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Mastercard's APAC head was "perfectly comfortable" with the threat of removal of discounted interchange rates to cut a deal with Coles to route transactions through its payment network, a court has heard.

Despite its loss in a class action against Queensland power companies, which has put it on the hook for $32 million in costs, funder LCM has avoided calls for cash security in a representative proceeding over toll road charges.

Under proposed new legislation, digital platforms like Google, Meta and TikTok would face a 2.5 per cent tax on their local revenue if they fail to do commercial deals with news publishers.

The federal government will spend $45 million over the next four years to develop bilateral agreements with states that will put an end to duplicative environmental approvals. 

IFM Investors has sold Scoresby Industry Park in Melbourne's east to Hale Capital Partners for more than $100 million.

Allens and Ashurst are shoring up their disputes practices in the firms' latest round of partner promotions, which also features lawyers that specialise in M&A, IP, competition and projects.

Silk and former chair of the state's legal watchdog Sam Hay KC is the latest judicial appointee to Victoria's Supreme Court, joining the bench at a time when the court's docket is bulging.

The Western Australian premier has started talks with the federal government on a bilateral agreement to put an end to duplicative environmental approvals. 

KSF Kramer's litigation practice is getting a boost, with three new partners appointed in Australia to meet strong demand for its class action defence expertise, in addition to seven new partners appointed across other practice areas.

New federal fuel cost pass-through laws are expected to generate uncertainty in the construction industry, according to partners in Corrs Chambers Westgarth's leading construction practice group, who say the reforms may apply more widely than anticipated.