Steve Burns
Steve has more than 30 years commercial litigation and dispute resolution experience in Sydney most recently in responding to regulatory investigations and prosecutions.
Steve has demonstrated effective communication skills with regulators and opposing lawyers over many years assisting clients to achieve sound commercial outcomes.
HWLE was appointed in July 2019 to the panel for the provision of Competition and Consumer Legal Services to the ACCC – Steve is one of the key personnel authorised to provide services to the ACCC pursuant to the appointment.
Experience
Steve’s recent experience includes acting for:
- Former P&O companies in defending landmark prosecution brought by the ACCC against former P&O companies, former Patrick companies and CEOs for alleged cartel conduct;
- An airline in relation to responding to an ACCC investigation into an alleged world-wide air freight cartel and defending subsequent prosecution;
- Directors and officers in relation to responding to ASIC notices and investigations and claims brought by trustees and liquidators;
- NYK as lead litigator in HWLE’s team acting for the defendant Japanese shipping company in the first criminal cartel prosecution brought by the CDPP in Australia following an ACCC investigation;
- Australian corporation/managing director as lead litigator in HWLE’s team acting for the first Australian company and individual to face criminal cartel charges in Australia; CDPP v The Country Care Group Pty Ltd and Ors; and
- Supervision of the execution of Anton Piller in relation to search orders where Steve is qualified to supervise execution of these orders.