Matoula

Matoula Makris

Matoula has more than 19 years’ experience as a barrister and solicitor acting in industrial, safety, workers compensation, disciplinary, administrative, wills and estates, royal commissions, coronial inquests, insurance, and building and tenancy matters.  Prior to being called to the independent Bar in 2021, Matoula held various private practice, government and in-house roles most recently as a Partner at national law firm HWL Ebsworth Lawyers in their Workplace Relations and Safety team. She appears in various State and Federal Courts and Tribunals, representing individuals, large corporations, small businesses and not for profits.  In addition to her practice at the independent Bar, Matoula volunteers her time as a member of the Law Society of SA’s Industrial Relations Committee and in board roles.

Admitted

2007 Supreme Court of South Australia
2011 High Court of Australia

Signed Bar Roll

2021 Bar Reader
2022 Signed Bar Roll

Academic Qualifications

2003 Bachelor of Arts (Politics Major), University of Adelaide
2003 Diploma of Languages (Modern Greek), University of Adelaide
2006 Bachelor of Laws (with Honours), University of Adelaide
2006 Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice, Law Society of SA
2014 Master of Laws, University of Melbourne


Areas of Practice

  • Employment Law

    • Civil Enforcement

    • Contract Disputes

    • Discrimination

    • Dust Diseases

    • Employment

    • Industrial Disputes

    • Employment Rights & Obligations

    • Restraint of Trade

    • Superannuation

    • Work, Health & Safety

    • Workers Compensation, including Recovery Actions

  • Common Law

    • Professional Negligence

  • Commercial

    • Contractual Disputes

    • Insurance

    • Professional Liability

  • Public and Administrative Law

    • Disciplinary Proceedings

    • Merits Review

    • Privacy/Freedom of Information

  • Alternative Dispute Resolution

    • Mediation

    • Negotiation

  • Inquest and Inquiries

    • Commissions and Other Inquiries

    • Coronial Inquests

  • Appellate

    • Civil Appeals

    • Industrial

    • South Australian Employment Tribunal

Other

  • Member of the SA Bar Association

  • Member of the Law Society of SA

  • Member of the Industrial Relations Committee, Law Society of SA

  • Member of the Australian Labour Law Association

  • Board Member of Autism SA

  • Past Board of the YWCA including as President

Recent and/or Significant Cases

  • Fong and CEO, National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIS) [2026] ARTA 98

  • Peters and National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIS) ARTA 2053 (14 October 2025)

  • Fitzgerald v Return to Work Corporation of South Australia [2023] SAET 60

  • Covino v Return to Work Corporation of South Australia [2022] SAET 136

  • Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability (2021 and 2022) – unled for four witnesses in various public hearings some of whom gave evidence under pseudonyms

  • 9th Sky Pty Ltd v Carlton Plaza Nominees [2021] SASC 92

  • Lim v Flinders University of South Australia (No 2) [2021] FCCA 614

  • Inquest into the death of Sophia Alessia Nisco [2020] Coroner’s Court of South Australia Inquest Number 19/2019 (0263/2017)

  • Marie Boland v S&AD Basheer Nominees Pty Ltd [2019] SAET 246

  • Campbell v Simec Zen Technologies (Power and Energy) Pty Ltd [2018] SAET 175

  • Department of Human Services (Cth) v Fitzpatrick [2018] SASC 180

  • Ellen McNamara v Le Cordon Bleu Australia T/A Le Cordon Bleu Australia [2018] FWC 2705

Seminars, Training Sessions & Articles

  • 2025               Presenter – “Restraint of Trade: here today (possibly) gone tomorrow”, Employment Law Intensive, Law Society of South Australia

  • 2024               Presenter – “The Employment Contract: Rules of Engagement”, Public Sector and In-House Counsel Half Day, Law Society of South Australia

  • 2023            Presenter – “Underpayments, Enforcement and Wage Theft – Much Needed Reform or Much Ado About Nothing?”, Australian Labour Law Association’s 11th biennial conference

  • 2023            Panelist – “Can Poor Governance lead to Criminal Charges?”, National Disability Services

  • 2022               Presenter – “Is it theft to underpay an employee?”, Employment Law Conference, Law Society of South Australia

  • 2022               Presenter – “Case Law Update”, Both Sides of the Fence (Workers Compensation in South Australia)

  • 2022               Presenter – “Penalty Privilege - what it is and how to use it”, Law Society of South Australia

  • 2021               Presenter – “The Independence of Independent Contractors”, Forum, Law Society of South Australia

  • 2021               Presenter – “The Privilege is Mine - or is it?”, Forum, Law Society of South Australia

  • 2021               Contributor – No Jab No Work? What the Law Says about Mandatory Vaccines, Article, Law Society of South Australia

  • 2021               Presenter – “Calling the Shots”, Employment Law Half Day, Law Society of South Australia

  • 2019               Presenter – “Underpayment claims – the contractor / employee distinction”. Employment Law Half Day, Law Society of South Australia