Companies

The administrators of the Dartbrook coal mine in the New South Wales' Hunter Valley have won six more months before holding a second creditors meeting, with a judge convinced a pending approval to extend the mine’s life until 2033 could make or break a sale.

A judge has spiked Piper Alderman's class action alleging Google abuses its dominance in digital advertising, favouring a competing case run jointly by two other firms, despite suggesting such arrangements hinted at lawyers “passing the prize around”. 

K&L Gates has bolstered its tax disputes offering, snagging a partner from Deloitte with experience in transfer pricing controversies for its Sydney office.

A Sydney barrister who won defamation proceedings against Nine over an Instagram-famous cavoodle has sought to disqualify a judge from hearing a dispute with her solicitors over costs, citing a lunch he had with Nine’s silk. 

Construction giant Lendlease has retained its rights to the 'Civil & Civic' name despite the brand falling into disuse, with IP Australia accepting the company retained a reputation in the valuable legacy trade mark.

Lendlease has defeated a challenge to its 'Civil & Civic' trade mark despite lack of use, successfully arguing it retained a residual reputation in the name under which it built the Sydney Opera House podium.

The NSW tax office has succeeded on appeal in its fight with Uber over five years of payroll tax totalling more than $81 million, with an appeals court finding that payments made to drivers are taxable.

Rebel Sport owner Super Retail Group is facing a possible class action for allegedly underpaying staff at its stores since 2019.

Carnival has lost an appeal of a finding in a class action that it was negligent in preventing a COVID-19 outbreak aboard the Ruby Princess cruise ship, but an appeal by the applicant over damages has also failed. 

A solicitor for a contractor in dispute with the Commonwealth Bank has been called out by a judge for a unilateral email to chambers without CBA's consent.