Law Firms

Payday lender Sunshine Loans has been hit with $5.5 million in penalties for charging vulnerable customers almost $300,000 in fees, with a judge giving limited weight to its claim that it relied on legal advice when introducing the unlawful charges.

A former US Congressman and indirect beneficiary of Queensland gold mining company Citigold has lost a bid to launch derivative action accusing the company's chairman of sharing insider information with his brother.

The former directors of Canberra firm Aulich Civil Law have lost their challenge to orders that they compensate a former shareholder in the legal practice, after it was found they issued shares to dilute her holding. 

The Australian Tax Office wants to hive off a contract dispute between Japanese conglomerate Mitsui and its Kipper gas field partners, ExxonMobil unit Esso and Woodside, in a fight over a $298 million tax bill.

Streaming giant Netflix and Paramount-owned Viacom have filed proceedings against a slew of internet service providers, the latest suit seeking site-blocking orders under a decade-old regime established to prevent copyright infringement by overseas sites.

A Sydney barrister found guilty of contempt in a fight with his chambers over $112,000 in floor fees has been fined $25,000, with a judge calling his apologies “mealy-mouthed” and “late in the day”.

The High Court has dismissed billionaire Clive Palmer's bid to revive his misconduct claims against former ASIC chair James Shipton, which an appeals court rejected as "little more than a house of cards".

The Fair Work Commission has found that a solicitor who entered into a contract akin to an independent contractor agreement with Linkpoint Lawyers was an employee of the firm.

A $1 billion dispute between the owner and manager of the troubled Callide power station in Queensland will be reallocated, after a judge conceded that his knowledge of a key expert report could create an apprehension of bias. 

Retirement village owner Milstern was not obligated to exclusively negotiate with Sydney property developer Cranbrook for the sale of five of its villages, a judge has found in refusing to make orders blocking Milstern from talks with an alternative bidder.