Disputes

We act for clients in major commercial disputes, including shareholder disputes, contractual disputes, breach of confidence, corporate collapses and insolvencies, product liability, and other legal and equitable claims.

We have extensive experience acting for companies and individuals in regulatory investigations and enforcement actions, including investigations and proceedings brought by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), the Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC), the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner, ICAC and the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions. We also assist other parties such as witnesses and immunity applicants in regulatory and enforcement matters, and represent regulators including ASIC and the ACCC.

We combine our dispute resolution experience with our competition and consumer law expertise to provide expert representation in competition and consumer litigation, including regulatory enforcement matters, regulatory engagement, immunity applications, private actions under the Competition and Consumer Act, and pre-litigation advice and strategy.

We regularly represent clients in Corporations Act matters, including ’ duties, corporate collapses and insolvencies, oppression actions and regulatory and criminal investigations.

We act for class action claimants, defendants and litigation funders in a broad range of class actions and other funded matters, including securities actions, mass torts, insurance matters and franchisee actions.  

We operate wholly independently, domestically and internationally, and are ready to assist law firms that require assistance in our operating jurisdictions with any potential conflicts of interest or where there is a need to refer clients to independent advisers.

If you refer a client to us arising from a commercial or ethical conflict, we will provide highly competent, practical and commercial representation and advice. If we work with one of your clients on a conflict referral, we will respect your client relationship during and after the completion of the matter. We are content to enter into direct client engagements or agency arrangements depending on the particular circumstances.

We are experienced and adaptable and know how to deal with senior executives and business people who may be in unfamiliar territory when working with a new law firm. We can also work with you to provide specialist advice on discrete parts or particular aspects of matters or issues and regularly work as co-counsel with other specialist firms and large full-service firms who may have a need for a particular skill.

Collaboration examples include:

• providing independent advice and representation to boards and directors
• handling litigation, including preparing pleadings and advocacy
• advising in competition and consumer law matters and in representative actions
• assisting in dealing with opt-outs in class action matters and in providing independent advice where potential for conflicts of interest may arise
• responding to s155 Notices issued by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) including advising and representing individuals
• acting and advising in relation to Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC) enforcement matters
• assisting in executing search and seizure orders as independent lawyers
• assisting in dealing with regulatory investigations (including immunity and leniency applications), ACCC prosecutions, ICAC reviews, ASIC investigations and similar, including acting for individuals.

We have worked with many Australian, New Zealand, UK, Asian, Middle Eastern, North American and European law firms of different types and sizes on a broad range of matters. The lawyers who have worked with us are happy to provide references attesting to their experience.