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Experience

Astrid Haban-Beer has a practice incorporating criminal law, public law and regulatory investigations. Astrid’s practice includes appearing in jury trials, royal commissions, inquests and investigation hearings.

Astrid has particular experience with matters involving organised crime, white collar crime including Federal Court criminal matters, corruption matters, Commonwealth Code matters, public interest immunity, and matters involving the intersection of criminal and civil law.

Astrid is on the panel of special counsel able to be appointed under the Terrorism (Community Protection) Act 2003 (Vic).

Astrid also has a special interest in mental impairment and hearings conducted pursuant to the Crimes (Mental Impairment and Unfitness to be Tried) Act. Astrid appears in special fitness hearings and supervision order/review proceedings.

Astrid has a strong civil regulatory background and has acted for and against regulators across jurisdictions, including in both civil and criminal proceedings in the Federal Court, and state courts and tribunals.

Astrid has a current high level security clearance and has capacity to undertake sensitive matters in a range of legal and/or investigatory contexts.

Astrid undertakes court appearances (trials, pleas, committals and applications) and advice work across all jurisdictions, in criminal, quasi-criminal and civil proceedings, covering areas of:

• proceedings arising out of investigations conducted by the ACCC, ASIC, ATO, AFP and IBAC;
• Open Courts Act - suppression orders and related applications;
• Murder, and violent crimes;
• dangerous driving causing death;
• White collar crime (including criminal proceedings in the Federal Court);
• mental impairment (including special hearings and review proceedings);
• public interest immunity and other privileges (including subpoena arguments);
• competition and consumer law including civil penalty proceedings;
• terrorism, organised crime and national security;
• fraud and corruption offences;
• drug offences;
• sexual offences, including Commonwealth Criminal Code offences;
• internet and cyber offences, including Commonwealth Criminal Code offences and privacy offences;
• customs (including tariffs), biosecurity and quarantine offences, and animal cruelty matters;
• copyright matters; and
• Coroner's Court matters.

Astrid has frequently acted for government and institutional clients, and individuals in a number of Royal Commissions including:

• The Royal Commission into the Management of Police Informants
• The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse
• The Royal Commission into Trade Union Governance and Corruption
• The Royal Commission into Misconduct in the Banking, Superannuation and Financial Services Industry.

Astrid is a Victoria Legal Aid Criminal Trial Preferred Barrister, and holds an Indictable Crime Certificate (ICC).

From 16 May 2013, liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards legislation.