David Colovic

Expertise and Practice

With a career spanning over 35 years, David is a prominent Australian practitioner in the areas of insolvency and commercial litigation. He has figured in many significant Australian insolvency administrations.

Acting for major financial institutions, insolvency practitioners, government instrumentalities, litigation funders, corporates and private companies, David is recognised for his technical excellence, commercial acumen and unflinching determination to secure outstanding outcomes for clients involved in disputes. Independent and peer rating publications have consistently rated David as pre-eminent in his field.

David has strong connections throughout Australia and regularly litigates across the country.

David is currently the President of the Law Society of South Australia. He is a Fellow of ARITA and the immediate past Chair of the South Australia/Northern Territory Division Committee of ARITA. David’s board experience includes the Real Estate Institute of South Australia and the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia. He has been a long-term member of the Saint Peter’s College Council of Governors, and is Chair of the Football Federation South Australia Disciplinary Tribunal.

David has a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Melbourne and a Bachelor of Economics from the University of Adelaide. He is admitted in the Supreme Court of South Australia and the Federal Court of Australia.

Project Highlights

Western Desert Resources Liquidation

Represented the liquidators of Western Desert Resources, an iron ore mining operation in the Northern Territory that collapsed with creditors in the order of AU$200 million and subsequent liquidator’s avoidance actions including preference claims exceeding $100 million.

Qattro Built Liquidation

Acted for the liquidators of collapsed large-scale South Australian residential builder Qattro Built, including pursuing substantial claims for voidable transactions.

G.C. Growden Mortgage Fund

Represented the mortgage financier and mortgagees in the collapse of G.C. Growden, South Australia’s largest private mortgage financier.

Noelex Yachts Liquidation

Represented the liquidators of Noelex Yachts (KordaMentha) and led associated proceedings, including the first judicially determined insolvent trading claim in Australia following the 1993 Harmer amendments.

Gloria Marshall Liquidation

Represented the liquidator (PriceWaterhouseCoopers) of the Australian arm of the global Gloria Marshall international weight loss chain.

NSL Collapse

Represented all 14 Australian National Soccer League Clubs in matters relating to the break-up of the former National Soccer League and leading to the creation of the A-League.

Arafura Pearls Liquidation

Represented the liquidators (KordaMentha) of ASX listed Arafura Pearls Holdings, the second largest pearl farming operation in the southern hemisphere, with creditors in the order of $40 million. Orders for the realisation of assets co-mingled between Management Investment Scheme growers were obtained in the Federal Court of Australia, along with a successful application for a complex fee approval.

Warren Anderson Group Receivership

Represented the receivers (KordaMentha) of Owston Nominees (No.2) over 10 years in relation to the high profile Warren Anderson entities, in substantial proceedings in various courts and tribunals including the Family Court of Australia (NSW) and the Supreme Courts of New South Wales and Western Australia. The proceedings related variously to the seizure and sale of significant assets in the nature of antiques and collectables of international note and the National Trust listed estate known as “Fernhill”.

Candetti Constructions Liquidation

Represented the liquidators of Candetti Constructions, a large failed South Australian commercial builder with creditors of approximately $30 million, including complex proceedings against the State of South Australia for a $25 million claim relating to the construction of the SA State Aquatic Centre.

Perpetual Trustees Australia Limited v Barker

Acted for Perpetual Trustees in successful proceedings of importance to financiers relating to the relationship between the Consumer Credit Code and the Law of Property Act (SA) and the meaning of the phrase “enforcement expenses” both at Full Court and High Court level.

Bedford Industries Administration

Represented the Court appointed Special Purpose Administrators (KPMG) during the Administration phase of Bedford’s insolvency.

Western Hospital

Acted for the ex-Chairman in matters relating to claims against the Director by the Administrator.

Fox Creek Wines Administration

Acted in relation to claims against the Directors by secured and other creditors.