Dicky Abraham founded Spurling Legal with a clear purpose: to make high-quality legal representation more accessible for SMEs and professionals caught in complex disputes.
The Commercial Problem
Too often, clients with strong cases are forced into early settlements — not because their claims lack merit, but because the traditional cost of litigation makes pursuing them commercially unviable. Even disputes valued at $100,000 can become uneconomical under conventional billing models.
Breaking the Cycle
Spurling Legal is designed to break that cycle.
With a lean, modern structure, the firm delivers top-tier advocacy without unnecessary overhead. Its innovative Spurling Model of Costs introduces genuine cost certainty by capping professional fees at each stage of a matter. While disbursements remain separate, this approach offers far greater predictability than standard hourly billing.
In complex disputes, experienced barristers are briefed early to provide strategic insight from the outset — ensuring clients receive focused, high-impact advocacy, not layered staffing or inflated costs.
Leadership and Legal Expertise
The firm is led by Dicky, an Accredited Specialist in Commercial Litigation (Vic), recognised for his strategic, pragmatic, and commercially minded approach. Since his admission in 2017, Dicky has practised almost exclusively in commercial disputes, including contractual claims, insolvency and regulatory matters, shareholder oppression, defamation, and insurance litigation. His practice spans state and federal jurisdictions across Victoria, New South Wales, and Western Australia.
Prior to founding Spurling Legal, Dicky held senior litigation roles across both boutique and national firms. In those roles, he played a pivotal part in managing complex matters through to trial and supporting the leadership of high-stakes disputes. His approach is calm, focused, and outcomes-driven.
Contribution to the Profession
Beyond his client work, Dicky contributes to the profession through his roles on the Accredited Specialisation Committee and the Courts Practice Committee of the Law Institute of Victoria.
Outside the Firm
Outside the firm, Dicky values time with his family and is a lifelong sports enthusiast — playing cricket in summer and snowboarding in winter.
Notable Matters
Shareholder
Disputes
Pacific Dairies Ltd v Orican Pty Ltd & Ors [2019] VSC 647 – Acted in separate proceedings for both plaintiff and defendant parties in Supreme Court litigation involving shareholder governance and director conduct.
Joint v Program IT Pty Ltd & Ors [2020] VSC 867 & [2020] VSC 486 – Represented the plaintiff in a highly contested oppression proceeding. Successfully resisted an attempt by the defendants to derail the claim through voluntary administration.
Restructuring &
Insolvency
Milfoil v Commonwealth Bank of Australia Ltd [2020] VSCA 305 – Instructing solicitor in an appeal concerning alleged inconsistent dealing with trust funds by a bank during receivership proceedings, heard before the Victorian Court of Appeal and led by Michael Osborne QC (now Justice Osborne).
Golda Elian Construction Pty Ltd – Successfully applied under s 482 of the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) to set aside the winding-up order.
Contractual
Disputes
Tymstock Pty Ltd v Patrick [2019] VCC 1092 – Acted for the defendant in a breach of contract claim. Although the client was unsuccessful, the claim’s quantum was significantly reduced.
GHM Nominees v Wallace Jackson Pty Ltd [2021] VCC 733 & [2022] VSCA 230 – Instructing solicitor in both the County Court proceeding and Court of Appeal proceeding. Although ultimately unsuccessful, the matter involved complex limitation and demand debt issues and was led by Gavan Griffith KC.
Employment &
Commercial Disputes
Allan Cormack v Coachiva International Education Group Pty Ltd & Anor MLG3106/2021 – Acted for the employer in a dispute brought by a former employee alleging misrepresentation and breach of contract. The matter was resolved on the first day of trial, with the client achieving a favourable outcome through strategic case management and targeted negotiation.
Defamation
Duckett v Mitchell [2021] VCC 1108 – Represented the plaintiff in a County Court defamation case, successfully obtaining $45,000 in damages.
Estate Litigation
Flavel v Flavel [2020] VSC 19 – Represented the executors in a Part IV claim during an 11-day Supreme Court trial. The matter proceeded to appeal, ultimately resolving by agreement on terms favourable to the client.
Regulatory &
Professional Discipline
Cross and Business Licensing Authority [2021] AATA 1101 – Secured reinstatement of a real estate licence after a four-day AAT hearing.
Victorian Legal Services Commissioner v Alan Sandbach [2022] VCAT 1477 – Acted pro bono for a former barrister facing disciplinary proceedings.
Sandbach v Victorian Legal Services Commissioner [2024] VSCA 143 – The Court of Appeal granted leave on three grounds but ultimately dismissed the appeal, upholding the original findings of professional misconduct for alleging fraud without reasonable grounds and without client instructions.
I.J.R. Homes Pty Ltd v Chief Dispute Resolution Officer, Domestic Building Dispute Resolution Victoria (Building and Property) [2021] VCAT 972 – Successfully acted for the applicant in a judicial review proceeding before VCAT, challenging the procedural fairness of a certificate issued by DBDRV. The tribunal found in our client’s favour, addressing key issues around statutory interpretation and decision-making in the domestic building dispute process.
Criminal & Investigations
Leigh Milner (pseudonym) v The Queen [2020] VSCA 207; [2021] HCASL 23 – Conducted appellate proceedings in the Court of Appeal and High Court in a high-profile Commonwealth prosecution.
Insurance Litigation
QBE Insurance Australia v The Grape House Group Pty Ltd [2022] FCA 1527 – Acted for the insured in a Federal Court dispute over entitlement to settlement proceeds. Successfully defended a portion of the insurer’s claim.