Clayton Utz has snagged a big fish from Baker McKenzie, luring the head of the US firm’s restructuring and insolvency practice group.
Hall & Wilcox has recruited a mergers and acquisitions lawyer with cross-border expertise from EY to bolster its corporate practice in Sydney.
In a loss for the Australian Securities and Investments Commission, a judge has found that comparison website Finder did not need a financial services licence to sell its cryptocurrency product Finder Earn because it was not a financial product.
The Environmental Defenders Office has appointed a team of external lawyers, including Gilbert + Tobin and a senior barrister, to review its processes after a judge found aspects of its case over Santos’ Barossa pipeline were made up and “lacking in integrity”.
A shareholder class action against livestock exporter Wellard is seeking approval for a $23 million settlement which will see only $7.86 million go to group members, telling the court that the funder and law firm that ran the case have agreed to take a haircut on the deductions they’re entitled to.
The Kingdom of Spain has been ordered to pay over $50,000 in security on an interlocutory application, with a judge finding the country “deserves no sympathy” following its failure to satisfy a judgment debt of some $200 million.
The Australian Football League has asked a court to stay an individual lawsuit brought by a “totally incapacitated” former Western Bulldogs player until a related class action on behalf of players who allegedly suffered brain injuries is decided.
A judge is planning to consolidate an employee class action and a union case against McDonald’s, saying the union can take a payout from any settlement, similar to how a funder receives a commission.
Ashurst is beefing up its risk consulting division with four new partners, who will launch an infrastructure and capital projects group and grow the firm’s data and analytics team.
A former lead partner in cybersecurity has sued Ernst & Young for expelling him after he was accused of threatening employees and mistreating female staff, saying the firm “ambushed” him and subjected him to “excessive” punishment.