Alexander (Alex) Wolff

Alex is a highly experienced dispute resolution practitioner who acts for high net worth individuals and directors and officers of listed and private companies in relation to a number of matters involving risk, investigations, contraventions of the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth), and in particular white collar and financial crimes. He advises clients on complex and sensitive matters requiring strategic negotiation, risk management and resolution.

Alex also advises on corporate and regulatory matters, and commercial disputes arising in contract, insolvency and corporate restructure, competition and consumer law claims, insurance, product liability and property law. Alex conducts disputes in state and federal superior and appellate courts, international and domestic arbitrations, and has experience with specialist tribunals, special references and alternative dispute resolution.

• Representing a founder and a former executive director of a listed Australian telecommunications company in relation to the disposal of AUD 26 million worth of shares (understood to be the highest value insider trading prosecution in Australian corporate history).

• Acting for the former CEO of a casino and resorts operator in relation to two Royal Commissions, an ASIC investigation into possible breaches of directors’ duties under ss 180, 182 and 183 of the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth), and a class action in the Federal Court of Australia.

• Acting for the former CEO of an ASX-listed company in relation to an investigation by the Independent Broad Based Anti-Corruption Commission investigation into alleged serious corruption at the Victorian Department of Education and Training.

• Acting for a mining executive in relation to an ASIC investigation into suspected contraventions of ss 180–2, 184, 208, 344 and 596(1)(b) of the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth). The investigation concerns related party transactions including intercompany loans and 'round-robin' transactions.

• Acting for an individual in relation to an ASIC investigation, Federal Court proceedings, a criminal prosecution by the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions and related Supreme Court proceedings concerning 21 unregistered managed investment schemes. The schemes involved property throughout Australia valued in excess of AUD 150 million.

• Acting for the Victorian Office of Premier and Cabinet in relation to an inquiry concerning Victoria Police and the Office of Police Integrity.

• Acting for a large financial services provider in relation to an investigation into suspected contravention of sections 1041A and 1041C of the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth).

• Acting for VicForests in relation to numerous Supreme Court and Federal Court proceedings including appeals to the Full Federal Court and High Court of Australia, as well as a prosecution brought by the Department of Environment, Land Water and Planning.

• Advising the ACCC generally in relation to various high profile disputes including its successful Federal Court prosecution of Coles Supermarkets regarding alleged misleading and deceptive conduct in relation to claims that its in-store bread products are "Baked Today Sold Today" and "Freshly Baked In Store" in circumstances where the bread is par-baked.

• Acting for an ASX-listed multinational fertiliser and explosives manufacturer in Supreme Court proceedings concerning multimillion dollar claims for product failure and economic loss.

• Acting for Australia Pacific Airports Melbourne in relation to a complex commercial dispute leading to proceedings involving various ground leases at Tullamarine.

• Acting for an ASX-listed transport and logistics company in Supreme Court proceedings in relation to the development of bespoke software and alleged wrongful termination of the underlying contracts.

• Acted for Stericycle Inc, a US-listed Fortune 500 company specialising in the treatment and management of medical waste in an international arbitration and defence of a multimillion dollar damages claim for breach of warranty and misrepresentation and prosecution of a multi million dollar counterclaim.

• Responsible for obtaining court and ASIC scheme of arrangement approvals required under the Corporations Act and acting for acquirers and targets in relations to mergers and acquisitions by Scheme including Arrow Limited, Hospira Inc (Mayne Pharma acquisition), Ballarat Goldfields NL (Lihir acquisition), Novozymes Ltd (GroPep acquisition), Lyppard Australia Limited (Symbion Pharmacy acquisition) Cellestis Limited (Qiagen acquisition) and DKN Financial Group Limited (IOOF acquisition).

• Responsible for coordinating risk management strategies for clients (including for example, coordinating a major vehicle manufacturer’s anti-ambush marketing campaign to protect its sponsorship of the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games).

• Advised manufacturers on product liability and recall issues, coronial inquests regarding deaths where motor vehicles are involved.

• Advised liquidators, receivers and administrators on insolvency related issues and conducting numerous actions on their behalf to recover or preserve funds.

• Best Lawyers (Australia), 2008–2023
• Leading Individual, Asia Pacific Legal 500, 2023
• Leading Lawyer, Chambers and Partners Asia-Pacific: Dispute Resolution, 2023

• Insolvency Practitioners Association of Australia - Member
• Law Institute of Victoria - Member
• Law Council of Australia, Insolvency and Reconstruction Committee - Member