Tax
High Court to hear ATO, Billabong founder’s appeals in $30M tax spat
Billabong founder Gordon Merchant has won the ear of the High Court in his fight over what the ATO claims was a "wash sale" of his 10 million shares in the retailer, but the justices have also agreed to hear the tax office's appeal.
Privacy & Cybersecurity
Herald Sun claims exemption in privacy invasion case by Sam Groth’s wife
The publisher of the Herald Sun denies it defamed Victorian Liberal deputy leader Sam Groth and argues it's exempt from new privacy laws, in a defence to a lawsuit over reports on the timeline of the politician's relationship with his wife.
Competition & Consumer Protection
4D Medical sues Cyclopharm over ‘misleading’ statements elicited by ‘fake’ question
ASX-listed biotech 4D Medical has sued competitor Cyclopharm alleging the company made false, misleading and malicious statements about its rival during an online webinar prompted by a "fake" question.
Class Actions
Shine Lawyers wants EML class action fee bumped back to rejected rate
The contingency fee rate sought by Shine Lawyers in its bid to vary a group costs order in a class action against EML Payments has been revealed as the percentage profit it initially proposed to a judge, who took an ax to it three years ago.
Intellectual Property
Scidera’s bovine gene patent suit survives summary dismissal bid
Animal drug company Zoetis has lost its bid for summary dismissal of claims that it infringed US-based animal genomics company Scidera's bovine gene patent, with a judge saying its novel arguments were not so clear-cut and needed to be worked out at trial.
Aviation
Fight set over docs in revived strip search case against Qatar Airways
The applicants in a case over strip searches conducted of female passengers on a Qatar Airways flight at Doha Airport want the airline to produce any communications with other planes, and to do so by month's end.
Corporate
Lander & Rogers appoints corporate partner from Clayton Utz
Lander & Rogers has recruited a contracting specialist from Clayton Utz for the law firm's corporate practice in Canberra.
Competition & Consumer Protection
Pentana can’t withdraw admissions in misuse of market power case
A judge has declined car dealer software supplier Pentana's bid to withdraw admissions made over four years ago in a dispute with competitor Titan DMS.
Business of Law
KWM’s head of competition named new ACCC commissioner
After departing the ACCC 25 years ago for private practice, the national head of King & Wood Mallesons' competition law group has won a five-year appointment as commissioner.
Intellectual Property
Samsung Bioepis shoots down Janssen patent for ulcerative colitis biologic
Samsung Bioepis has successfully opposed Janssen's bid to patent a monoclonal antibody to treat ulcerative colitis, but an IP Australia delegate has given the J&J-owned company a chance to fix its application.
