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Alana Giles

LLB (Hons), BA (Psych)

Partner - Melbourne

Areas of Expertise

Dispute Resolution & Litigation, Property & Development, Regulatory, White Collar Crime & Regulatory Investigations

Contact Alana

+61 3 9321 9996 alana.giles@holdingredlich.com Connect

Expertise

Alana is an experienced litigation lawyer who specialises in retail leasing and property disputes, regulatory investigations and civil penalty proceedings, complex commercial disputes and corporate crime.

In leasing and property matters, Alana advises some of Australia’s largest REITs, commercial landlords, shopping centre managers and tenants on leasing disputes, development issues, retail leasing legislation, insolvency and debt recovery. Alana works closely with these clients on strategy, risk assessment and management, alternative dispute resolution and litigation.

In regulatory investigations and civil penalty proceedings, Alana has significant experience acting both for and against Commonwealth regulators, including ASIC and APRA, in relation to matters involving contraventions of the Corporations Act, the ASIC Act and the Banking Act.

In corporate crime matters, Alana has particular experience in defending directors and officers charged with foreign bribery, fraud and corruption. She also acts for clients in ASIC and AFP investigations and prosecutions and has worked on various Royal Commissions and inquiries.

Alana also represents clients in Corporations Act, commercial and contractual disputes, and in litigation arising out of wills and deceased estates.

Experience

Since being admitted to practice in 2009, Alana has acted in a number of high profile disputes and investigations.

Some examples of her recent work include:

Corporate crime & regulatory investigations

  • acting for ASIC in civil penalty proceedings against Mercer Superannuation Australia Limited concerning breaches of the Reportable Situations Regime 
  • acting for APRA in an investigation concerning contraventions of the Banking Act by an authorised deposit taking institution 
  • successfully defending the former director of Dixon Advisory and Superannuation Services Pty Limited in civil penalty proceedings brought by ASIC for breaches of directors’ duties (ASIC v Ryan [2024] FCA 1267) 
  • acting for the former CEO of Note Printing Australia Limited in Australia’s first foreign bribery prosecution, which was permanently stayed by the High Court after seven years of contested litigation: Strickland (a pseudonym) & Ors v Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions [2018] HCA 53 
  • acting for a former employee of Sinclair Knight Merz (now Jacobs Group (Australia)) in a foreign bribery prosecution in the NSW Supreme Court 
  • acting for companies and individuals in ASIC investigations 
  • acting for individuals in AFP investigations relating to foreign bribery and corruption 
  • acting for the Jones Hotel Group in Supreme Court proceedings against Westpac Bank and a former employee regarding the employee’s fraudulent conduct 
  • acting for a director called to give evidence before the Victorian Government’s COVID-19 Hotel Quarantine Inquiry 
  • part of a team of Solicitors Assisting the Royal Commission into the Management of Police Informants 
  • acting for former Essendon FC staff and players in ASADA’s investigation into the use of banned substances. 

Retail & commercial leasing disputes

  • advising and representing a number of Australia’s largest REITs, landlords, shopping centre managers and tenants in relation to all aspects of retail and commercial leasing disputes, including misleading and deceptive conduct claims, unconscionable conduct, disturbance, relocation and demolition claims, redevelopment, debt and general dispute resolution
  • successfully defending landlord creditors in proceedings commenced by the administrators of the PAS Group seeking declarations that rent incurred during an administration period should not be a priority expense in any subsequent winding up: Ford (Administrator), in the matter of the PAS Group Limited (Administrators Appointed) v Scentre Management Limited [2020] FCA 1023.

Property disputes & real estate litigation

  • successfully acting for a mortgagee in possession exercising its power of sale in caveat removal proceedings in the Supreme Court of Victoria (Australian Commercial Mortgage Corporation Pty Ltd atf The Balmain Opportunity Trust v Negash [2025] VSC 502) 
  • acting for a purchaser in respect of rescission of a sale contract resulting in proceedings commenced in the Supreme Court of Victoria 
  • advising and representing landlords and tenants in market rent determinations  
  • land tax and council rates valuation disputes involving complex commercial assets. 

Deceased estates & estate litigation

  • acting for beneficiaries in a complex estate dispute involving issues of competing wills, testamentary capacity, family law and valuation of complex assets 
  • acting for executors and beneficiaries in testator family maintenance claims. 

Commercial & contractual disputes

  • acting in a long and complex litigation in the Supreme Court of Victoria involving penalties, equitable compensation for breach of fiduciary duty and freezing orders 
  • acting for Peter Lawrence in proceedings seeking to challenge the election rules of the Melbourne Football Club (Lawrence v Melbourne Football Club Ltd [2024] FCA 945; Lawrence v Melbourne Football Club Limited [2022] VSC 658) 
  • acting for clients in respect of corporate governance issues 
  • acting for insurers, directors and officers in relation to indemnity and coverage disputes arising out of insurance contracts and deeds of indemnity. 

Membership

Law Institute of Victoria

Publications

13 June 2026 - Knowledge

AI and directors’ duties: Navigating cyber risk and responsible governance

#Dispute Resolution & Litigation

We explore the current regulatory and governance risks for company directors and executives using AI, including heightened cyber threats, evolving legal obligations, and the need for transparent, responsible oversight of AI-enabled decision-making.

04 June 2026 - Knowledge

What to do when the landlord-tenant relationship sours

#Property & Development

We provide a practical roadmap for navigating common landlord-tenant challenges, including default, termination, relief against forfeiture applications, and how landlords might respond when tenants raise counterclaims during enforcement action.

19 November 2025 - Knowledge

ASIC’s 2026 enforcement priorities: How can businesses ensure compliance

#Dispute Resolution & Litigation, #Corporate & Commercial Law

From poor private credit practices to financial reporting misconduct, insurance complaints and misleading pricing, ASIC’s enforcement priorities for the year ahead send a clear signal to businesses about where they could get caught out.

27 July 2025 - Knowledge

Navigating voluntary administration: Key considerations for landlords of insolvent tenants

#Corporate Restructuring and Insolvency, #Dispute Resolution & Litigation, #Real Estate

When a retail tenant enters voluntary administration, it creates a complex situation for landlords because the landlord’s usual rights are restricted. We highlight the key considerations for landlords when dealing with tenants in administration.

25 February 2025 - Knowledge

What qualifies as a retail lease under the Retail Leases Act (Vic)?

#Dispute Resolution & Litigation, #Property & Development

We analyse a recent case involving an equestrian centre operating both on and off a leased premises, which raises the question of what defines a lease of retail premises under the Retail Leases Act 2003 (Vic).

27 November 2024 - Knowledge

Federal Court finds director reasonably relied on external advice amid potential insolvency

#Dispute Resolution & Litigation, #Corporate Restructuring and Insolvency

A recent case we acted on highlights the importance of a company director acting in good faith and reasonably relying on and assessing external advice when making decisions while faced with a potential insolvency for one company within a corporate group.

27 November 2024 - Knowledge

#Dispute Resolution & Litigation, #Corporate Restructuring and Insolvency

A recent case we acted on highlights the importance of a company director acting in good faith and reasonably relying on and assessing external advice when making decisions when faced with a potential insolvency for one company within a corporate group.

02 October 2024 - Knowledge

Do personal guarantees apply after lease termination and the creation of a monthly tenancy?

#Property & Development, #Dispute Resolution & Litigation

A recent case involving a dispute between a tenant and landlord addresses the issue of whether personal guarantees continue to apply after the termination of a lease and creation of a monthly tenancy.

17 September 2024 - Knowledge

AML/CTF Amendment Bill: A significant development to combating financial crime

#Dispute Resolution & Litigation

The introduction of the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Amendment Bill is a significant development in Australia’s approach to combating financial crime. We discuss the objectives of the Bill and the targeted service areas.

Upcoming Seminars

30 Apr 26 to 14 Oct 26 - Brisbane

2026 Project Lifecycle series

From procurement to completion: managing risk across the life of a project

Register now

23 Jul 26

Mid year Security of Payment wrap up

At the halfway point of 2026, join us for a focused review of the most significant decisions shaping the Security of Payment regime throughout Australia. This session will translate judicial developments into practical steps for principals and contractors operating within the Security of Payment regime.

Register now

20 Aug 26 - Brisbane

Managing conflict, claims and crisis points | Part 3: Project lifecycle series

When projects come under pressure, the way parties respond can determine whether the dispute is contained or catastrophic. Part 3 of our Project Lifecycle Series examines how to manage claims and conflict when disputes have escalated beyond project-level management.

Register now

Holding Redlich respectfully acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the land on which we operate as the continuing custodians of this land. We recognise their continuing connection to Country, practices, knowledge systems and communities. We pay our respects to Elders, past and present.

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