Atanaan has over a decade of experience in litigation and class actions, he is dedicated to delivering strategic and results-driven advice to achieve the best possible outcomes for clients.
A skilled litigator, Atanaan thrives in the adversarial and high-pressure environment of ‘bet the company’ litigation, consistently demonstrating a focused and strategic approach to complex legal challenges.
Who I work with and what I do
Atanaan has extensive experience managing complex, high-stakes litigation across Federal and State jurisdictions and regularly represents clients in disputes involving governments, major financial institutions and multinational corporations.
Atanaan’s recent experience includes a successful outcome following the trial in the Ruby Princess Class Action before the Federal Court of Australia as well as successes in two significant matters before the High Court of Australia, addressing key legal issues such as the enforceability of class action waiver clauses and the applicability of a “good consideration” defence in restitutionary claims.
Atanaan focuses primarily on consumer and competition class actions, with additional experience in securities, financial products, and human rights class actions. He is also actively involved in emerging legal challenges related to data breaches and artificial intelligence. In 2023, he was engaged by an AI safety interest group to contribute submissions to the Department of Industry, Science and Resources’ Inquiry into Supporting Responsible AI.
What I studied
Atanaan holds a Bachelor of Laws and a Bachelor of Science (Psychology) from the University of Wollongong as well as a Master of Laws from the Australian National University.
What I like to do
Outside of work, Atanaan enjoys spending time with his young family and playing tennis, golf, and cricket. While he claims little skill in the sport, he is an avid football (soccer) fan.
Legal Publications
- The Issue of Proving Causation of AI Negligence (2023) 17(7) CL 86
- The Ruby Princess – Karpik v Carnival plc – the Unfairness of Class Action Waiver Clauses (2021) 16(10) CL 152
