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Contact a Privacy Lawyer

Sutton Laurence King Lawyers. Melbourne-based, acting Australia-wide in federal jurisdiction. Same-day response for urgent privacy matters.

What to Expect When You Contact Us

The clock is ticking. You may have as little as 12 months to act. If your matter is urgent, tell us immediately.

Urgent and After-Hours Availability

For matters requiring immediate attention, including applications for urgent privacy injunctions, we accept enquiries outside standard business hours. Flag the urgency in your message or call our office directly.

Fixed-Fee Entry Points

Confidential initial assessments are offered at a fixed fee of $770. If a demand letter is the right next step, that is a further $990 for a standard matter. Complex or multi-party matters are quoted before we start. You know the cost before you commit. No obligation to proceed further.

Australia-Wide Representation

The statutory tort for serious invasion of privacy is a Commonwealth cause of action. We act for clients in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, and all other locations across Australia.

Plaintiff and Defendant Representation

We act for individuals bringing claims and for those defending them, including employers, landlords, media organisations, and private investigators. Indicate your position when you make contact.

Confidential Enquiries

All communications with our office are confidential and protected by legal professional privilege. We do not disclose the fact of your enquiry to anyone without your express consent.

Clear, Prompt Communication

We aim to respond to all enquiries within one business day. You will receive a direct response from a solicitor, not a call centre or intake team.

How to Reach Us

Choose the option that fits your situation. If you are not sure, submit a general enquiry and we will direct you.

Legal consultation for urgent injunction services

Urgent Matters: Injunctions and Ongoing Invasions

If you are facing an ongoing invasion of privacy, or if private information is about to be published, flag this clearly in your enquiry or call our office. Urgent injunction applications under Schedule 2 of the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) can be filed at short notice. We will contact you promptly to assess whether interim relief is available. Do not wait. The court must have particular regard to the public interest in publication when considering injunctive relief, and early preparation strengthens your position.

Confidential legal assessment setting

Merit Assessments

A confidential initial assessment ($770 fixed fee) provides a clear, written opinion on whether your situation gives rise to a cause of action under the statutory tort for serious invasion of privacy. The assessment covers both pathways: intrusion upon seclusion (surveillance, tracking, physical intrusion) and misuse of personal information (doxxing, publication of private health, financial, or intimate information). Note that the OAIC provides a free complaint pathway that does not require a lawyer; however, the statutory tort is the stronger avenue for serious invasions, as the OAIC pathway is often slower and lacks the power to award punitive damages. Where your matter also involves damage to reputation, we can advise on the overlap with defamation law through our related practice at defamationlawyer.au.

Court representation for privacy damages claims

Defendant Representation

If you have been served with proceedings, received a pre-action demand, or been notified of an injunction application alleging serious invasion of privacy, contact us without delay. Time limits for responding to court applications are strict and non-compliance carries consequences. We assist defendants in raising statutory defences under Part 2 of Schedule 2, seeking pre-trial determination of exemptions under Part 3 (which can resolve the matter before trial), and resisting injunction applications by leading evidence on the public interest in publication.

Urgent Privacy Injunctions

Urgent Privacy Injunctions

Court orders to restrain ongoing invasions of privacy or prevent imminent publication of private information. Filed at short notice where the circumstances require it.

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Confidential Initial Assessments

Confidential Initial Assessments

A fixed-fee written opinion ($770) on the merits of your claim or defence under the statutory tort, with clear advice on remedies, costs, and next steps.

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Pre-Action Demand Letters

Pre-Action Demand Letters

A formal demand ($990 fixed fee for a standard matter, following your initial assessment) requiring the respondent to cease the invasion, remove published material, or provide undertakings. Often resolves matters without court proceedings.

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Compensation and Damages Claims

Compensation and Damages Claims

Court representation for civil privacy damages, including non-economic loss (capped at approximately $478,550) and exemplary damages in exceptional cases. No proof of financial loss is required.

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Defence and Exemption Applications

Defence and Exemption Applications

Representation for defendants facing claims under the statutory tort. We raise statutory defences at trial and seek pre-trial exemption determinations that can resolve proceedings early.

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Settlement and Negotiation

Settlement and Negotiation

Resolution of privacy disputes by negotiation, including apologies (which under clause 13 do not constitute an admission of fault or liability), undertakings, and agreed damages.

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Common Questions About Contacting Us

We aim to respond to all enquiries within one business day. If your matter is urgent (for example, you need an injunction to prevent the imminent publication of private information, or surveillance is ongoing), indicate this clearly in your message or call our office directly. Urgent matters are prioritised.

A brief description of what has happened, when it occurred, who is responsible, and what outcome you are seeking. If you have evidence (screenshots, photographs, correspondence), mention this but do not attach sensitive material to your initial enquiry form. We will arrange a secure method for document exchange once we have made contact. If you are a defendant, include details of any documents you have been served with and any deadlines for responding.

Yes. We represent both individuals bringing claims under the statutory tort for serious invasion of privacy and those defending them. Defendant clients include employers, landlords, property managers, media organisations, private investigators, corporations, and individuals accused of surveillance or misuse of personal information. If you have been served with proceedings or received a pre-action demand, contact us promptly. Court deadlines for responding are strict.

The initial assessment is offered at a fixed fee of $770 (inclusive of GST). It provides a written opinion on the merits of your potential claim or defence under the statutory tort, the remedies or defences available, and an estimate of likely costs and timeframes. There is no obligation to proceed further after receiving the assessment. You can book through the enquiry form on this page or by calling our office.

Yes. The statutory tort for serious invasion of privacy under Schedule 2 of the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) is a Commonwealth cause of action heard in federal jurisdiction. We act for clients across Australia, including in Sydney, Brisbane, Perth, and Adelaide. Most initial consultations and ongoing communications are conducted by telephone or video conference. Court appearances in other cities are arranged as needed.

All communications with our office are confidential and protected by legal professional privilege from the point of first contact. We do not disclose the fact of your enquiry, your identity, or any information you provide to anyone outside the firm without your express consent.

The clock is ticking. You may have as little as 12 months to act. Limitation periods are strict. You must commence proceedings within one year of becoming aware of the invasion, or three years from the date the invasion occurred, whichever is earlier. The court may grant extensions in limited circumstances, up to a maximum of six years from the date of the invasion. If you are approaching a deadline, contact us immediately. Delay can extinguish your right to bring a claim entirely. Further detail is available on our time limits page.

No. All content on this website is general information only. It is not legal advice and should not be relied upon as such. The statutory tort for serious invasion of privacy commenced on 10 June 2025. The first published decision interpreting its provisions was Kurraba Group v Williams [2025] NSWDC 396, handed down 7 October 2025. The application of the law to your circumstances depends on the specific facts. You should obtain legal advice before acting on any information contained on this site.

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Describe your situation briefly. If your matter is urgent, say so. We aim to respond within one business day.

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