William Edwards

A guarantor of developer Westgem Investments can amend her claim against Westpac and the Commonwealth Bank related to the financing for a commercial development in Perth’s Raine Square.

A shareholder class action has slammed as "nonsensical" Fletcher Building’s claim that a judge’s public comments in his previous role at Maurice Blackburn created an appearance of bias against corporate defendants.

A judge who was previously the head of class actions at Maurice Blackburn has questioned a bid by Fletcher Building that he recuse himself from presiding over a shareholder case against the construction company.

Maurice Blackburn is stuck paying $5.4 million in security in a flex commissions class action against Macquarie, with a judge saying it represents a “business risk willingly undertaken”.

Class action settlements leaped in value last year, with three settlements topping the $200 million mark.

Boral has won a legal challenge to its former CEO facing cross-examination in a shareholder class action trial over an email referring to a confidential EY report. 

Funder LLS has urged the court to approve its 20 per cent cut of a $202 million settlement in a stolen wages class action, saying that reducing the "bottom end" rate could deter investments in public interest class actions.

The Commonwealth says funder LLS should not be allowed a 20 per cent cut of a stolen wages class action settlement of up to $202 million, arguing it could produce an “excessive deduction”.

A judge presiding over a class action against Fletcher Building has clarified his relationship with the director of a litigation funder which is the basis of a recusal bid.