Ross Freeman
|Partner

Ross Freeman has more than 22 years experience as a commercial litigator with specialisation in financial services and securities market regulation and enforcement.

A financial services industry expert, Ross is a core member of Minter Ellison's Financial Services Industry Group and the client relationship partner for some of Minter Ellison's major institutional clients in the financial services industry. His longstanding clients include Lazard and Austock.

He has extensive experience in representing clients involved in ASIC and ASX investigations and hearings, class actions, civil penalty proceedings and criminal prosecutions involving directors duties, continuous disclosure, insider trading, and other issues involving market misconduct.

He acts for investment banks, listed and other large corporations, and directors and executives in regulatory investigations and inquiries, and related litigation. He also advises and acts for dealers and investment advisors involved in ASIC banning order hearings and acts for individuals in criminal prosecutions for offences under the Corporations Act.

His prestigious court experience as a litigator includes major civil penalty proceedings including James Hardie and its former executives and directors (ASIC v McDonald & Ors) and Earglow & Ors v Sigma Pharmaceuticals, a shareholder class action.

Ross was recently recognised as being 'at the head of the pack' by the independent legal publication Asia Pacific Legal 500 (2010).

Ross is appointed to ASIC's Advisory Committee on market supervision powers.

He is also a highly engaged member of the firm, serving on Minter Ellison's National Board, as the Staff Partner for the Melbourne Office and on the firm's Partner Selection Committee. From 1 July 2011, Ross became the national head of Minter Ellison's Litigation Division.

Ross regularly presents seminars specifically designed for clients, including compliance training. He is the author of Minter Ellison publications and is regularly quoted in articles in the Australian Financial Review and The Australian on key issues and developments in the financial services industry.

Expertise

Professional Background

Publications & Media

Areas of expertise include:

Class Actions

Ross has significant and recognised expertise in class actions. He is defending Sigma Pharmaceuticals in a large shareholder class action in relation to Sigma's continuous disclosure obligations. He has also defended parties involved in shareholder class actions relating to MFS, Media World Communications, Harris Scarfe and Oz Minerals. Ross is asked to advise clients on developments in litigation funding and clients on litigation funding agreements.
Commissions and Inquiries

Ross has advised and acted in relation to a large number of ASIC investigations in Australia, and on investigations which involves foreign jurisdictions.
Corporate and Commercial Disputes

Ross' litigation and disputes resolution practice is predominantly focussed on commercial litigation in the financial services and industry. He has expertise in contractual disputes and significant experience in shareholder and other Corporations Act disputes including oppression claims, claims for breaches of directors' duties and of the managed investments scheme provisions of the Corporations Act.
Litigation and Dispute Resolution

Ross advises clients in all areas of financial services and securities markets litigation and dispute resolution, including frequently representing listed companies and their directors in relation to breach of directors duties and disclosure issues. He has been involved in various shareholder class actions.
Regulatory Compliance and Disputes

Ross regularly acts for parties or individuals in investigations by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission. These investigations have included alleged breaches of insider trading and market manipulation provisions, alleged breaches of the continuous disclosure and financial reporting provisions of the Corporations Act, and alleged breaches of directors' duties. Ross also regularly acts for companies to assist to manage internal investigations into alleged misconduct.
Ross has expertise in white collar advice and defence work for organisations and individuals and practices in areas including anti-bribery and corruption, anti-money laundering, trade sanctions, and fraud.