White collar crime & investigation

Our experience

For more than 40 years, Arnold Bloch Leibler has advised corporations and prominent business leaders in almost all of Australia’s largest and most high-profile corporate regulatory investigations and prosecutions.

Regulators are exercising their powers more frequently and vigorously. They have become more active in both investigations and enforcement. Our team has a thorough knowledge of the regulatory landscape, both in Australia and overseas, drawing on expertise developed over our long history of defending clients in white collar crime matters. We have extensive experience dealing with investigations and associated proceedings brought by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission, Australian Competition and Consumer Commission and the Australian Taxation Office, in dealing with supporting agencies such as the Australian Federal Police, and in assisting clients respond to Royal Commissions and other Inquiries.

We have an unparalleled reputation for formulating bespoke strategies to expertly manage the risks arising from an investigation and any prosecution, to defend and protect our clients’ rights and, where possible, to resolve matters efficiently. We also offer media management expertise to manage adverse publicity following a regulator's actions.

ABL is a member of Fraudnet, the world's leading network of law firms specialising in fraud, asset-tracing and recovery, money laundering and cybercrime.

“They are the guys to call on when you need to break the glass in the event of an emergency.”

Client quote, Chambers Asia Pacific

Our work

Most of our work in this area is highly confidential, however matters on the public record include:

Regulatory investigations and proceedings

ASIC investigations: Acted for several former directors and senior executives of Australia’s big four banks in response to ASIC investigations prompted in the fall out from the Financial Services Royal Commission.
Multiple agency, international investigation: Acted for a prominent businessman and company director in relation to ASIC and ATO investigations in Australia, and multi-agency investigations in foreign jurisdictions. Despite a decade of investigation, no action was ever taken by the regulator.
Insider trading investigation into an Australian mining company: Acted for the former managing director of a Chinese mining conglomerate in relation to an ASIC investigation into insider trading by executives.
ACCC investigation, public and Senate Inquiry: Acted for a multinational food production company in a high profile investigation by the ACCC, as well as a public inquiry and a related Senate committee inquiry.
Defence of ACCC proceedings in respect of anti-competitive conduct: Acted for an Australian businessman and company director in Federal Court proceedings commenced by the ACCC alleging anti-competitive arrangements.
APRA disqualification proceedings: Acted for the former Managing Director of leading wealth manager, IOOF Ltd.

Commissions of Inquiry and Corruption Commissions

Banking and Financial Services Royal Commission: Acted for leading industry super funds
Aged Care Royal Commission: Acting for leading aged care providers
Disability Royal Commission: Acting for disability services provider
Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC): Acted for Senator Arthur Sinodinos AO
Trade Union Governance and Corruption Royal Commission: Acted for the former leader of the Australian Labor Party
Oil-For-Food Royal Commission: Acted for the Australian Wheat Board

White collar crime defence and anti-corrupt practices

Defence of ACCC criminal cartel proceedings: Acting for senior personnel of an international bank in proceedings commenced by the ACCC alleging criminal cartel conduct in respect of an initial public offering.
Defence of CDPP proceedings/ASIC investigations for foreign bribery: Acted for boards and senior management of several global construction and engineering firms in respect of foreign bribery investigations and prosecutions, including the former head of a global construction group; the former head of an Australian (now global) engineering firm; and multiple senior managers of an Australian engineering firm
Defence of CDPP proceedings for white collar corporate crime: Acted for the former CFO of Australia’s largest provider of childcare services.
Defence of charges pursued by the Commissioner of Taxation: Acted for the heads of one of Australia’s largest construction and development companies in relation to the committal hearing and trial regarding charges of defrauding the Commissioner of Taxation.
Defence of civil penalty proceedings: Acted in relation to civil penalty proceedings in the Supreme Court of NSW, the NSW Court of Appeal and the High Court of Australia.
Project Wickenby Joint Task Force: Acted in relation to investigations by the joint task force known as Project Wickenby comprising the Australian Tax Office, the Australian Federal Police, the Australian Crimes Commission and ASIC.

White collar crime services

Advising individuals and corporations in relation to:

corporate governance, taxation and securities related crimes, including fraud and insider trading
corruption
criminal cartel conduct
foreign bribery
misappropriation of funds, and
other Corporations Act contraventions.