About Ben
Ben Friis-O’Toole is a partner in the firm’s dispute resolution & litigation practice group in Sydney. He acts for individuals and private and public companies in a range of difficult contentious and non-contentious matters, with particular experience in director defence work.
Ben is recognised as a leading dispute resolution and litigation lawyer by Best Lawyers® International and Legal 500 Asia Pacific.
Before joining Arnold Bloch Leibler, Ben was Associate to the Hon. Justice Perram, Federal Court of Australia and a lawyer in the disputes & investigations and restructuring & insolvency teams at Allens, where he spent six months on secondment in the Regulatory Response team at Westpac Banking Corporation. Ben holds a Master of Law (Hons) from the University of Cambridge and a Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Laws (Hons) from the University of Sydney.
Practice focus
Ben’s practice focuses on:
- dispute resolution & litigation
- white collar crime & investigations
- restructuring & insolvency, and
- competition & consumer law.
“Ben is fantastic to work with. He is across the detail and approaches all of his work in a practical and commercial way.”
Experience
Ben has acted for individuals and private and public companies in a wide range of complex matters, including:
- directors of Star Entertainment Group Limited: in proceedings brought by ASIC in the Federal Court relating to directors’ duties
- directors of Star Entertainment Group Limited: in the inquiry into The Star’s suitability to hold a NSW casino licence
- the former CEO of Deutsche Bank AG, Australia: in criminal cartel proceedings brought by the CDPP/ACCC in the Federal Court against ANZ, Citigroup, Deutsche Bank and six individuals
- former non-executive directors of Dick Smith: in proceedings brought by the receivers of Dick Smith in the NSW Supreme Court relating to directors’ duties
- a former director of NUIX: in relation to class actions commenced in the Victorian Supreme Court
- a former director of Babcock & Brown companies: in litigation in the NSW Supreme Court relating to an investment in a US corporation
- various individuals: in examinations conducted by regulators and external administrators
- Honda Australia: in consumer law proceedings brought by the ACCC in the Federal Court
- Arrotex Pharmaceuticals / DBG Group: in proceedings concerning the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme brought in the Federal Court
- the Liquidators of GetSwift Ltd and Get Swift Logistics: in all aspects of the liquidations
- the Administrators of Arrium: in various matters concerning the administration
- a private company: in oppression proceedings
- a global alternative investment adviser: in relation to a contractual dispute concerning debt financing arrangements
- the responsible entity of a listed REIT: in proceedings brought in the NSW Supreme Court relating to member voting rights
- various companies: in creditors and members schemes of arrangement, including the Probiotec, ELMO and Bis Industries schemes
- a US-based individual: in proceedings relating to obtaining evidence on commission, and
- pro bono for various individuals, including alongside the Refugee Advice & Casework Service (RACS).
Ben has also acted for various individuals and companies in a wide range of other matters, including in relation to regulatory and criminal investigations, contractual and other disputes, external administrations and restructurings, M&A transactions, and regulatory approval processes.
'One to Watch' for Litigation
Awards & recognition
Ben is recognised as a leading lawyer by international guides to lawyers and law firms, including:
- Best Lawyers® International: Litigation
- Legal 500 Asia Pacific: Dispute Resolution: Litigation
