Defamation
Ex-senator Linda Reynolds wins $315,000 in defamation case against Brittany Higgins
Former senator Linda Reynolds has been awarded $315,000 in damages in her defamation case against ex-staffer Brittany Higgins over social media posts that allegedly implied she mishandled rape allegations against Bruce Lehrmann.
Employment
Court, union debate what portion of $90M Qantas penalty goes to workers
The Transport Workers Union and a judge have debated how much of a $90 million penalty handed to Qantas should be given to 1,820 workers who were unlawfully outsourced during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Financial Services
Insurers lose bid to see Ashurst advice in Greensill dispute
Insurers Bond & Credit Company and Tokio Marine can't eyeball advice given by Ashurst to lender White Oak in a dispute over the collapse of supply chain finance company Greensill.
Business of Law
Big 8 feeling the heat as large law firms scale aggressively: report
With artificial intelligence levelling the playing field, the Big 8 are facing increasing competitive pressure from large firms, which are pursuing an aggressive growth strategy and have outpaced them in demand and profitability over the last financial year, a report has found.
Competition & Consumer Protection
Judge slams solicitors for ‘inordinately’ long submissions in Aurelius suit over $180M deal
German investment firm Aurelius can add new claims in a dispute with explosives company Orica over a $180 million acquisition, but a judge has called out solicitors for both sides for filing material of “inordinate length” on an application concerning well-established law.
Class Actions
Developer wants out of combustible cladding class action to bring $15M ‘copy’ case
A developer for a high rise building in Mascot, Sydney has launched a post-trial bid to opt out as a group member of a class action against cladding manufacturer 3A Composites and supplier Halifax, in order to bring its own "copy" of the case.
Class Actions
RAMS accuses class action of trying to ‘hijack’ ASIC case
Westpac’s defunct mortgage unit RAMS has accused a class action by former franchisees of attempting to “hijack” civil penalty proceedings by the corporate regulator by seeking to intervene in the case.
Class Actions
ICM fights class action’s bid to access ‘highly private’ info for opt-out notices
IC Markets is fighting a class action's bid for “highly private and confidential” information about possible group members to craft personalised opt-out notices, arguing the information would be safer in the hands of a third-party mailing house than a plaintiff firm given increasing cyberattack risks.
Business of Law
Slater & Gordon to usher in new leadership after email scandal
Slater & Gordon is poised for new leadership, with chair James MacKenzie and two other directors set to depart in the wake of a scandal that saw all staff salaries disclosed in a firm-wide email.
Financial Services
ASIC takes Equity Trustees to court over Keystone’s defunct Shield fund
The corporate regulator has brought its first action targeting a superannuation trustee as part of a wide-ranging investigation to claw back $480 million pumped into Keystone's failed Shield Master Fund.
