Ian Bolster

Partner, Practice Head, Complex Litigation (APAC)

Sydney

+61 2 9258 6697 | +61 421 555 841

ian.bolster@ashurstperkins.com

Overview
Experience

Introduction

Ian leads our class actions and complex litigation teams in Asia-Pacific.

Ian Bolster has acted on some of the region's most complex and high-profile matters, and is known for being incisive, commercial, pragmatic and easy to work with.

His directory recognition includes Legal 500 recognising him as a "leading individual in class actions"; Doyle's Guide similarly recognises him as a "leading" class action lawyer, and he is also ranked in Chambers & Partners.

Legal 500 describes him as "recognised as one of the country's foremost class actions specialists, praised for bringing exceptional insight into legal strategy and practice", "an absolute standout", "exceptional as a litigator – focused, practical and with a clear view of the longer term objectives", "praised for his keen strategic approach and involvement in market-leading claims", "a trusted adviser, he is very strategic, clear minded and focused on achieving efficient outcomes", "an excellent lawyer and litigator", "energetic, intelligent and perceptive", and "easy going, commercial and able to think outside of the box to find solutions to complex problems".

Chambers describes him as "a fantastic litigator who really cares about his clients", "an outstanding litigator who is fully engaged with his matters and delightful to deal with", and "very user friendly, very commercial and works very well as part of a team".

Professional Experience

Plus500AU Pty Ltd | Lead partner | Defending the class action alleging misleading and unconscionable conduct in relation to onboarding of customers and issuance of CFDs via its online trading platform.
Major retailer | Lead partner | Defending a shareholder class action alleging share price inflation due to alleged failures in financial statements concerning the disclosure of liabilities associated with staff entitlements. This matter also tests the approach to limitation periods in shareholder claims, with a 15 year claim period.
McDonald's | Lead partner | Defending the rest break class action, which alleges that McDonald's failed to give paid rest breaks to employees of corporate stores, and is liable for the failure of franchisees to give paid rest breaks to their employees. This matter has involved Full Federal Court hearings on whether common fund orders can be made at settlement, whether employment class actions can be brought, and competing union proceedings and class actions.
Commonwealth | Lead partner | Defending the appeal concerning the Robodebt class action – the first Australian case involving an appeal of a settlement that had already been carried out, and the expansion of claims and group membership during an appeal.
Goldstone | Lead partner | Acting for a private equity partner in proceedings alleging oppression – creating new law as to the extent to which oppression remedies can be applied to a partnership context.
Major retailer | Lead partner | Defending the underpayment class action concerning salaried managers. This matter involves claims not only for amounts alleged to be owing, but also seeks penalties under the Fair Work Act. It was the first underpayment class action to go to trial in Australia.
McDonald's | Lead partner | Defending the salaried manager class action, which alleges underpayments concerning work allegedly performed before and after rostered shifts. This is the first class action brought by a union.
Sydney University | Lead partner | 2023 - ongoing | Acting in the class action and Full Federal Court appeal that claims PhD students should be paid as employees.
Societe Generale | Lead partner | Acting in the $500M+ Forum Finance Fraud proceedings, which has been described as Australia's highest profile and largest corporate fraud.
A global mining group | Lead partner | Defending a class action alleging sexual discrimination / misconduct and seeking to hold a head company liable for employees of subsidiaries and contractors.