Jonathon Ellis

I'm a Dispute Resolution and Regulatory Investigations partner in our Sydney office. I work with clients to solve complex issues facing their businesses, whether that is a commercial dispute or engagement with regulatory agencies.

Having spent more than 15 years helping clients resolve disputes and deal with regulators, I offer our clients the knowledge and experience I have gained working on some of Australia's most complex and high-profile disputes.

My experience spans acting for clients on major defence, automotive, technology and financial services sector commercial disputes, advising on anti-bribery and corruption law issues including internal investigations, the interpretation and administration of contracts, compliance with Australia's corporations laws including white collar crime matters, conducting multi-jurisdiction investigations and assisting clients to respond to large regulatory investigations and resulting court proceedings.

I also offer our clients extensive cross-border disputes experience involving jurisdictions including the USA, Guernsey, Jersey, Iceland, the BVI and Luxembourg. A large part of my practice involves assisting international clients on navigating the complex commercial and regulatory framework in Australia across a range of sectors.

Prior to joining our firm, I was a Litigation and Regulatory partner at a large international law firm where I led the Australian Defence and Aerospace practice.

I am a passionate advocate for diversity and inclusion in the legal profession and have been involved in founding and leading a global employee resource group for LGBTQ+ lawyers and acting as a champion of change on a gender equity network.

• Acting for an international defence contractor on disputes with third-party vendors.
• Advising defence contractors on Australia's export control laws.
• Advising on shareholder disputes including prosecuting urgent proceedings in superior courts to protect client interests.
• Conducting a review of a "Big 4 regulated financial services company as part of a response to a regulatory investigation.
• Acting for various global technology companies in Australia including on interpretation of contracts, disputes arising with customers and vendors.
• Advising global companies on disputes arising under distribution agreements covering Australia.
• Acting in proceedings relating to payment processing under credit card schemes for a major financial services business and advising on payments issues.
• Acting for a global automotive sector client in disputes in Australia including a complex Supreme Court action and advising it generally on its Australian operations.
• Acting on Corporations Act matters including schemes of arrangements, securities law issues and white-collar crime.
• Advising on response to cyber incident matters including engagement with law enforcement, privacy regulators and third parties with adverse positions.
• Acting for companies in responding to requests for information from regulators including documents and witness interviews under compulsion.
• Responding to complex investigations by regulators in various jurisdictions including a significant and high-profile dawn raid.
• Advising multi-national companies on anti-bribery and corruption issues, procedures and providing training.
• Advising on sanctions and defence export control matters.