Polat is a partner in HWLE’s Litigation team and specialises in commercial disputes, regulatory investigations/disputes and insolvency. He has over 20 years’ experience in helping clients understand and manage risk and navigate complex disputes and crises. Polat works with clients in the early stages of disputes to provide strategic and pragmatic advice and find solutions.
Polat assists clients with a broad range of corporate/commercial disputes, including contractual disputes, IT-related disputes, M&A disputes, misleading or deceptive conduct claims and shareholder disputes. In the regulatory area, Polat has advised regulated entities and regulators and acted in lengthy and complex regulatory investigations and disputes (and related matters) in numerous industries including financial services and gaming. Polat also works with a range of stakeholders in insolvency-related matters.
Polat has been recognised by his peers with listings in Best LawyersTM Australia in 2019-2021 in the areas of Alternative Dispute Resolution and Insolvency/Reorganisation.
Expertise
Experience
- Gaming operators Advising and assisting entities the subject of investigations by AUSTRAC in relation to compliance with the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Act in relation to all aspects of the investigations and related disputes and issues.
- Major retailers Acting for two major retailers in contractual disputes in Court relating to the implementation of significant IT projects.
- Various clients across industries Advising in relation to regulatory investigations by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (banking, financial planning, superannuation and directors’ duties), the Australian Federal Police (foreign bribery) and other regulators and related disputes arising from those investigations.
- Commonwealth government agency Advising and representing a Commonwealth government agency in a coronial inquest.
- A private equity fund Acting for a private equity fund in a $7 million claim against the founders of a business for breaches of warranties in a share sale transaction.
- Accounting firm Acting for an accounting firm in a $17 million claim against a former partner for breach of fiduciary duties.
- An engineering firm Advising in relation to an $18 million claim regarding the provision of professional services in the design of a hospital.
- Entertainment business Advising the purchaser of a children’s entertainment business in a claim in the Federal Court against the vendor for misleading or deceptive conduct
- Beverage manufacturer Acting for a beverage manufacturer in a Supreme Court claim against a packaging manufacturer.
