Financial Services
‘We don’t know’ not a reason to block $4.9B Suncorp merger, ANZ says
ANZ has criticised the ACCCâs objection to its planned $4.9 billion merger with Suncorp, arguing before a tribunal that the alleged "uncertain" effects on competition in banking was not a sufficient reason to block the deal.
Class Actions
Government urged to shell out $900M to settle live exports class action
The applicant in a nine-year-old class action over the government's 2011 live exports ban has urged the Commonwealth to pay up to $900 million to settle the case, after earlier settlement efforts flopped.
Employment
Fight over competing KFC class actions not yet on the menu
The claims in two class actions alleging fast food giant KFC denied workers rest breaks are substantially similar but not identical, a court has heard, and whether or not the two cases are headed for a battle to survive remains to be seen.
Tax
ATO cant find non-conflicted expert for $173M case against Hilton over hotel sale
The ATO has lost its bid for a court-appointed joint expert after it failed to find a witness with legal expertise in structuring hotel sales who was not âcommercially conflictedâ, with a judge ruling that Hilton should not be prevented from relying on an expert report it already obtained.
Competition & Consumer Protection
Qantas stands by defence in ghost flights case
Qantas has hit back the ACCC's argument that the airline failed to respond to key allegations in its 'ghost flights' case, telling the court it's the regulator's job to particularise its claims.
Class Actions
PwC class action by Axsesstoday bondholders wants to add insurer, 3 years in
More than three years after filing a class action against failed asset finance lender Axsesstoday and auditor PricewaterhouseCoopers over a $50 million prospectus, the applicant has asked a court to file a new statement of claim that will join insurer Dual Australia to the case.
Restructuring & Insolvency
Gilbert + Tobin bolsters restructuring practice with Clayton Utz partner hire
Gilbert + Tobin has lured partner Orla McCoy from Clayton Utz to co-head the law firm's leading restructuring and insolvency team, strengthening the practice to over 18 core lawyers.
Courts
Supreme Court gets back up as NSW minister spruiks industrial tribunal
In a rare public statement, the NSW Supreme Court has sought to correct what it says are inaccuracies in comments by the state industrial relations minister contrasting it unfavourably with a proposed new court dedicated to workplace disputes.
Defamation
Brittany Higgins grilled over dress worn on night of alleged rape
Former Liberal staffer Brittany Higgins told a court Friday she tried to "reclaim" the dress she wore on the night of her alleged raped by later wearing it to a birthday function for her then boss, Senator Linda Reynolds.
Defamation
Judge to decide whether Higgins can be questioned about courthouse speech
The judge overseeing alleged rapist Bruce Lehrmannâs defamation case against Network Ten and presenter Lisa Wilkinson has deferred a decision about whether accuser Brittany Higgins can be questioned over her speech outside the ACT courthouse after a mistrial was declared in Lehrmannâs criminal case.
