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Unit of study_

LAWS6953: Law of Asset Protection

2025 unit information

Asset protection is concerned with the preservation and transmission of property of individuals, families or corporations. It has the broad purpose of minimising legal business and political risks by safeguarding assets from seizure, loss and diminution in value. It is concerned with the protection of assets from potential creditors, government expropriation, excessive taxation and catastrophic loss. It is a vital component of tax advice, wealth management and financial planning. This unit examines the legal aspects of asset protection from both Australian and international perspectives. It provides a sound understanding of the legal techniques and principles of asset protection. The complex interaction between company law, the law of trusts and property, tax and estate planning laws, bankruptcy and insolvency laws is analysed. The unit focuses on the laws of a select number of offshore jurisdictions as well as international trust law. It examines the legal impediments and ethics of asset protection. Anti-money laundering rules and the civil and criminal liabilities of trustees and professional advisers are also covered. Refer to the Sydney Law School timetable - https://canvas.sydney.edu.au/courses/4533/pages/postgraduate-lecture-timetable

Unit details and rules

Managing faculty or University school:

Sydney Law School

Study level Postgraduate
Academic unit Law
Credit points 6
Prerequisites:
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None
Corequisites:
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None
Prohibitions:
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None
Assumed knowledge:
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It is assumed that students undertaking this unit have an understanding of Australian income taxation law commensurate with that which would be obtained from completing undergraduate study in Australian taxation law or five years working with Australian tax law in a law or accounting practice in an industry role or in the Australian Taxation Office. Students who do not have such knowledge or work experience should undertake LAWS6825 Fundamentals of Australian Taxation before enrolling in other units. For students who have not studied Australian law it is recommended that they undertake LAWS6252 Legal Reasoning and the Common Law System before enrolling in LAWS6825 and this unit

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

  • LO1. Examine the legal aspects of asset protection, from both Australian and international perspectives, and analyse how they are applied in practice.
  • LO2. Critically evaluate the legal techniques and limits of asset protection.
  • LO3. Analyse the complex interaction between company law, the law of trusts and property, tax and estate planning laws, bankruptcy and insolvency laws through writing, problem solving and research.

Unit availability

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The outline is published 2 weeks before the first day of teaching. You can look at previous outlines for a guide to the details of a unit.

There are no availabilities for this year.
Session MoA ?  Location Outline ? 
Semester 2b 2025
Block mode Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney
Outline unavailable
Session MoA ?  Location Outline ? 
Intensive August - September 2021
Block mode Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney
Intensive March - April 2022
Block mode Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney
Intensive March - April 2023
Block mode Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

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Modes of attendance (MoA)

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