The state of Western Australia has been left with a $2 million legal bill for defending a defamation action by billionaire Clive Palmer and advancing cross-claims on behalf of premier Mark McGowan, which a judge blasted as “a futile exercise”.
The founder of investment group Mayfair 101 must foot half his costs of a successful appeal of a 20-year ban on fund raising because of the many “spurious” grounds of appeal he pressed.
Lawyerly will be closed from December 26 until January 9.
The Albanese government has vowed to abolish and replace the Administrative Appeals Tribunal, saying it has been “fatally compromised” by the former government which allegedly appointed political allies who had no expertise.
Competition among class action law firms is expected to heat up next year as veteran lawyer Jan Saddler departs Shine Lawyers to start her own firm.
Ashurst has lured a partner from Hall & Wilcox as the firm looks to expand its Sydney real estate team.
A recent ruling cutting the contingency fee sought by a plaintiff law firm shows competition to run class actions will drive down the percentage payout courts are willing to permit. And as more firms enter the market for a slice of the returns, the downward pressure on profits will only build.
US multinational firm K&L Gates has grown its ranks in Australia, luring three partners from HWL Ebsworth to join its corporate team.
Former defence minister Linda Reynolds is facing a civil suit by former staffer Brittany Higgins in relation to her alleged rape inside Reynold’s Parliament House office in 2019.
The Albanese government has succeeded in advancing labor reforms that it says will strengthen access to wage bargaining, encourage job security and gender equity, and bolster the role of the Fair Work Commission.