Michael Hershan
Partner, Melbourne
I am a litigator with extensive experience in regulatory matters, class actions and other commercial litigation. I have a proven track record of managing large and complex cases, both in Australia and internationally.

Prior to joining MinterEllison, I spent almost a decade at a global law firm in Melbourne, Sydney and London and five years at the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC), where I acted in a broad range of regulatory investigations and civil penalty proceedings. Having represented commercial clients and the corporate regulator, I understand their different perspectives.

Clients value my strategic approach to managing investigations and disputes to help them achieve their objectives.

Career highlights

Prior to joining MinterEllison, my experience includes:

  • Acting for ASIC against IAG in proceedings alleging loyalty discounts promised to home insurance customers were offset by a machine learning algorithm used in setting premiums.
  • Advising ASIC in continuous disclosure and directors’ duties cases including against iSignThis, Nuix and Rex and respective directors.
  • Acting for ASIC against Macquarie Bank in a case which established a contravention of s 912A(1)(a) of the Corporations Act for inadequate fraud controls over third parties accessing customer accounts.
  • Acting for and advising ASIC in proceedings associated with collapsed funeral insurer ACBF Group (also known as Youpla Group).
  • Acting for CBA in the Zonia and Baron class actions concerning CBA’s contraventions of the AML/CTF Act as well as the ASIC investigation into related corporate governance matters.
  • Acting for Lloyds Banking Group and former directors in their successful defence of the UK’s first shareholder class action to reach judgment concerning Lloyds’ acquisition of HBOS at the height of the GFC.
  • Acting for UBS in its successful defence of a joint venture dispute with a hedge fund.