Courts
Pressures mount as Federal Court filings jump nine per cent
The Federal Court is grappling with “substantial and evolving” pressures as the number of filings rose to 6,010 over the past year, including an “exponential rise” in the numbers of self-represented litigants.
AI
AirTrunk secures $4.25B loan for Western Sydney data centre development
Data centre platform AirTrunk has secured a $4.25 billion loan to develop its Western Sydney campus, with Mallesons and Gilbert + Tobin advising on the deal.
Securities
Law firm probes shareholder class action against NextDC
NextDC is facing a class action investigation following last Wednesday's $140 million revenue forecast downgrade that sent the AI data centre operator's share price plummeting.
AI
AI rules in courts, tribunals an ‘unholy mess’, senator says
Greens leader and senator David Shoebridge has criticised the "unholy mess" of different courts and tribunals' adopting different rules around generative AI use.
Employment
MinRes’ Chris Ellison loses bid to strike out lawyer’s dismissal claim
Mineral Resources managing director Chris Ellison has lost his bid to strike out an unfair dismissal claim by a former in-house lawyer for the company, who told the court Ellison said “just get rid of her” in a 2024 meeting.
Competition & Consumer Protection
Perfection Fresh agrees to $12M penalty in price-fixing case
Produce wholesaler Perfection Fresh has admitted it engaged in cartel conduct in supplying vegetables to discount grocery chain Aldi, and has agreed to pay a $12 million penalty for breaches of the competition laws.
Courts
Federal Court CEO says 88 cases exposed in February data breach
The Federal Court's chief executive officer has blamed a process failure by a collapsed transcription service company for a February data breach, in which eight unauthorised people had access to parts of 88 proceedings.
Financial Services
ASIC halts $573M Murdoch Clarke fund amid credit crackdown
ASIC has issued interim stop orders preventing Murdoch Clarke from offering investment in its mortgage fund, as part of the corporate regulator’s surveillance of the private credit sector.
Accounting
BDO Audit director seeks strike-out of ASIC case over Dubber audits
A BDO Audit director facing action launched by ASIC over alleged false and misleading reports for software company Dubber is seeking to strike out the regulator's amended case.
High Court
Digital Freedom Project denies it lacks standing to oppose social media ban
The advocacy group that's challenging the government's under-16s social media ban has hit back at the Commonwealth’s allegation that it lacks standing, telling the High Court the ban is having “profound” effects on its members.
