Dentons secures second major Court victory for Rebel Wilson

Australia-Dentons has successfully defended Australian actor, director and producer Rebel Wilson and her production company, Camp Sugar Productions Pty Ltd in a highly publicised legal battle with the co-producers of her directorial debut, The Deb.

On 23 October 2026, her Honour Justice Peden of the Supreme Court of NSW found that the plaintiffs failed to prove that the losses they alleged justified any substantial award of damages. The Court awarding just $10 in damages and otherwise dismissed their claims, with an order to pay Ms Wilson's costs. In addition to this, the Court ordered that they pay Ms Wilson $359,000 plus interest in respect of her successful cross-claim for unpaid producer's fees.

The proceedings arose from a dispute concerning the production and release of her film, The Deb. The co-producers alleged that Ms Wilson had breached her contractual obligations and caused financial and reputational damage to the Film, all of which were denied by Ms Wilson.

This is the second victory by Dentons on behalf of Ms Wilson. The high-profile defamation proceedings brought against her by the lead actress of The Deb, Charlotte MacInnes, in the Federal Court of Australia were dismissed in July 2026 with an order that Ms MacInnes pay Ms Wilson's costs. Ms MacInnes is appealing the decision before the Full Court of the Federal Court of Australia and is seeking a stay of the costs order.

The Dentons Dispute Resolution legal team was led by Sylvia Alcarraz, Managing Associate; Kathryn Murray, Senior Associate; Kendyl Oakey, Associate; Emily Zhou, Associate and Lara Smith, Solicitor. The team was privileged to have worked with Counsel, Dauid Sibtain SC and Tim Senior of Level 22 Chambers and Conor O'Beirne of List A Barristers.

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