Competition & Consumer Protection
Mastercard struck deals with retailers to avoid EFTPOS ‘competitive threat’, ACCC says
Mastercard made ‘strategic’ agreements with large retailers like Coles and David Jones to keep them from routing through EFTPOS, offering discounted exchange rates that left smaller businesses footing the bill, the ACCC told the court on the first day of trial.
Class Actions
Brambles on hook for compensation after losing shareholder class action
In the first shareholder class action to succeed at trial in Australia, a judge has found logistics chain company Brambles breached its continuous disclosure obligations in relation to an overly rosy 2017 financial forecast amid problems with its North American pallets business.
Business of Law
‘A natural fit’: Ashurst, Perkins Coie partnerships approve tie-up
The partnerships of Ashurst and US firm Perkins Coie have voted to approve their merger, paving the way for the creation of a powerhouse firm with 3,000 lawyers across 23 countries with ambitions to lead the way on AI.
Marc Felman
Reject Shop class action pleading error can be fixed, not backdated: Full Court
The Full Court has found that a pleading error in an underpayments class action against The Reject Shop which left it empty of group members can be fixed but that the amended pleading cannot be backdated.
New lawsuit
Pitcher Partners sues novated leasing business over $1.3M fee
Pitcher Partners has taken a former client to court, alleging it failed to pay a $1.3 million 'abort fee' after it withdrew from a proposal to sell the business.
Class Actions
Funder suing WestConnex class action applicants ordered to cough up security
The funder that's backing a class action over land compulsorily acquired for Sydney's WestConnex road project has been ordered to pay security in satellite proceedings seeking to claw back $1.4 million in costs from the lead applicants.
Business of Law
Law Council’s equitable briefing initiative reaches key milestone
The Law Council of Australia has announced a key milestone in its decade-long push for greater gender pay equity at the Bar.
Class Actions
Error costs Hino class action firm further cut to $87M settlement share
A self-disclosed error in modelling by the law firm that ran a class action against Hino Motors has cost the firm an even deeper cut to its payout than the $6 million lopped off its settlement share last year.
Class Actions
Judge questions merits of class closure in J&J cold meds class action
A judge hearing a class action against J&J over allegedly ineffective cold medications has questioned the merits of soft class closure in large consumer cases where participation is likely be low, just days after another judge raised similar concerns in a case against Toyota.
Transportation & Infrastructure
APAC chair denies being ‘disingenuous’ in removing HSFK’s Dexus remedy advice
The chair of airport operator APAC has admitted redacting advice from Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer to remove a suggested remedy for major shareholder Dexus' alleged breach of confidentiality, but denies she misled the board.
