White Collar Crime

Overview

We defend people and companies accused of serious financial wrongdoing: before charges are laid, at interviews and examinations, and at trial. Our advocates appear in court; we brief external counsel only where the matter calls for it.

We do not defend drug offences, assaults or other general crime. Our experience is focused and relevant, and it shows in the advice: financial crime cases turn on vast documentary records, parallel civil and regulatory exposure, and decisions made early, often before an interview, that cannot be unmade later.

We also act in proceedings brought by regulators, including ASIC, the ACCC, APRA and the ATO, and in confiscation and proceeds of crime proceedings.

Our work includes

• advice before charge, at interviews and compulsory examinations;
• defence of fraud, bribery (including foreign bribery), money laundering, false accounting, insider trading and secret commissions charges;
• proceedings brought by ASIC, the ACCC, APRA and the ATO;
• confiscation and proceeds of crime proceedings: restraining orders, forfeiture orders, pecuniary penalty orders and unexplained wealth orders;
• responding to search warrants and compulsory notices, including urgent advice during their execution;
• tax offences, including prosecutions under the Taxation Administration Act and serious ATO investigations;
• criminal cartel conduct and related ACCC investigations;
• professional disciplinary matters: AHPRA, the Victorian Legal Services Board and Commissioner, and other statutory and professional bodies;
• separate representation of directors and officers, typically funded under D&O policies;
• parallel civil, criminal and regulatory exposure, managed together, not separately.

Separate representation for directors and officers

When a company is sued or investigated, its directors and officers can need separate representation to protect their individual positions, and the firm acting for the company frequently cannot also act for them. We act for the individuals, across regulatory, civil and criminal contexts, typically funded under D&O policies. Separate representation