Robert is a dispute resolution lawyer specialising in competition, international trade and anti-corruption law.
Robert is a dispute resolution lawyer specialising in competition, international trade and anti-corruption law. He has advised many national and international clients, including individuals, public and private companies in the banking and securities, aviation, construction, power and energy industries and sovereign governments on all aspects of commercial crime regulation, investigations and prosecutions. His work has a particular focus on commercial crime and fraud, anti-corruption and bribery investigations and prosecutions, sanctions, money laundering, extradition and domestic and international taxation related disputes in Australia and overseas.
Robert has published texts (in Australia, the United Kingdom, the United States and Europe) on Australia’s anti-bribery, compliance and sanctions regimes and on managing risks in international trade. He was the Co-Chair of the International Bar Association’s Anti-Corruption Committee (ACC) for 2015 and 2016 and is an Advisory Board Member of the ACC for 2021 and 2022. He appears regularly across the Australia media as a specialist and expert on bribery and corruption issues.
Robert was recognised in the 2018, 2020 and 2021. Who's Who Legal: Thought leaders – Investigations and is a 2019 Who's Who Legal Investigations leading individual, the only person in Australia to receive these accolades.
Undertaking pro-bono work for the Afghanistan Independent Bar Association (AIBA) (2016-2021), assisting to embed the Anti-Corruption Guidelines for the Afghanistan legal profession, to assist in encouraging transparency and integrity in the legal system and monitoring progress.
Advising GEAT (a Northern Territory Government appointed Statutory Manager and subsequently, the new Trustees) on extensive claims of fraud and breach of trust by former trustees and the Trust’s public officer, and conducting proceedings against the Trust’s former accountants’ auditors and lawyers for recovery of substantial losses.
Acted for former employees of AWB Ltd before the Cole Royal Commission investigating the legality of AWB’s wheat sales and the payment of monies for trucking and other fees under the United Nations Oil-for-Food Program and the subsequent ASIC and AFP Taskforce.
Acted in Victorian Supreme Court proceedings for Sheahan Lock Partners in relation to whether funds held by liquidators were the proceeds of crime and subject to restraint and forfeiture to the Commonwealth of Australia under the POCA over contested claims by third party creditors including a US Trustee in Bankruptcy and an Australian trading bank.
Advising international and Australian companies on Australia’s sanctions regime and individuals on Australia’s extradition regime.
Conducted fraud and corruption investigations in the construction and energy sectors across the Asia Pacific Region, the Middle East, North and South America and South East Asia.
Advised individual directors and officers on their potential liability in relation to internal and external investigations where bribery and corruption issues arise.
Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, a range of democratic nations including Australia, have been quick to impose sanctions on Russia, its president and his assumed associates.
Anti-bribery laws in Australia are divided between Commonwealth laws applying both within and to some extent outside Australia, and State and Territory laws applying within each State and Territory.
Sergei Magnitsky was a Russian tax accountant. In 2008, while working with Bill Browder and his Hermitage Capital investment fund, he accused Russian tax officials and Russian law enforcement of a...