Barristers

Liquidators for defunct construction group Hastie have launched a bid in its Federal Court case against Hall & Wilcox to refer a $18.6 million bill from the law firm to a costs assessor.

Developer Mulpha is considering launching cross-claims against contractors in a class action on behalf of owners and investors of homes in a 683-lot development in Glenmore Park, NSW.

A judge has asked for more information on why he should approve $43.1 million in legal fees in a class action against AMP that settled for $120 million, calling the amount "extraordinary" and "troubling".

Dairy giant a2 Milk has agreed to cough up $62 million to settle a consolidated shareholder class action over a 2021 guidance.

A judge has threatened to vacate the trial in Dexus’ case against Melbourne Airport operator APAC after all the defendants tried to file documents late, suggesting the lawyers may be hit with personal costs orders.

A leading competition law barrister has been appointed as the federal government’s chief legal advisor, with the government’s kids social media ban and attacks on hate speech laws to be among her early challenges. 

Transport for New South Wales is mulling an appeal of a ruling that ordered it to pay an additional $28.6 million for land acquired to build the M12 motorway to the new Western Sydney Airport. 

Vietnamese airline VietJet has lost its bid to set aside a US$215 million judgment in favour of aircraft leasing company FW Aviation, in a dispute over a lease agreement for four Airbus A321 passenger jets.

A judge has said he will not be able to decide all the suppression applications in the ACCC’s misuse of market power case against Mastercard ahead of trial, saying the court was facing an “unreasonable, if not oppressive” burden.

Pharmacor is resisting AstraZeneca’s notice to produce in an intellectual property fight over diabetes drug Forxiga, claiming privilege over material evidencing its consideration of a new claim challenging the validity of a patent extension.