Billionaire Richard White hopes for ‘quick trial’ in money fight against ex-lover and entrepreneur Linda Rogan

Lawyers for billionaire and WiseTech CEO Richard White have called for a speedy trial in a court fight with his ex-lover and allegedly duped business partner, Linda Rogan.

Linda Rogan (left) arrives at Federal Court on Tuesday. Picture: NewsWire/Nikki Short

Billionaire Richard White wants a “quick trial” dispute with former lover Linda Rogan, with a one-day final hearing date set for next year, the Federal Court has heard.

A fight over money has erupted between the pair, with Ms Rogan fighting a bankruptcy application Mr White has lodged against her. 

That fight is about $91,000 worth of luxury furniture she purchased — allegedly at Mr White’s direction — to deck out a secret mansion worth $13.1m in Sydney’s Vaucluse that he bought for her in 2022.

Ms Rogan has alleged Mr White offered to invest in her business, Bionik Wellness, in exchange for sex. But after their relationship turned from professional to sexual, Ms Rogan claimed it was discovered Mr White’s girlfriend Zena Nasser.

As a result, Ms Rogan says in court documents she defaulted on a deal to take over Bionik Wellness, she was locked out of the mansion and was left with the purchased furniture.

Ms Rogan then successfully sought court garnishee orders to withdraw the $91,000 from Mr White’s Westpac account. And now, Mr White has launched bankruptcy action against her, in a bid to get that money back.

During a brief hearing on Tuesday morning, Mr White’s barrister Jeremy Giles SC said: “We have a unsurprising … (hope) for a quick trial in this matter.”

Mr Giles told the court there was “no need” for Ms Rogan’s legal team to serve subpoenas on Ms Nasser and Mr White’s long-time solicitor, Justin Betar.

He said Mr White agreed to produce the documents called for in the case.

As well, the court heard it’s likely there will be a fight about what documents produced fall under legal professional privilege and could be concealed from parties.

Ms Rogan’s barrister Bridie Nolan told the court she had no concerns about having the matter heard this year, but she had limited availability.

Ultimately, the parties have agreed to a final, one day hearing on February 6 before Federal Court judge Nye Perram.

Mr White, who owns about $15bn in WiseTech shares, is pursuing the bankruptcy claim against Ms Rogan after serving her with a bankruptcy notice at her work in August this year.

In documents lodged with the Federal Court last week, Ms Rogan has signalled she will pursue Mr White for damages related to her allegedly having later been forced to sell her shares in Bionik at a loss.

Ms Rogan has alleged Mr White provided advice and promised about $2m funding for her Bionik Wellness business in Sydney’s inner east, before abruptly locking her out of a $13.1m Vaucluse mansion he bought for her, and reneging on the business deal.

A deal for him to help Ms Rogan buy out her business partners, including her husband, collapsed after their relationship ended in November 2022. This occurred after, Ms Rogan alleges, she was set to buy another business partner out for about $1.8m using funds Mr White had allegedly promised.

Ms Rogan, who part-owns Laser Clinics franchises in Sydney, Queensland and New Zealand, says she defaulted on an agreement to buy out her Bionik Wellness partners and later lost $250,000 after selling her shares following the breakdown of her relationship with Mr White in November 2022.

Two months earlier, in September 2022, Ms Rogan alleges Mr White arranged for her to travel to the US to meet him, during which the pair became lovers — which she alleges was in exchange for the billionaire investing in her business.

“When I met Richard, I genuinely believed he was interested in investing in my business. I was separated from my husband, caring for three children and my teenage son had only recently suffered a devastating brain injury. After a few weeks I realised Richard was pursuing a sexual relationship,” Ms Rogan claims in documents released by the Federal Court this month.