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Solicitor’s caveat over client’s mortgage to satisfy costs not invalid, appeals court says
An appeals court has found that a solicitor’s caveat over his bankrupt client’s property was valid, after the client agreed to mortgage his property as security for up to $100,000 in legal costs, saying it was the only binding costs agreement they had.
Court can order solicitor to return fees for ‘exorbitant overcharging’
A court made valid orders for a Queensland solicitor to pay back $251,255 to the relative of a former client, an appeals court has found, saying that “exorbitant charging debases the reputation of the legal profession”.
Dispute over barrister’s fee estimates goes to High Court
A barrister is taking a dispute over his $320,000 bill to the High Court, but a judge has cast doubt on the appeal’s prospects of success.
‘Commercial nonsense’ ruling shot down in AMP lease dispute
Willis Australia has won an appeal against its landlord, AMP Capital, with a court ruling the insurance broker is entitled to withdraw notice it gave in December 2019 to renew its office lease. 
Lawyer shielded by advocate’s immunity for omission of claim against builder: appeals court
An appeals court has held that a Sydney solicitor can't be sued for negligence for a failure to include a breach of contract claim in a building dispute, saying the lawyer was protected by advocate’s immunity because his decision was “intimately connected” with the litigation.
Lenders of collapsed Arrium lose appeal over directors’ loan drawdowns
Commonwealth Bank and other lenders of failed steel giant Arrium have lost a second attempt to put two of the company's directors on the hook for alleged misleading representations on loan drawdown notices ahead of its $2.8 billion collapse.
Ex-BCEG directors claw back costs after shaving $12.5M off judgment
Two ex-directors of Chinese construction and engineering firm BCEG who were found to have defrauded the company have succeeded in clawing back a portion of their costs of a partially successful appeal which reduced the amount owing to their former employee by around $12.5 million.
Lawyer who filed defence in losing case wins appeal of personal costs order
A lawyer's role in litigation is not to draw conclusions on the existence of facts or the outcome of a case, an appeals court has ruled in throwing out a personal costs order against a solicitor for filing a defence in a case his client ultimately lost.
Scenic Tours can’t dodge $10M damages ruling in cruise class action
Cruise operator Scenic Tours is stuck with a $10 million damages bill but has avoided paying for disappointed traveller’s flights, after an appeals court mostly rejected its appeal of an award to travellers who were promised a “once in a lifetime cruise along the grand waterways of Europe” but were instead forced to take the bus.
ACCC appeals ruling from judge who ‘gagged’ at proposed $5M Employsure penalty
The ACCC will seek a higher penalty against Employsure over misleading Google advertisements, after a judge found the consumer regulator's proposed $5 million penalty was inappropriate and instead ordered the specialist workplace relations consultancy to pay $1 million.