November
Property guru Sasha Hopkins fined $1.3m, banned for four years
The self-styled property mogul has been punished for running unregistered investment schemes without a financial licence.
- Max Mason and Jessica Sier
Heloise Pratt alleges ex-husband Alex Waislitz falsified board records
The two billionaires had been on amicable terms after splitting in 2015 until a stoush started over the control of Thorney Investments.
- Max Mason
Heloise Pratt sues former husband Alex Waislitz over Thorney
Visy Industries scion Heloise Pratt is suing her billionaire ex-husband Alex Waislitz in a fight over their joint-owned business, fund manager Thorney Investments.
- Max Mason
WiseTech allegedly misled investors over ‘aggressive’ earnings targets
In a new class action, Phi Finney McDonald alleges that shareholders in the software company suffered after it missed earlier profit guidance in 2020.
- Max Mason
Case closed: Escala loses bid to restrict defecting partners
Paul Sealey and Jonathan Vickers‑Willis defected to rival LGT Crestone in 2023 amid a spate of departures.
- Sarah Thompson, Kanika Sood and Emma Rapaport
October
EDO expert on Indigenous culture says he’s ‘just a white fella’
The Federal Court ultimately rejected the arguments made by the Environmental Defenders Office and allowed Santos to develop the $5.8 billion gas project.
- Max Mason
Billionaire Alex Waislitz ensnared in the Real Housewives web
The Rich Lister and his extended family have been in the headlines for decades. His new family wants more.
- Max Mason
August
Creditors bankrupt former PE Capital director
Disgruntled creditors of PE Capital Funds Management have directed their anger at former Melbourne developer Martyn Barnes for his role at the collapsed asset manager. And on Wednesday, they got their man.
- Max Mason
Key figure in Lawyer X aftermath among 25 new Victorian silks
The list of 17 men and eight women was announced by Victoria’s Chief Justice on Thursday.
- Michael Pelly
June
Pepsi beats ATO on appeal over royalty taxes
Attempts to reel in multinationals using complex deals and structures to minimise tax have been dealt a blow after the beverage giant challenged its tax bill.
- Max Mason
Deloitte to verify Keystone payments amid ASIC investigation
Deloitte will be appointed by the Federal Court to monitor and verify payments related to the ongoing management of Keystone Asset Management.
- Updated
- Max Mason
Federal Court rules iSignthis misled the market
A Federal Court judge says payments company iSignthis and its former managing director John Karantzis misled the market, but ASIC had failed to prove that the boss knew about performance milestones and deliberately structured revenue to trigger share bonuses.
- Jonathan Shapiro and Max Mason
Macquarie customer funds caught up in Keystone asset freeze
Customers using its online trading platform Wrap are caught up in ASIC’s investigation of Keystone Asset Management and the freezing of its funds’ assets.
- Max Mason
May
- Exclusive
- Income tax
ATO freezes former Young Rich Lister’s muscle cars, mansion
The flamboyant accountant Steve Di Petta, who has a penchant for Ford Mustangs, is facing allegations he and his wife owe the Tax Office over $3 million.
- Max Mason
Care A2 Plus lender applies to wind up baby formula minnow
Care A2 Plus faces the prospect of being wound up due to a long-running dispute with a lender who alleged the infant formula manufacturer defaulted on a $2.2 million loan.
- Max Mason and Carrie LaFrenz
April
Banking royal commission star Rowena Orr joins the bench
Rowena Orr, who came to prominence during the Hayne royal commission, has been appointed to the Victorian Court of Appeal.
- Maxim Shanahan
Mayfair 101’s James Mawhinney arrested on dishonest conduct charges
The fund promoter appeared in a Melbourne court on Tuesday. His group of companies has already been fined $30 million for misleading and deceptive conduct.
- Updated
- Jonathan Shapiro and Ayesha de Kretser
March
Freehills in court over petrol giant’s $300,000 in unpaid fees
Herbert Smith Freehills will head to mediation with United Petroleum next month, seeking an account of costs as a seven-year legal battle nears its end.
- Maxim Shanahan
February
Former Blockchain Global director barred from leaving country
Liang “Allan” Guo is being investigated by the corporate regulator over claims that he used money from the collapsed cryptocurrency group to pay his mortgage.
- Nick Bonyhady
January
Hacked testimony could be released after Victoria stares down ransom demand
Cybercriminals breached Victoria’s courts late last year, gaining access to a system that holds recordings of hearings the media may be barred from covering.
- Updated
- Nick Bonyhady and Gus McCubbing
