He has previously taught at law schools in Canada, Hong Kong, and Australia as well as practising extensively as a solicitor and barrister. While at the Sydney Bar from 1994 to 2005 he specialized in property, banking, insolvency, and general commercial disputes. He appeared in several leading cases in the High Court of Australia including Reid v Howard (1995) 184 CLR, Garcia v National Australia Bank (1998) 194 CLR 395, Tanwar Enterprises Pty Ltd v Cauchi (2003) 217 CLR 315, and Palgo Holdings Pty Ltd v Gowans (2005) 221 CLR 249.