Investments Pty Ltd v Lardam Pty Ltd & Anor (BS251/24) – unled – acting for the respondent in relation to Supreme Court proceedings involving alleged breaches of equitable and contractual duties relating to employment and alleged loss of commercial opportunity
Land Court: Comiskey v Fairhill Coking Coal Pty Ltd (QS7410/24; MRA418-24) – [2025] QSC 137; [2025] QLC 9; [2024] QLC 23 – led by Jonathan Horton KC – acting for applicant pastoralists in Supreme Court and Land Court proceedings concerning a contractual dispute relating to mining compensation
Land law
Land Court: Kamgor Pty Ltd and Luksar Pty Ltd and Westpoint Autos Qld Pty Ltd v Chief Executive, Department of Transport and Main Roads (AQL295-25) – led by Damien O’Brien KC – acting for respondent department in proceedings claiming compensation for alleged business losses following compulsory acquisition of an equitable interest in land
Land Court: State Gas Limited v McDonald & Ors (MER087/25); McDonald & Ors v State Gas Limited (MER279/25) – led by Sandy Thompson KC – acting for pastoralists in respect of a land access and compensation dispute with a gas company
Land Court: Clark v Sunshine Coast Regional Council [2025] QLC 32 – led by Jonathan Horton KC – acting for the respondent Council in proceedings concerning compensation for compulsory resumption of a prestige lifestyle property
Land Court: Cost Pty Ltd & Ors v Valuer-General [2025] QLC 2 – unled – acting for the Valuer-General in an appeal against valuations of commercial land
Supreme Court: David Hambleton & Anor v Sharon Powe (BS8123/23) – unled – acting for the respondent in proceedings seeking removal of a caveat over land, relating to alleged equitable interests therein
Land Court: Elmes v South Endeavour Pty Ltd & Anor (MRA351-22) – unled – acting for the applicant in relation to Land Court proceedings seeking a mining lease and environmental authority for gold mining
Magistrates Court: JCMB Pty Ltd v Proctor and Wilson & Anor (50164/23) – unled – acting for plaintiff company in relation to dispute relating to maintenance and access of an easement used by adjacent landowners
QCAT: Western Downs Green Power Hub Pty Ltd v Valuer-General, Department of Natural Resources and Mines, Manufacturing and Regional and Rural Development [2025] QCAT 463 – led by Mitchel Batty KC – acting for Valuer-General in external review concerning the categorisation of land used for a large-scale solar farm and battery installation under land valuation legislation
QCAT: Body Corporate for Flagstone Village CTS 33183 v Valuer-General, Department of Resources [2025] QCAT 348 – unled – acting for the Valuer-General in relation to an external review of a decision concerning the availability of site deductions for land valuation purposes
Public law
Supreme Court: R v Van Eps [2025] QSCPR 4 – led by Jonathan Horton KC – judicial recusal application for alleged apprehended bias, relating to the conduct of criminal proceedings
Supreme Court: Clark v Sunshine Coast Regional Council (BS1742/24; AQL430-24) – led by Jonathan Horton KC – acting for the respondent in Supreme Court judicial review proceedings concerning a decision to compulsorily acquire land
Supreme Court: Nagana Yarrbayn Wangan and Jagalingou Cultural Custodians Ltd v Chief Executive, Department of Environment and Science – [2025] QSC 132 – led by Jonathan Horton KC – acting for the respondent in Supreme Court judicial review proceedings in relation to alleged environmental impacts of a coal mine
Supreme Court: Ganbros Pty Ltd & Ors v Commissioner for Liquor and Gaming & Anor (BS6515/24) – unled – acting for the Commissioner for Liquor and Gaming in Supreme Court judicial review proceedings relating to liquor licensing decision
Supreme Court: Abood v State of Queensland [2024] QSC 257 – unled – acting for the State in relation to civil claims concerned with the exercise of public powers and made against the Queensland Police Service
QCAT Appeal division: Saunders v State of Queensland (Department of Housing) (QCAT APL170-22) – [2024] QCATA 81 – unled – acting for the appellant in an appeal concerning government records under the Information Privacy Act 2009 (Qld)
Employment
District Court: AIB Pty Ltd v Thomas (D26/2021) – unled – acting for the plaintiff employer in relation to proceedings alleging breach of confidential information and related contractual obligations
Industrial Commission: Bale v Workers’ Compensation Regulator (B/2024/27) – [2024] QIRC 235 – unled – acting for applicant seeking leave to re-commence workers’ compensation proceedings
Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia: Rye v Dignified Contracting Pty Ltd – unled – acting for respondent employer in proceedings alleging breaches of protections in the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth)
Fair Work Commission: Laurence v NGI Holdings Pty Ltd [2023] FWC 2425 – unled – acting for the applicant in Fair Work Commission proceedings concerning alleged unfair dismissal and jurisdictional objection thereto
Native title
Federal Court of Australia: Quandamooka Coast Claim v State of Queensland & Redland City Council & Ors (QUD126/2017; QUD91-92/2022) – led by Jonathan Horton KC, with Tim Stork – acting for the Redland City Council in Federal Court native title proceedings in relation to claimant and non-claimant applications for a determination of native title (and alleged extinguishment thereof)
Federal Court of Australia: Georgina Pastoral Pty Ltd & Anor v State of Queensland & Ors (QUD201-203/2022) – led by Jonathan Horton KC – acting for applicant pastoral companies in non-claimant native title determination application proceedings
Federal Court of Australia: Mamu Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC v State of Queensland & Ors (QUD196/2025) – led by Jonathan Horton KC – acting for the respondent State in relation to proceedings seeking declaratory and injunctive relief relating to the dedication of a national park under the Nature Conservation Act 1992 (Qld)
Federal Court of Australia: Yasmin Green & Ors on behalf of the Woppaburra People # 2 v State Minister for the State of Queensland & Livingstone Shire Council – unled – acting for the respondent Council in native title determination proceedings alleging disregarding of prior extinguishment
Succession
Supreme Court: McKay as Executor of the Estate of Cooke v Queensland Ballet Company & Ors (QS5209/25) – led by Jonathan Horton KC – acting for a dance company in relation to a challenge to an executor’s proposed distribution of funds in accordance with a Will
District Court: Campbell & Anor v Campbell (BD3641/24) – unled – acting for The Public Trustee in an application concerning the sanction of a compromise of a family provision application
Appearing in numerous mediations relating to family provision applications and other estate-related disputes
Liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards Legislation