Darien Nagle
Darien Nagle
About
Darien was called to the Bar in 2007 and has been a member of HB Higgins Chambers since then.
Darien has extensive experience in public sector disciplinary appeals, disciplinary cases relating to the Police Act 1990 (NSW), and litigation involving misconduct generally. Darien has acted for persons of interest in coronial proceedings, ICAC investigations, judicial officers and senior police officers regarding allegations of misconduct. He was counsel for a major superannuation fund in the Financial Services Royal Commission of 2018 and also for a person of interest in the Heydon Trade Union Royal Commission in 2014.
During his time at the Bar, Darien has appeared in numerous administrative law matters in the Supreme Court, the Administrative Appeals Tribunal, the Federal Court, and specialist jurisdictions including private arbitrations regarding health professionals.
In addition to the areas of employment and administrative law, Darien has appeared in numerous matters under the Work Health Safety Act 2011 (NSW) and its predecessor. Darien prosecutes and defends regulatory criminal matters, including for Safe Work, the Department of Customer Service, Fair Trading, and the Building Commission.
Below are a number of the selected cases that Darien has been involved in over the years.
Areas of Practice
Administrative Law
Commercial Law
Contracts
Coronial Inquests & Commissions of Injury
Criminal Law
Disciplinary Proceedings
Equity
Industrial/Employment Law
Work Health and Safety Law
Admissions
Lawyer - 2005
Barrister - 2007
Qualifications
Bachelor of Commerce
Bachelor of Laws
Employment and Industrial Law
Hall v Tweed Shire Council [2026] NSWIRComm 1069
Corrective Services NSW v Mauganui Isaako[2025] NSWIC 14
Isaako v Industrial Relations Secretary in respect of the Department of Communities and Justice (Corrective Services NSW)[2025] NSWIRComm 1076
Jaggi v Burwood Council [2025] NSWIRComm 1025
Jaggi v City of Parramatta Council No 2 [2024] NSWIRComm 1017
Jaggi v City of Parramatta Council [2023] NSWIRComm 1112
Walsh v Commissioner of Police [2023] NSWIRComm 1090
Fordyce v Commissioner of Police, NSW Police Force [2023] NSWIRComm 1077
Gough v Commissioner of Police; Rigelsford v Commissioner of Police [2022] NSWIRComm 1098
Holland v Industrial Relations Secretary on behalf of the Department of Communities and Justice [2022] NSWIRComm 1106
Doyle v Taronga Conservation Society Australia [2021] NSWIRComm 1005
Johnson v NSW Environment Protection Authority [2020] NSWIRComm 1000
Stefan Elias v Commissioner of Police [2019] NSWIRComm 1026
Harakh v Industrial Relations Secretary (Corrective Services NSW) [2017] NSWIRComm 1016
Commissioner of Police v Morris [2017] NSWIRComm 1010
Work Health & Safety
SafeWork NSW v Goulburn Flight Training Centre Pty Ltd; SafeWork NSW v Ferrara [2026] NSWDC 99
SafeWork NSW v Goulburn Flight Training Centre Pty Ltd; SafeWork NSW v Ferrara [2026] NSWDC 59
SafeWork NSW v Matthew McCourt [2025] NSWDC 491
SafeWork NSW v Form Group NSW Pty Ltd [2024] NSWDC 562
Western Sydney Local Health District v SafeWork NSW [2024] NSWCCA 153
SafeWork NSW v Page [2024] NSWDC 133
SafeWork NSW v Aland B & W Pty Ltd [2024] NSWDC 33
SafeWork NSW v Meoushy [2023] NSWDC 498
Young Mining Company Pty Ltd v NSW Resources Regulator [2023] NSWDC 430
Andrew John McColm v Tritton Resources Pty Ltd [2023] NSWDC 270
Orr v Hunter Quarries Pty Ltd (No 2) [2022] NSWCCA 138
Orr v Hunter Quarries Pty Ltd [2022] NSWCCA 39
SafeWork NSW v Mercon Group Pty Ltd [2021] NSWDC 378
Orr v Hunter Quarries Pty Limited [2019] NSWDC 634
Morris McMahon & Co Pty Limited v SafeWork NSW [2019] NSWCCA 36
SafeWork NSW v Morris, McMahon & Co Pty Limited [2017] NSWDC 349
Workcover Authority of New South Wales v JML Tree Services Pty Ltd [2015] NSWDC 253
Morris McMahon & Co Pty Limited v SafeWork NSW [2019] NSWCCA 36
Inspector Shepherd v Desiya Pty Ltd [2013] NSWIRComm 9
Inspector Regan v Southern Colliery Maintenance Pty Ltd (No 4) [2012] NSWIRComm 99
Inspector Morrison v Chevalley [2012] NSWIRComm 11
PSA o-b Glover v Livestock Health and Pest Authorities Division of the NSW Government Service. [2010] NSWIRComm 1003
Administrative Law
Farrell v Commissioner of Police, NSW Police Force [2025] NSWCATAD 334
Secretary, Department of Customer Service v Bob Building Services Pty Ltd [2025] NSWCATAP 48
Eldridge v Commissioner for Fair Trading [2023] NSWCATOD 32
Davis v NSW Minister for Health [2023] NSWCATAP 211
Eldridge v Commissioner for Fair Trading [2022] NSWCATOD 132
Freeman v Sydney Local Health District [2021] NSWSC 423
Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Cornerstone Investment Aust Pty Ltd [2016] FCA 445
Commercial Law
Banerjee (Liquidator), in the matter of Eastside Formwork Pty Ltd (in liq) v Stojic (No 2) [2025] FCA 427
In the matter of Rynever Pty Ltd [2024] NSWSC 156
Mastronardo v Mastronardo [2024] NSWSC 63
In the matter of ACN 104 635 369 Pty Ltd [2020] NSWSC 242
In the matter of Bytecan Pty Limited (in liquidation) [2019] NSWSC 1910
Sydney Constructions & Developments Pty Ltd v Reynolds Private Wealth Pty Ltd [2016]NSWSC 1104
Calwell-Smith v Director-General Department of Finance and Services [2012]NSWSC 413
Inquests
Inquest into the death of Alfonso Ceniccola (2021/00261563)[2025] NSWCorC 13
Inquest into the death of Phillip Walton (2023/00090739)[2026] NSWCorC 29
Inquest into the death of Krista Kach - Decision (2023/00294543)[2026] NSWCorC 12
Inquest into the deaths of Lynette Thompson and Alan Fletcher (2020/332599) [2025] NSWCorC 103
Inquest into the death of Simone Strobel (2005/373850)[2025] NSWCorC 91
Inquest into the death of Harri Tapani Jokinen (2022/2500)[2025] NSWCorC 43
Inquest into the death of Kevin Edwards (2022/163555)[2024] NSWCorC 57
Inquest into the death of Mohamed Warwar (2021/302441) [2024] NSWCorC 31
Inquest into the death of Todd McKenzie (2019/00239447)[2024] NSWCorC 20
Inquest into death of William Epere (2019/10495) [2022] NSWCorC 90
Inquest into the death of Todd McKenzie (2019/239447) [2022] NSWCorC 86
Inquest into the death of Tateolena Tauaifaga (2015/7720) [2022] NSWCorC 28
Inquest into the death of Nick Newman (2018/28682) [2022] NSWCorC 1
Inquest into the death of Jack Kokaua (2018/54392) [2021] NSWCorC 27
Inquest into the death of Sony William Tran-Bui 2013/354840) [2018] NSWCorC 59
Royal Commissions and Inquiries
Special Commission of Inquiry into LGBTIQ hate crimes: Appeared for Detective Inspector John Lehmann, Ex Head of Unsolved Homicide
Royal Commission into Misconduct in the Banking, Superannuation and Financial Services Industry: Appeared for TWU Super
Operation Mantus (2023): Appearing for Police Association
NSW Public Officials and Members of Parliament - Allegations Concerning Soliciting, Receiving and Concealing Payments (Operation Spicer) (2016): Represented Mr Grugeon AM, who was found not corrupt
Education
Trades College Australia Pty Ltd and Australian Skills Quality Authority (Practice and procedure) [2025] ARTA 2561
Access Training Institute Pty Ltd and Australian Skills Quality Authority; Kirana Training Pty Ltd and Australian Skills Quality Authority [2020] AATA 2470
Trades College Australia Pty Ltd and Australian Skills Quality Authority [2020] AATA 812
Construction Industry Training Australia Pty Ltd and Australian Skills Quality Authority [2019] AATA 2219
Family
Sfakianakis & Sfakianakis [2019] FamCAFC 54
Sfakianakis & Sfakianakis [2018] FamCAFC 185
Sfakianakis & Sfakianakis [2017] FamCA 1103
Land and Environment Court
Warringah Council v Bonanno [2012] NSWLEC 265
Civil Procedure
Murrells v Johns Lying Group (ACT) Pty Ltd [2025] ACTSC 37
T: +61 2 8998 8390
F: +61 2 8998 8353
E: nagle@hbhiggins.com.au
