About Edward Greaves, Perth Barrister

I am a specialist barrister, practising nationally in proceeds of crime, unexplained wealth, and complex and financial crime matters.

My practice is predominantly in Confiscations and Proceeds of Crime. I also have a substantial practice in complex and financial crime. I am also a Workcover Arbitrator.

I am recognised as an expert in the following fields:

• Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (Cth);
• Criminal Property Confiscations Act 2000 (WA);
• Money and property laundering under the WA and Commonwealth Criminal Codes; and
• Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Act 2006 (Cth).

“Edward is a pleasure to work with and he has earned a solid reputation for expertise and achievement in Criminal Property Confiscation Act, Proceeds of Crime Act and Criminal Law matters…He is generous with his time, energy and encouragement to those he works with.”

Cathryn Ng, Kingdom Legal

Criminal Property Confiscations and Proceeds of Crime Expertise

I have significant experience in relation to the:

• Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (Cth), including restraint, revocation, exclusion, compulsory examinations, asset forfeiture and pecuniary penalty orders; and
• Criminal Property Confiscation Act 2000 (WA), including freezing notices, freezing orders, drug trafficker and other declarations, objections and confiscation.

I held positions as Managing Principal Legal Officer, Criminal Assets for the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions and later Deputy Counsel, Australian Federal Police (AFP) with responsibility for Western Australia, South Australia and the Northern Territory.

At the bar I have acted for a diverse range of clients (including the government, banks and other financial institutions) in relation to their interests under confiscations legislation. In early 2015 I was consulted by an external review of the AFP’s Proceeds of Crime arrangements.

LexisNexis Author

I am the author of the Confiscation chapter of LexisNexis’s Criminal Law Western Australia. I am also a chapter author of Anti-Money Laundering and Financial Crime for LexisNexis.

Workcover (workers compensation) Arbitrator

In 2020 I was appointed a sessional Workers Compensation and Conciliation Service Arbitrator.

Background

I was called to the Bar in 2014.

I was awarded the Chief Justice’s prize for best performed reader at the 2014 WA Bar Association’s Bar Readers’ Course. I also received the 2014 Essential Trial Advocacy Course Award for equal top performance.

In 2020 I completed the Advanced Trial Advocacy course run by the Australian Bar Association.

Before coming to the bar I held a number of senior roles in government including as a Principal Federal Prosecutor. Prior to that I was at Christensen Vaughan (which has since merged with Gadens) practising exclusively in commercial litigation, primarily corporate insolvency.

Qualifications

I was admitted as a barrister and solicitor in 2002 after graduating from the University of Western Australia.

Awards and Recognition

United States Attorney Award 2013

A career highlight was receiving a United States Attorney Award from the United States Ambassador to Australia. The award was conferred for my management of a significant global asset forfeiture case in which we recovered USD 24 million of gold and silver bullion, some of which is pictured below.

Presentations

I have delivered numerous CPD presentations, including:

• Law Society of Western Australia: Criminal Property Confiscation and Proceeds of Crime
• Legalwise Criminal Law Symposium: Drug Trafficker cases under the Criminal Property Confiscation Act

Memberships

I am a member of the WA Bar Association and the Law Society of Western Australia. I am the Chair of the Law Society’s Courts Committee.

Further information

For further information about my experience you are welcome to

download my curriculum vitae;
review some significant judgments in matters I have argued;
read some of my publications;
connect with me on LinkedIn, or
contact me directly.