Rate My Professor David Chaikin

Associate Professor David Chaikin serves as Chair of the Discipline of Business Law and Associate Professor in the University of Sydney Business School. He earned his PhD in Law from the University of Cambridge, LLM from Yale University, and LLB/BCom in Finance, Accounting, and Systems with Merit from the University of New South Wales. A practising barrister in New South Wales with liability limited by Professional Standards Legislation, he brings over 35 years of experience in law enforcement and justice issues. Previously, he held the position of Senior Assistant Secretary and Head of the International Criminal Law Enforcement and Security Branch in the Australian Attorney-General’s Department. He also served as Senior Legal Officer in the Commercial Crime Unit of the Commonwealth Secretariat in London. As a barrister and legal consultant, he has advised governments, international organisations, and private sector clients on multi-jurisdictional investigations, including asset recovery efforts related to a professional whistleblower and the assets of the late Philippine dictator President Ferdinand Marcos.

Prior to his academic appointment at the University of Sydney Business School, David Chaikin was a practising lawyer specialising in multi-jurisdictional investigations. He teaches banking and finance law, corporate and commercial law, and asset protection and management of wealth risks. His research focuses on banking law, international financial crime, and the law of asset protection. Notable publications include the book Corruption and Money Laundering: A Symbiotic Relationship (2009), co-authored with J.C. Sharman. He is a recipient of an Australian Research Council Discovery Grant (DP0986608, $206,987) in collaboration with A/Prof Jason Sharman. His expertise has influenced policy, including contributions to improved whistleblower protection recognised by the Australian Federal Government, and he has provided submissions to parliamentary inquiries on whistleblowing policy, laws, and practices.