Astrid Haban-Beer has a practice incorporating criminal law, public law and regulatory investigations. Astrid’s practice includes appearing in jury trials, royal commissions, and coronial inquests.
Astrid has extensive appearance and advisory experience as counsel, and both defends and prosecutes in criminal trials. Astrid has particular experience with white collar crime including corruption matters, Commonwealth Code matters, public interest immunity matters, and matters involving the intersection of criminal and civil law. Astrid has a strong civil regulatory background and has acted for and against regulators across jurisdictions.
Astrid has a current high level security clearance.
Astrid undertakes appearances (trials, pleas, committals and applications) and advice work across all jurisdictions, in criminal and quasi-criminal matters, covering areas of:
Astrid has frequently acted for government and institutional clients, and individuals in a number of Royal Commissions including:
Astrid is a Victoria Legal Aid Criminal Trial Preferred Barrister, and holds an Indictable Crime Certificate (ICC).
Background
Astrid commenced her legal career as a Judge's Associate at the Supreme Court of Victoria with the Hon. Justice Bongiorno (2006-2007).
Immediately prior to joining the Bar, Astrid was a Senior Lawyer at the Australian Government Solicitor (AGS) in the Civil Regulatory and Enforcement team (2008-2013).
As an experienced solicitor, Astrid acted for Commonwealth agencies in the areas of competition and consumer law, corporate regulation, customs and tariff law, national security, trade marks, regulatory enforcement and insolvency.
Astrid spent a significant period of time on secondment within in-house legal teams at the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) in the mergers branch, the Australian Taxation Office (ATO), and the Australian Federal Police (AFP) Oil-For-Food Taskforce investigating alleged corruption in relation to UN sanctions.
Professional Interests
Astrid has recognised experience and leadership in gender, diversity, equality and access to justice issues.
Current Board and Committee work:
Astrid was recognised as the inaugural winner of the Professions category of the 40 Under 40 Most Influential Asian-Australians Leadership awards through Asialink in 2019.
Through her pro bono work with Australians Detained Abroad, Astrid has particular knowledge relating to the legal systems in The Philippines and Colombia.
Astrid is a former Convenor and board member of the Victorian Women Lawyers Association (VWL) (2008-2013), and chaired VWL's Women in Government Committee, Justice Committee and Women Migrants' Information Committee. Astrid is a former Deputy Chair of the Victorian Bar's Equality and Diversity Committee, and led the Race, Ethnicity and Cultural Diversity working group.
Astrid was previously a Director of the board of St Kilda Community Legal Centre from 2014-2018, and sat on the audit and risk committee.
She was previously a member of the Bar's Indigenous Justice Committee, the Law Institute of Victoria's Diversity Taskforce (2012-2019), and the Law Council of Australia Equal Opportunity committee (2011-2017).
Astrid has also worked in human trafficking policy and advocacy for the UNODC in Bogota, Colombia, and advises and appears in human trafficking matters in Australia and Asia.
Astrid completed her LLM at the University of Melbourne focusing on criminal law, evidence and disability/health data law subjects.
Astrid read with Benjamin Fitzpatrick and her senior mentor is Fiona McLeod SC.
Recent appearances include:
Astrid has appeared in the following Royal Commissions:
Other appearances of note: