Business of Law

A judge has issued a stark warning on the dangers of "befriending Artificial Intelligence-powered chatbots who masquerade as legal advisors", tossing out Fair Work proceedings by a self-represented delivery driver who the judge said appeared to use AI to generate an evidence list of documents that did not exist.

Lander & Rogers says its independence has helped the firm remain agile at a time when Australian law firms are increasingly pursuing international mergers to contend with economic pressures and rising client expectations.

Hall & Wilcox has welcomed three partners from Piper Alderman to grow its corporate practice.

Hamilton Locke has lured three partners and their teams from K&L Gates, bolstering its tax offering in response to client demand.

Clifford Chance has hired the head of Mallesons' real estate group and his team of five to lead its growing real estate practice in Australia, on the heels of hiring lawyers from Pinsent Masons and HSF Kramer to kickstart its construction and environment teams.

Colin Biggers Paisley is beefing up its property and development group, promoting two property lawyers to its partnership and hiring two more. 

Corrs Chambers Westgarth has followed other firms in bolstering its projects offering with its latest partner promotions, with two of the firm's four new partners boasting expertise on complex energy and infrastructure projects.

The latest new suits feature billion-dollar infrastructure brawls, fresh employment claims against Telstra and Woolworths, and regulators flexing their enforcement muscle.

Gilbert + Tobin, Holding Redlich, Thomsons and HWL Ebsworth have announced their partner promotions for 2026, with projects and infrastructure among the key practice areas to benefit from this year's appointments.

McCullough Robertson has won its bid to strike out a former client's professional negligence case, with a judge finding that its reliance on “common sense and experience” in its pleading was inadequate.