Biography
Scott advises governments, banks, financial institutions and insolvency practitioners on complex litigation, enforcement of securities, asset realisation and civil penalty proceedings, combining technical precision with practical solutions. He has represented clients in Commissions of Inquiry, Senate Committee Inquiries and major Federal Court proceedings, including ASIC civil penalty actions.
He is recognised for guiding Court-Appointed Receivers through complex managed investment schemes involving significant assets such as development land, healthcare and retirement villages, resorts and marina projects.
Recognised for his expertise in rural lending and Farm Debt Mediation, Scott guides financiers on disputes across the agricultural sector and manages high-volume recovery matters for government agencies, including claims under the Queensland Building and Construction Commission Act and debt recovery for exploration permits under the Mineral Resources Act.
Scott's experience
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Australian Taxation Office
Advised the Commissioner of Taxation in long-running Federal Court proceedings concerning the application of anti-avoidance provisions to complex private group transactions, with the matter now before the High Court of Australia, with the disputed tax liability estimated at approximately $60m. -
ASIC
Advised on proceedings against SunshineLoans concerning breaches of the Credit Act; obtained liability judgment, successfully defended appeals in the Full Court of the Federal Court and obtained unanimous judgment (7-0) before the full bench of the High Court of Australia. -
Australian Taxation Office
Advised in Federal Court proceedings involving a Japanese multinational, concerning the application of Australian capital gains tax to the sale of interests in an Australian mining company by a foreign resident, with more than $200m in dispute. -
ASIC
Represented in Federal Court proceedings against Linchpin Capital Group, successfully obtaining judgments in both the liability and penalty phases of civil penalty proceedings against four directors of a failed managed investment scheme. -
LM First Mortgage Income Fund
Advised a Court-Appointed Receiver in managing and realising assets exceeding $700m over a 12-year engagement involving complex insolvency and litigation issues. -
Equititrust Income Fund
Advised the Receiver through recovery and sale of significant development assets, including resorts and aged care facilities, during a 14-year appointment. -
Major Australian trading bank
Successfully defended multi-million-dollar claims in Supreme Court proceedings and secured judgment for multi-million-dollar recovery. -
State of Queensland
Advised the Department of Resources and the Department of Environment and Science regarding insolvent mining companies. -
Rabobank Australia
Successfully defended Supreme Court proceedings involving misleading and unconscionable conduct allegations.
Awards, recognition and rankings
- Best Lawyers in Australia 2027 – Recognised for Alternative Dispute Resolution, Government Practice, Insolvency and Reorganisation Law and Litigation