https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/win-television-mogul-bruce-gordon-hir...

TELEVISION mogul Bruce Gordon has hired new lawyers to sue for the return of millions of dollars allegedly stolen by a solicitor working for his old law firm.

But the man accused of stealing the money, Brody Clarke, is trying to fight a court freeze on the accounts allegedly containing the ill-gotten proceeds, arguing he needs cash to pay his legal bills.

Mr Gordon, the owner of the WIN TV network, has launched civil action in the NSW Supreme Court after almost $10 million was allegedly siphoned from the Bermuda-based businessman’s private company Birketu Pty Ltd by Clarke to fund his gambling habit.

Clarke worked for top legal firm Atanaskovic Hartnell Lawyers, which handled much of Mr Gordon’s business.

Representatives of Atanaskovic Hartnell Lawyers were in court last week as observers but did not comment.

Birketu is also suing Deutsche Bank which managed the accounts from which the money disappeared.

But the court heard Birketu, now being represented by HWL Ebsworth Lawyers, intended to drop claims against Westpac and betting agencies Sportsbet, Tabcorp and Betfair.

HWL Ebsworth Lawyers’ David Stubby told the court: “It (the fraud) all comes about, in our case, due to fraudulent activity via Deutsche Bank and Atanaskovic Hartnell Lawyers.”

The court heard there was still about $1.3 million of the allegedly ill-gotten money sitting in accounts belonging to Clarke.

These include a Westpac bank account in Leura containing $650,000 and a Sportsbet account with $650,000 sitting in it.

Mr Stubby said this money should paid into the court so it could not be spent.

But Clarke’s barrister George Thomas is trying to fight a freeze placed on the accounts by Supreme Court late last year claiming his client needs access to funds to pay for legal bills and “moderate” personal expenses now he is out on bail.

“Even though my client is alleged to be a thief, he may have a better title to a claim on that money than the bank, even though he is a thief,” Mr Thomas told the court.

Clarke is charged with eight counts of fraudulently diverting funds while he was a solicitor with AHL between June 2016 and August 2017.

Police will allege the junior lawyer fooled one of the world’s most prestigious banks into transferring millions of dollars into his suburban bank account by pretending he was borrowing the money for Mr Gordon, who owns regional television network WIN Corporation and has interests in the Nine Network.

Two of the transfers — worth nearly $4.5 million and just over $2.5 million — involved funds held by Deutsche Bank on behalf of Birketu.

Police will allege Clarke pretended he had authority from Birketu and Mr Gordon to transfer the funds.




funny how you are obliged to put your TRUST in Lawyers 

when you are driven   to sue a dodgy legal... ..




my daughter has recently been caught out by a dodgy legal... not for money but for work he wasnt doing...leaves a bad taste thats for sure.

what does that mean gordon??>..have you got someone looking after your money??>....or spending it for you?

Thanks for reminding me Cods.  I know an extremely dodgy legal whom I was intending to report to the Law Society but I just never brought myself to do it.

I don't think lying to a Tribunal should be encouraged.

So far I have done nothing but at least you have me thinking about it again.

Gordon wrote on Mar 15^th, 2018 at 4:42pm:


Property transactions are easy enough to do yourself.   Just do the research or pay a conveyancing company that charges a flat fee.

I put Lawyers at the same level as:
- Real estate agents
- Pension advisors
- Drug Dealers (heavy stuff)

Super Nova wrote on Mar 15^th, 2018 at 4:45pm:


If anyone in my family was ever hurt by criminal who should have been in jail but had a smart arse lawyer who got them off when clearly they were guilty, well lets just say my next move would make a good plot for a Charlie Bronson movie. 

Super Nova wrote on Mar 15^th, 2018 at 4:45pm:



thats brutal sn.. what about usedcarsalesmen...

no I am kidding..... but I think you are right they dont have a good record..

Black Orchid wrote on Mar 15^th, 2018 at 4:53pm:



I can believe that! daughters case is Comcare and that is a nightmare . its bad enough without a dodgy legal not working for you.

Home about home loan brokers?

Super Nova wrote on Mar 15^th, 2018 at 9:35pm:



I think I read somewhere where they are still after Paul Hogan.. ... we love it though when they catch out the bigwigs....

more laughs from the legal fraternity 



WL Ebsworth Lawyers’ David Stubby told the court: “It (the fraud) all comes about, in our case, due to fraudulent activity via Deutsche Bank and Atanaskovic Hartnell Lawyers.”

The court heard there was still about $1.3 million of the allegedly ill-gotten money sitting in accounts belonging to Clarke.

These include a Westpac bank account in Leura containing $650,000 and a Sportsbet account with $650,000 sitting in it.

Mr Stubby said this money should paid into the court so it could not be spent.

But Clarke’s barrister George Thomas is trying to fight a freeze placed on the accounts by Supreme Court late last year claiming his client needs access to funds to pay for legal bills and “[highlight]moderate” personal expenses now he is out on bail.[/highlight]

“Even though my client is alleged to be a thief, he may have a better title to a claim on that money than the bank, even though he is a thief,” Mr Thomas told the court.

Clarke is charged with eight counts of fraudulently diverting funds while he was a solicitor with AHL between June 2016 and August 2017.

Police will allege the junior lawyer fooled one of the world’s most prestigious banks into transferring millions of dollars into his suburban bank account by pretending he was borrowing the money for Mr Gordon, who owns regional television network WIN Corporation and has interests in the Nine Network.

Two of the transfers — worth nearly $4.5 million and just over $2.5 million — involved funds held by Deutsche Bank on behalf of Birketu.

Police will allege Clarke pretended he had authority from Birketu and Mr Gordon to transfer the funds.

Three other transactions totalling $2.5 million were made on behalf of WIN Corporation and Birketu, according to court documents tendered in Central Local Court.


what legals will say in the defence of the defenceless...

Super Nova wrote on Mar 15^th, 2018 at 9:35pm:

Politicians, they could be the worst of all given many of them are lawyers before they become politicians.