Denes Blazer

I practice predominantly in civil regulatory investigations and proceedings (concerning the Corporations Act, ASIC Act and Competition and Consumer Act), and commercial litigation (including class actions).

I have been recognised as a leading junior, in the categories of ‘crime and regulatory (including white collar crime)’ and ‘commercial disputes’, by the Legal 500 directory since 2025.

My practice spans Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth.

I started my career at the NSW Crown Solicitor’s Office in the criminal law practice group, before spending about 13 years in commercial practice, most of which was at the international law firm, Allen & Overy LLP (now A&O Shearman).

My experience highlights include acting for:

• • ASIC in civil penalty proceedings against ASX Limited for misleading conduct – (No 2) [2026] FCA 862; [2025] FCA 552 (led by David Thomas SC and Jo Shepard SC);
  • the former CFO of Rio Tinto Limited in multi-party civil penalty proceedings brought by ASIC – (No 2) [2022] FCA 184; [2020] FCA 1721 (led by John Sheahan KC and Justin Williams SC);
  • ASIC in civil penalty proceedings against Firstmac Limited, being the first contested liability hearing under the Design and Distribution Obligations regime in Chapter 7 of the Corporations Act (led by Andrew Harding SC and David Healey) – [2025] FCA 12; [2024] FCA 737;
  • JP Morgan Chase Bank in a multi-party class action alleging cartel conduct (contravening the CCA) in the FX market – [2025] FCA 1018; [2021] FCA 36 (led by Chris Archibald KC and Stuart Lawrence SC);
  • BHP Group Limited in a shareholder class action arising from the Fundao dam collapse – (No 6) [2025] FCA 1594 (led by Wendy Harris KC and Kane Loxley KC);
  • three non-executive directors of Vocation Limited (in liq) in a multi-party shareholder class action – [2021] FCA 829 (led by Ian Pike SC);
  • the CDPP (on behalf of the ACCC) alleging criminal cartel conduct (contravening to the CCA) – CDPP v CFMMEU & Anor (led by Rowena Orr KC, Rob Ranken SC and Dan Tynan SC);
  • ASIC in civil penalty proceedings against Westpac Banking Corporation – [2022] FCA 515 (led by Lincoln Crowley KC and David Healey);
  • JP Morgan Chase Bank, as an interested party, in relation to civil penalty proceedings brought by ASIC against COFCO International Australia and Anor (VID720/2024) (led by Alan Shearer SC);
  • a former employee of American Express Australia Limited, who was a witness in the context of the civil penalty proceedings brought against Amex by ASIC in relation to the Design and Distribution Obligations regime in Chapter 7 of the Corporations Act – [2024] FCA 784 (unled);
  • a respondent to an application by ASIC for urgent interim travel restraints – ASIC v Nicholas & Anor (led by Michael Elliott SC);
  • a financial advisor in review proceedings following the imposition of a banning order by ASIC (led by Nick Beaumont SC) – [2024] AATA 2085 and [2023] AATA 3073;
  • ASIC in the investigation of a financier involved in the sale of solar panels (unled);
  • ASIC in the investigation of a listed insurer in relation to the handling of customer complaints (led by Andrew Harding SC);
  • both ASIC and persons the subject of investigation, in respect of various confidential ASIC investigations (often led by Tim Faulkner SC, Jo Shepard SC and David Healey);
  • Court appointed receivers resisting the setting aside of a bankruptcy notice – Paltos v Morgan & Anor (unled); and
  • a former authorised representative of AMP Financial Planning in Federal Court proceedings against AMP Group (led by Nick Beaumont SC).