Clive Palmer accuses long-time solicitor of stealing $30 million

A forensic audit of billionaire Clive Palmer’s legal bills uncovered “sophisticated altering of the invoices” to steal $30 million from the mining magnate’s company, a court has heard, triggering his long-time solicitor to hand in his practising certificate.

The polarising former federal MP and Trumpet of Patriots chairman alleges Sam Iskander, who had represented Palmer in legal matters as recently as this year through his firm Alexander Law, stole tens of millions of dollars from his mining company Mineralogy between 2016 and July.

The Queensland Law Society confirmed Iskander had surrendered his practising certificate following the accusations being aired, with the long-time solicitor consenting through legal counsel in the Supreme Court on Friday to account freezing and injunctive orders.

Clive Palmer has been politically active in recent years with enormous donations to his campaigns.Credit: Getty Images

This masthead does not suggest the allegations are true, merely that the accusations had been made.

Justice Melanie Hindman outlined details of a forensic audit included in an affidavit when approving the application, describing the allegations as “obviously extremely serious”.

“It seems there’s been some sophisticated altering of the invoices, so to someone receiving the amended invoices there’s nothing on their face that will point out there’s been some sort of doctoring involved,” the judge told the court.

In one supposedly doctored invoice in March, the listed fee for work was listed at $7500, but this was allegedly amended to $20,625.

“A very significant difference in just one item on one account,” she said.

Hindman also referred to another example where, “perhaps more disturbingly”, an invoice originally showed there was no charge for an hour of legal work before being amended to include a fee that was allegedly paid.

The matter is expected to be heard in the Supreme Court on Friday afternoon.Credit: Alexander Law

“It’s difficult to envisage the amount involved, as I’ve mentioned, might be in the order of $30 million, but that does seem, based on information to date, showing that the figure might be at least over $20 million and that’s only on a sample selection of the invoices involved,” she said.

“So the estimate of $30 million, in my view, is not unreasonable.

“There is, on the material before me, plainly a serious question to be tried, and the plaintiff appears to have a good arguable case,” she added.

The Queensland Law Society said it was aware of the allegations and confirmed to this masthead Iskander was no longer in practice.

“Our priority in this situation is to protect the public and execute our duties as co-regulator of the legal profession in Queensland,” a spokesman for QLS said.

“We are taking all necessary steps to do this in accordance with responsibilities under the Legal Profession Act.”

Iskander had represented Palmer as recently as January in documents filed to the High Court which involved the mining magnate’s legal action against the Commonwealth of Australia in a dispute with the Australian Electoral Commission relating to the registration of his United Australia Party.

The application in the Supreme Court was brought by leading commercial barrister Brian O’Donnell KC on behalf of Mineralogy and a number of Palmer’s other entities.

Iskander was represented by John Sneddon, with a review of the originating application scheduled for August 22.

Start the day with a summary of the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.