Press Releases and Announcements - 19 August 2011

Blanshard jail term sends strong message to stockbrokers

National law firm Maurice Blackburn has today welcomed the six year jail term (2 year non-parole period) for Robert Blanshard, who pleaded guilty to misappropriating $4million of clients investments while employed at BBY and Baillieu, a Sydney stockbroking firm.

Maurice Blackburn has represented the interests of a number people who lost money as a result of Mr Blanshard's misconduct.

New South Wales managing principal Ben Slade said: "Maurice Blackburn calls on stockbroking firms to accept responsibility for the conduct of their employees. When criminal conduct such as this occurs, the victims must be compensated. The obligation to compensate should be borne by those who employ rogues. Stockbroking firms are required by law to have adequate systems in place to make sure this sort of thing does not happen. If the systems fail, the stockbroking firms must accept responsibility for their system failure."