ASIC Disqualifies Anthony Ronald Lawless from Managing Companies for 18 Months

The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) today announced that it has disqualified Anthony Ronald Lawless of Maribyrnong, Victoria, from managing companies for eighteen months due to his involvement in the failure of three companies.

Mr Lawless was a director of three companies that went into liquidation in 2018 and 2020:

• Lawless Group Pty Ltd ACN 111 524 282 (Lawless Group);

• 4D Joinery Pty Ltd ACN 615 220 892 (4D Joinery); and

• Boulderstone Concrete Pty Ltd ACN 615 220 909 (Boulderstone).

Lawless Group operated as a building company, 4D Joinery and Boulderstone provided joinery and concreting services.

In making its decision to disqualify Mr Lawless, ASIC found that he failed to:

• ensure Lawless Group and 4D Joinery complied with their obligations to pay employee superannuation entitlements;

• understand his obligations and duties as director of Lawless Group;

• act with the required degree of care and diligence in respect of Lawless Group by incorrectly accounting for payments totalling $491,918.82; and

• prevent Lawless Group and 4D Joinery from incurring debts when the companies may have been trading while insolvent.

The total amount owed to creditors across all three companies was $6,576,664.56, including $1,439,462.95 owed to the Australian Taxation Office.  

Mr Lawless is disqualified from managing corporations until 21 February 2023.