Judge David Russell

Refusing to sit out a criminal trial against Boral Cement, a judge has said his sentencing of an engineering firm that pleaded guilty in the SafeWork NSW case did not disqualify him.

Civil construction company Hynash has lost an appeal bid after a judgment put it on the hook for the full sum of a payment claim lodged by a subcontractor following the termination of a contract linked to a Bathurst, NSW project.

Qantas has been hit with a $250,000 fine for standing down a health and safety representative who directed co-workers to cease unsafe work during COVID-19, with a judge saying the airline's conduct was "shameful" and designed to "advance its own commercial interests".

While there was no shortage of pain and challenges for law firms as the coronavirus raged across the globe last year, a number of big firms also felt the sting of litigation from disgruntled clients, partners and employees.