About Anna McRae-Anderson

Experience

Anna’s 18 years of litigation and dispute resolution experience, representing Plaintiffs and Defendants in VCAT, Magistrates’, County, Supreme and Federal Court proceedings, provides her with a vivid insight into the challenges faced by participants in our legal system as well as the many benefits of early mediation in dispute resolution.

Anna brings to her mediations her compassion for those in dispute, specialist skills in negotiation and facilitation, as well as her vast understanding of the law, court processes and strategies. 

Anna is keenly aware of the complexities of our legal system and how protracted litigation can impact both financially and emotionally upon parties, expend the energy and resources of a business, its owners and managers, often distracting them from what is most important (such as getting on with business and their lives).  Anna understands that mediation enables those in dispute to have the most control over the outcome in a cost effective and time efficient way, often resulting in outcomes that are otherwise unable to be achieved.

Pleased to be invited to become a member of the LIV Accredited Specialisation Mediation Law Advisory Committee. Looking forward to contributing in a way that helps shape this area of practice for the years ahead.  A big thank you to those of you who continue to support me in my mediation practice.

Professional Background

Having commenced her legal career in general practice at a boutique firm, Anna later joined Macpherson + Kelley Lawyers in Dandenong in 1999, where she became a Principal in the commercial litigation department from 2008 to 2014. After becoming a Nationally Accredited Mediator in 2013, Anna now practices as Principal Mediator and Lawyer of McRae-Anderson Mediation and is an active member of numerous mediator panels including the Office of the Victorian Small Business Commissioner (VSBC) and the Magistrates’ Court Single List of External Mediators (SLEM).

Anna has participated in many hours of both formal and informal mediation during her career, both pre-litigation and in the course of Court proceedings.  Her extensive dispute resolution experience is invaluable to her role as mediator, enabling her to understand both sides to any dispute as well as the opportunities that can arise through a mediated outcome.

Her areas of practice have included general commercial/business disputes, contract, trade practices and consumer law, property, residential/retail leasing, franchising, intellectual property, corporations law, partnership and shareholders disputes, employment law, local government, water, agriculture, administrative law, professional negligence, defamation, risk management and statutory compliance.

Anna has also represented parties, as well as accepted the appointment of the role of Independent Solicitor from the Court, in numerous injunctive relief proceedings including Anton Pillers (search orders).

Qualifications, Memberships and Panels

• Harvard University - Program on Negotiation, Executive Education, Advanced Mediation Course (2017)
• Law Institute of Victoria Accredited Specialist (Mediation) (2016)
• Panel Mediator, Office of the Franchising Mediation Adviser (OFMA) (2014)
• Magistrates’ Court Single List of External Mediators (SLEM) (2014)
• Accredited Mediator, National Mediator Accreditation System (NMAS) (2013)
• Panel Mediator, Victorian Small Business Commission (VSBC) (2013)
• Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Victoria and High Court of - Australia (1998) (holding a current practising certificate)
• Bachelor of Laws, Latrobe University (1997)
• Bachelor of Legal Studies, Latrobe University (1995)
• Member of Resolution Institute & IAMA
• Member of the Law Institute of Victoria - Litigation Lawyers Section
• Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors
• Member of the Australian Mediation Association