Peter Bartlett

MinterEllison

“Suddenly it dawned on me that we had had this extraordinary comprehensive win and I just literally burst into tears."

Peter Bartlett is one of the most experienced media lawyers in Australia. He has acted for the media against defamation writs, demands to reveal sources and suppression orders. Bartlett has been involved in some of the most controversial stories published in the past 50 years. He is a mighty advocate for the public’s right to know and free speech.

Career Timeline

1971: Bartlett graduates from Monash University with law degrees.

1972: Completes articles at Gillott Moir & Winneke. 

1973: He is admitted to practice as a solicitor.

1974: Bartlett becomes a partner in Gillott Moir & Winneke which has acted for The Age since 1863.

1974-2024: Bartlett acts on some of the biggest legal cases in Australia and represents journalists in high-profile defamation cases and applications to disclose sources and produce material pursuant to search warrants.

1987: He leads negotiations on behalf of Gillotts to create MinterEllison with two other law firms. MinterEllison now is the largest law firm in Australasia with offices in New Zealand, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Beijing, Mongolia and London. He chairs the firm between 2003-2006. 

2001: Bartlett joins the International Bar Association later holding numerous leadership positions including chairing several divisions. 

2007 – 2024: Bartlett is honoured in the Asia Pacific Legal 500 – Media and Entertainment category, including in 2022 ranking as a 'Hall of Fame' recipient. Chambers Global: Ranked as 'Star Individual' in Technology, Media, Telecoms in Australia (TMT).

2018: Bartlett commences acting for Fairfax Media/Nine Publishing, Nick McKenzie, Chris Masters and David Wroe against Ben Roberts-Smith in the ‘defamation trial of the century’.

2023: Federal Court judge Justice Anthony Besanko dismisses Ben Roberts-Smith’s defamation case, finding that the reporters proved that he had murdered unarmed civilians in Afghanistan.