Georgia Davis

Georgia is a Special Counsel in Mills Oakley’s National Charities and Purpose-Driven Institutions team.

With over ten years of experience acting in sensitive legal claims, Georgia has serviced major institutional clients including multibillion dollar religious organisations, federal government agencies, insurers, and not-for-profit clients of many sizes on complex matters such as litigated child abuse matters, highly publicised sexual assault matters, sensitive workplace investigations involving senior personnel, special commissions of inquiry and royal commissions, legislative and government policy reform and similar. Georgia also advises a broad range of Australia’s largest businesses including ASX200 listed companies with navigating modern slavery legislation (and frequently conducts seminars around the country on this topic).

Georgia has also acted for a large number of vulnerable individuals and witnesses at particularly challenging times of their life in delicate and emotionally-charged inquiries and litigation including around sexual assault, childhood abuse, and modern slavery, prioritising a trauma-informed process at all times. She has experience working closely in cooperation with various law enforcement authorities and regulators. Georgia previously worked in life insurance at one of Australia’s largest superannuation funds, and is also mindful of regulatory and commercial pressures faced by in-house Counsel. Her experience in-house, in private practice, and for both plaintiffs and defendants enables her to deliver a broad perspective and understanding of the positions of all parties to a dispute.

Expertise

Georgia’s expertise includes:

  • Civil litigation in courts and tribunals across New South Wales, Queensland and Victoria
  • Alternative Dispute Resolution, including mediation, conciliations and informal settlement conferences
  • Special Commissions of Inquiry, Royal Commissions and other enquiries of a similar nature
  • Class Actions and Group Representative Claims
  • Internal Redress Schemes and claims/dispute management
  • Safeguarding investigations and advice
  • Regulatory frameworks and similar in the child protection, modern slavery, financial, superannuation and industrial relations fields
  • Reputational and commercial risks in highly sensitive matters.

Recent Matters

  • Appearing and advising vulnerable victims and witnesses through a sensitive Special Commission of Inquiry before The Hon. Justice Peter McLellan AM
  • Coordinating with Police and the Department of Prosecutions in an investigation of systemic widespread sexual abuse perpetrated by a senior member of a government organisation
  • Carriage of a significant and sensitive Group Representative Action involving the systemic widespread sexual abuse perpetrated by a senior member of a government organisation
  • Advising and representing institutions, insurers and individuals in responding to and resolving claims arising from allegations of historical sexual abuse, including in the Supreme Courts of Queensland, New South Wales & Victoria (and including managing the involvement of convicted perpetrators as third-party participants)
  • Acting probono for alleged survivors of modern slavery in reporting the perpetrator to federal police, other authorities and seeking compensation
  • Advising a federal government agency on a confidential matter regarding significant systemic change
  • Advising an employment services provider as to substantial incoming government reform with considerable economic implications for the sector
  • Acting for several large purpose driven institutions in highly sensitive, complex workplace investigations including with related preliminary discovery proceedings and defamation claims
  • Advising and supporting several safeguarding teams with the investigation of child abuse complaints against current employees and dealing with related regulatory bodies
  • Advising institutions as to rectifying non-compliance with child employment legislation and liaising with the regulator to manage any potential prosecution risks.