The Full Federal Court’s finding that the High Court did not extinguish the power of judges to make common fund orders on approval of class action settlements is the latest milestone in the evolution of Australian class action jurisprudence, experts say.
A Federal Court judge’s endorsement of the novel idea of a ‘solicitors’ common fund order’ may reverse the trend of class action lawyers running to the Supreme Court of Victoria, where they can earn a contingency fee, to file their cases.
Two former Dick Smith executives have settled with the receivers of the defunct electronics retailer, dropping a High Court appeal over an $11.8 million ruling.
A judge has set down former NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian’s bid to overturn a corruption finding by ICAC for a hearing in February and urged both sides to run the case expeditiously, saying speed would be a “hallmark” of the proceedings.
The Commonwealth of Australia has asked the court to throw out an adverse action suit brought by a former political staffer who says she was subjected to “a course of bullying behaviour” by South Australian MP Rebekha Sharkie.
A new report shows lawyers are already managing the risks of unknowingly facilitating money laundering and don’t need to be subjected to “an extreme, disproportional and potentially damaging AML/CTF regime”, according to the Law Council of Australia.
Twenty-five barristers have joined the rank of silk in NSW, including one who represented AMP in a class action that settled for $100 million and another who is assisting the Commonwealth in its fight to recoup $325 million in excess subsidies in a dispute over generic Plavix.
Treasurer Jim Chalmers has announced an overhaul of the Productivity Commission following a review which found a “culture of sexism, sexual harassment, bullying and discrimination”.
Commercial real estate practitioners can expect a rise in work for the build-to-rent sector amid Australia’s continuing housing crisis, says Baker McKenzie’s new partner, Emily Peverill, who joins the firm after 17 years at Herbert Smith Freehills.
The Albanese government has recommended an overhaul of Australia’s privacy laws that would give individuals a private right to sue for privacy violations, create a positive obligation for the ‘fair and reasonable’ handling of personal information and lift the current exemption for small businesses.