Andrew Eastwood
Asia-Pacific Guide 2025
White-Collar Crime & Corporate Investigations + 2 more rankings
Band 2
Band 2
Band 5
About
Provided by Andrew Eastwood
Practice Areas
Andrew is a commercial litigator who focuses on regulatory issues.
Andrew was named by his peers as one of the best litigators in Australia in Best Lawyers in Australia in each year from 2013 to 2024. Clients value his “deep experience” in the field, with market sources stating that he is very responsive to our concerns and his technical knowledge is unparalleled”. He has also been recognised by Asia Pacific Legal500 as a leading individual in the areas of Financial Services Regulatory and White Collar Crime, and as a ranked lawyer by Chambers Asia Pacific in relation to Financial Services Regulation, Disputes Resolution and Anti-bribery and Corruption. Andrew is recognised as a Star Litigator in Australia by Benchmark Litigation. For 2025, Best Lawyers named Andrew, based on peer feedback, as “Lawyer of the Year” in the area of Criminal Defence.
Andrew’s clients include National Australia Bank, Citi, Insignia, PayPal, the Reserve Bank of Australia, the Financial Services Council and BHP Billiton.
Andrew has also given expert opinion evidence in US proceedings on the content of Australian directors’ and officers’ duties.
Background
Andrew holds a Bachelor of Economics and a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of New South Wales.
He is admitted to practise as a solicitor of the Supreme Court of NSW and the High Court of Australia.
Andrew has had a number of papers published on regulatory issues, including articles in the Company and Securities Law Journal, Australian Business Law Review, Journal of Banking and Finance Law and Practice and the Australian Journal of Corporate Law (“Legal professional privilege and the investigative powers of ASIC”, “Potential uses of transcripts of ASIC examinations”, “Providing your legal advice to the regulator”, “Breach Reporting – some difficult issues to consider” and “The BEAR necessities: What jurisdictional considerations will Australia’s version of the UK’s Senior Managers and Certification Regime need to accommodate?”, “International investigations and privilege: a response to recent challenges” ).
Andrew has also had a number of articles published in the Australian Law Journal and other legal journals on topics such as “Do you waive privilege by pleading reliance?”, “Corporations and the Aggregation of Knowledge”, “A response to Professor Finn’s fiduciary reflections”, “Future representations and the grounds that may be relied on to establish reasonableness”, “The ex ante approach to assessing materiality: to what extent are subsequent price movements relevant?” and “Negotiating in Good Faith”. A number of Andrew’s articles have been cited in court judgments.
Andrew is the co-author of the chapter on market misconduct in the recently published book “Bootmakers, Boards and Rogues: Issues in Australian Corporate and Securities Law”.
Andrew also participates in the firm’s pro bono program, including acting for clients such as the Public Interest Advocacy Centre, Mission Australia and Scouts.
Work Highlights
Regulatory investigations and enforcement:
National Australia Bank, in relation to the Royal Commission into Misconduct in the Banking, Superannuation and Financial Services Industry.
Citi in its successful defence of criminal cartel proceedings.
Two Australian superannuation trustees in relation to civil penalty proceedings commenced by ASIC.
An Australian bank in relation to civil penalty proceedings commenced by ASIC concerning fees charged for ongoing advice and fee disclosure statements.
A major financial institution in relation to court proceedings commenced by ASIC in relation to unfair contract terms.
A global investment bank, in relation to an ASIC investigation concerning alleged misleading conduct and insider trading.
An international bank in relation to an ASIC investigation concerning personal and general advice and the sale of structured products
Financial services litigation:
National Australia Bank, in the successful defence of the $50 billion Idoport litigation.
An Australian retail bank in relation to proceedings brought by victims of an alleged investment scam.
National Australia Bank, in successful litigation against entities associated with a US hedge fund.
A large Australian property trust in relation to alleged claims of breach of trustee duties.
Financial Services Council, appearing as amicus curiae in proceedings concerning the management of protected estates.
Chambers Review
Asia-Pacific
Andrew Eastwood maintains a broad practice and has experience acting for clients in relation to foreign bribery matters and criminal proceedings commenced by regulatory bodies.
Andrew Eastwood often acts on contentious matters for major clients in the financial services sector.
Andrew Eastwood specialises in contentious regulatory issues, particularly those affecting players in the financial services sector. He is based in Sydney.
Strengths
Provided by Chambers
"Andrew has excellent legal skills coupled with great appreciation for business understanding and helps in achieving good results thanks to his counsel."
"Andrew is able to distil the key issues down to understand the specific issues that we really need to focus on and can put together a very effective strategy."
"He is clever, experienced, knowledgable and super responsive."
"Andrew Eastwood is a pleasure to work with and makes my job as an in-house lawyer easy. He is highly skilled, responsive and understands the commercial realities of our organisation."
"Andrew has excellent legal skills coupled with great appreciation for business understanding and helps in achieving good results thanks to his counsel."
"Andrew is able to distil the key issues down to understand the specific issues that we really need to focus on and can put together a very effective strategy."
"He is clever, experienced, knowledgable and super responsive."
"Andrew Eastwood is a pleasure to work with and makes my job as an in-house lawyer easy. He is highly skilled, responsive and understands the commercial realities of our organisation."
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