Allens

A senator has criticised KPMG for claiming a commitment to transparency while also maintaining legal professional privilege over advice from Allens and Ashurst into the alleged misuse of confidential information.

Under pressure from parliamentary committee members, KPMG said late Friday it would waive privilege and hand over investigation reports from Allens and Ashurst, after initially resisting orders for documents.

Law firm Allens has told a parliamentary committee that a court should weigh in on whether parliament's powers to compel information overrode KPMG's legal privilege, as the auditor resists orders to produce documents.

Sportsbet has been ordered to provide a class action with audit position papers from the tax office, as the applicants look to interrogate whether the ATO might exercise its discretion to refund Sportsbet's payments if the company loses the case. 

The Law Council says asserting legal professional privilege is not "inherently scandalous", ahead of a parliamentary hearing on KPMG's sharing ofclient information, at which law firms Allens and Ashurst are expected to stay mum.

A class action alleging Sportsbet provided unlawful gambling services plans to cross-examine its CEO over his claim the company would not have offered the bets if it knew they were illegal, with the court hearing he relied on legal advice. 

After it was found to have engaged in misleading conduct over its 'Down Down' discount campaign, Coles may face a single hearing on the punishment to be meted out to it in the ACCC's case and a companion class action.

Partners from Allens and Ashurst and senior executives at Lendlease are among those appearing at next week's parliamentary committee inquiry into KPMG's misuse of client data.

Partners from Allens and Ashurst and senior executives at Lendlease are among those appearing at next week's parliamentary committee inquiry into KPMG's misuse of client data.

The operator of Perth Airport has filed an appeal after United Petroleum won its case alleging it was induced to enter into a $900,000 lease and construction agreement with promises of redevelopment at the site.