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PwC can’t ‘rout’ documents through ‘postbox’ lawyer to secure privilege, court finds
Advice from non-lawyers and "routed" through a legal practitioner at multidisciplinary partnership PricewaterhouseCoopers cannot be shielded under legal professional privilege, the Federal Court has found.
PwC can’t claim privilege over all advice to JBS, judge finds
A judge has rejected the Australian Taxation Office's claim that legal professional privilege does not apply to any communications between PricewaterhouseCoopers and its client, meat processor JBS, but has found that many of the reviewed documents do not satisfy the test of privilege.
TerraCom can’t keep PwC report from ASIC investigators
Mining company TerraCom has lost a case seeking to shield a report by PricewaterhouseCoopers from the Australian Securities and Investments Commission, which is investigating claims current and former executives falsified coal quality results.
Dixon Advisory files for administration, blaming class actions
Embattled wealth advisor Dixon Advisory has filed for administration, saying its potential liability in two class actions and a $7.2 million penalty it agreed to pay in ASIC proceedings mean it is likely to become insolvent in the future.
Careers Australia directors face insolvent trading case over $40M dividend
The liquidator of collapsed vocational education provider Careers Australia has filed a lawsuit against the company’s former directors, including founding CEO of Optus Robert Mansfield, seeking damages for alleged insolvent trading and breach of directors’ duties over a $40 million dividend the company allegedly could not afford.
PwC strikes back in class action over $50M Axsesstoday prospectus
Professional services giant PricewaterhouseCoopers has hit back at a class action over a $50 million prospectus for Axsesstoday, filing a cross-claim against the asset finance lender and saying it “takes no responsibility” for allegedly defective offer documents.
PwC hit with $43M negligence lawsuit by failed VET provider Cornerstone
Accounting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers is facing claims of professional negligence by insolvent tertiary education provider Cornerstone for allegedly assisting the company's former director in overstating the company's revenue and unlawfully extinguishing his debt.
PwC a ‘different beast’ to law firms when it comes to privilege, court hears
Assessing claims of privilege involving multidisciplinary firms like PricewaterhouseCoopers that offer legal and accounting services is "inherently awkward", a court heard on the final day of a hearing in a privilege battle between the accounting firm and the ATO.
‘Curious choice’ to sue PwC and not Baker McKenzie, judge says
Chinese lender Aoyin must pay PricewaterhouseCoopers' legal costs for a vacated trial after Aoyin's eleventh hour decision to join Baker McKenzie to a $10 million cross-claim in a dispute concerning the accounting firm's advice on its failed bid to launch the first Chinese incorporated bank in Australia.
PwC partner kept on JBS brief to maintain privilege despite CFO’s unhappiness
A PwC partner who the ATO claims was assigned to work on a matter for meat processing company JBS to bring a “cloak of legal privilege” kept a supporting role on the brief despite the company CFO’s dissatisfaction, a court has heard.