Leon Zwier

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Leon Zwier (born July 1957) is an Australian lawyer.[1] He has been a partner of Arnold Bloch Leibler since 1991[2] and is head of the firm's dispute resolution litigation and restructuring & insolvency practices.[3] Zwier is commonly referred to as Mr Fix-It[4] due to his successes in resolving complex, nuanced, and delicate legal issues.[5]

Early life and education[edit]

Zwier's parents immigrated to Australia from Poland and Germany.[4] Zwier's father ran an army disposal store and factory.[4] His father's desire to become a lawyer, despite being unable to do so, inspired Zwier to pursue a legal career.[2][6] Zwier attended Mount Scopus Memorial College[7] and the University of Melbourne.[6]

Legal career[edit]

Zwier worked at Barker Gosling before moving to Arnold Bloch Leibler in 1991.[1] Zwier has contributed substantially to the growth and success of Arnold Bloch Leibler.[5] He has represented many various high-profile individuals and entities, including Richard Pratt,[1] Trevor Kennedy, James Hardie,[8] Rino & Bruno Grollo,[4] Bruce Springsteen,[5] Steve Vizard,[9] Ray Williams,[10] Ten Network,[4] Tony Abbott,[11] Bill Shorten,[12] Josh Frydenberg and Peter Scanlon.[5] He has also advised former Australian cricket captain Steve Smith[13] and the Melbourne, Collingwood and Essendon Football Clubs.[14][15] Zwier has developed a pre-eminent reputation in restructuring and insolvency, having acted for the voluntary administrators in Australia's largest corporate collapses, including Brashs,[16] Ansett Airlines[5] and Arrium.[4] More recently, Zwier has acted for the State Government of Victoria in relation to various distressed infrastructure projects and the withdrawal from hosting the 2026 Commonwealth Games.[11] Zwier has also facilitated the settlement of numerous complex disputes, such as the Centro class action.[17][18] Zwier has written for publications such as The Australian[19] and is the co-author of Leo Cussen Institute Advanced Negotiation Strategies Paper.[20] He regularly presents to university students about current legal issues.[21][22]

Community work[edit]

Zwier is actively involved in pro bono work, supporting causes he believes in.[4] Notably, he provided pro bono legal assistance for the estate of the late Rolah McCabe in her battle for compensation against British American Tobacco Australian Services.[5] Zwier also assisted Brittany Higgins during the rape trial of Bruce Lehrmann[23][24] and acted for actresses Eryn Jean Norvill and Yael Stone who were witnesses in Geoffrey Rush's defamation case against The Daily Telegraph.[1][2] Zwier represented the six complainants in the AFL racism investigation against Hawthorn and its former coaches and staff.[25] Zwier also helped the Essendonians Inc recover the three Brownlow medals of former player Dick Reynolds.[26] Zwier was on the Advisory Committee of the Australian Law Reform Commission's Review of Corporate Criminal Liability[27] and was a member of the Federal Government's Insolvency Practitioner Disciplinary Committees. He is an Appeals Conduct Commissioner of Cricket Australia's code of behaviour[2][13] and is the co-chair of the Bradman Foundation[28] and a board member of the Scanlon Foundation.[3] Previously, he was a non-executive director of ASX listed Challenger Limited. Zwier is a member of several professional associations including Law Council of Australia and its Insolvency and Reconstruction Committee, Australian Restructuring Insolvency and Turnaround Association (ARITA), Turnaround Management Association Australia, International Bar Association's Insolvency Section and INSOL International.[3]

Honors and awards[edit]

Zwier has received numerous accolades during his career, including being recognized as a lawyer of the year by Best Lawyers,[29] a star individual by Chambers Asia Pacific, and ‘Market Leader’ in Doyle's Guide. He has also been listed in Euromoney's Who's Who,[30] IFLR1000[31] and Asialaw Leading Lawyers.[32] In December 2021, Zwier was admitted as a Fellow of the Australian Restructuring Insolvency and Turnaround Association (ARITA).[3]

Personal[edit]

Leon Zwier has four children.[4][33] His daughter, Rebecca Zwier, follows in his footsteps as a partner at Arnold Bloch Leibler.[34] The Zwier Zig Zag on Mount Buller is named after him.[4]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d "The man who fought to clear Richard Pratt". Australian Financial Review. Retrieved September 3, 2023.
  2. ^ a b c d "Leon Zwier". Justinian. Retrieved September 3, 2023.
  3. ^ a b c d "Leon Zwier". ABL. Retrieved September 3, 2023.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Leon Zwier: corporate law world's 'Mr Fixit' in the zone". The Australian. Retrieved September 3, 2023.
  5. ^ a b c d e f "Enter Leon Zwier, The Law's Mr Fix-It". Australian Financial Review. 30 April 2010. Retrieved September 3, 2023.
  6. ^ a b "Photon power turns market". Syndney Morning Herald. 14 May 2009. Retrieved September 3, 2023.
  7. ^ "CBD Melbourne: Padding up for Bradman". The Age. 13 September 2020. Retrieved September 3, 2023.
  8. ^ "Hand to Hand Combat Settling Asbestos Dispute". SMH. 23 December 2004. Retrieved September 3, 2023.
  9. ^ "No perjury case against me says Vizard". SMH. 8 June 2006. Retrieved September 3, 2023.
  10. ^ "Ah The Scent of Old Spicer". The Age. 10 December 2018. Retrieved September 3, 2023.
  11. ^ a b "Tally Puts Games payout at $500 as Mr Fix It Heads Home". Australian Financial Review. 23 July 2023. Retrieved September 3, 2023.
  12. ^ "AWU Donation Affair Mr Fix It Leon Zwier accustomed to fights to the death". The Australian. Retrieved September 3, 2023.
  13. ^ a b Walsh, Courtney (8 December 2022). "David Warner leadership bid ends with a bang to put Test team under scrutiny once again". The Guardian. Retrieved September 3, 2023.
  14. ^ "James Hird and Essendon Board to blame for sorry saga". AFR. 15 January 2016. Retrieved September 3, 2023.
  15. ^ "Collingwood Members take club to ASIC in a bid to force EGM". Herald Sun. Retrieved September 3, 2023.
  16. ^ "Company Doctors win more power as Creditors lose in Brash Ruling". AFR. 29 June 1994. Retrieved September 3, 2023.
  17. ^ "Centro Case could have been settled earlier". SMH. 8 May 2012. Retrieved September 3, 2023.
  18. ^ "Record Settlement a win for lawyers". Lawyers Weekly. 10 May 2012. Retrieved September 3, 2023.
  19. ^ "Leon Zwier". Australian. Retrieved September 3, 2023.
  20. ^ "Advanced Negotiation Strategies". Mighty Ape. Retrieved September 3, 2023.
  21. ^ "The Supreme Court of Victoria 2010 Commercial Law Conference - Current Issues in Commercial Law". University of Melbourne. 22 August 2016. Retrieved September 3, 2023.
  22. ^ "20th Anniversary of Part 5.3A" (PDF). Monash University. Retrieved September 3, 2023.
  23. ^ "Sky News complies with court order to produce alleged secret recording of conversation between Brittany Higgins's lawyer and fiance". abc.net.au. Retrieved December 12, 2023.
  24. ^ "Brittany Higgins' million-dollar compensation claim after collapse of rape trial". News. Retrieved September 3, 2023.
  25. ^ "Hawthorn AFL racism complainants reveal themselves in open letter". Guardian. 2 June 2023. Retrieved September 3, 2023.
  26. ^ "Essendon saved Dick Reynolds Brownlows from failed Auction House" (PDF). ABL. Retrieved September 3, 2023.
  27. ^ "Advisory Committee". ALRC. Retrieved September 3, 2023.
  28. ^ "Bradman Foundation". Bradman Foundation. Retrieved September 3, 2023.
  29. ^ "ABL Recognised in 2024 Best Lawyers International Guide". ABL. Retrieved September 3, 2023.
  30. ^ "Leon Zwier". Who's Who Legal. Retrieved September 3, 2023.
  31. ^ "2022 Awards". IFLR. Retrieved September 3, 2023.
  32. ^ "asialaw and Benchmark Litigation Asia-Pacific Dispute Resolution Awards 2018 – shortlist announced". asia law. Retrieved September 3, 2023.
  33. ^ "Cool In a Complex Crisis". AFR. 20 December 2012. Retrieved September 3, 2023.
  34. ^ "Rebecca Zwier carves her own path to partner". AFR. 27 May 2021. Retrieved September 3, 2023.
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