Accounting
Judge flags possible referral to legal watchdog in EY, Alvarez & Marsal suit
A judge has flagged the possibility of referring lawyers acting for Alvarez & Marsal to the legal watchdog after hearing the consultant's costs of complying with preliminary discovery orders won by Ernst & Young could top $500,000.
Class Actions
Judge mulls bidding war for $549M Robodebt settlement admin gig
The judge overseeing the Robodebt class action, which settled this month for a record $548.5 million, may put the settlement administration role out to tender, saying the sum earmarked for the job was "staggeringly large".
Competition & Consumer Protection
Class action must wait for damages in competition case against Apple, Google
A judge has put off deciding what damages group members are owed in two class actions against Apple and Google after finding the tech companies engaged in anti-competitive conduct in the app marketplace.
Class Actions
Mulpha can’t strike out class action over Mulgoa Rise development
The developer of a 683-lot project in Glenmore Park, NSW has lost its bid to strike out parts of a class action by owners and investors alleging the land on which the development sits is unsuitable for residential construction.
Professional Negligence
Former client accuses Shine Lawyers of suing wrong defendant
Shine Lawyers has been hit with a negligence suit by a former client who says he lost the chance to recover damages in a personal injury case after the firm sued the wrong party.
ASIC
ASIC appeals strike-out failure in Clive Palmer case
ASIC is trying again to strike out mining magnate Clive Palmer’s case over examinations conducted by the corporate regulator, after a judge found the case was sufficiently clear.
M&A
Clayton Utz recruits private equity pro from Allens
Clayton Utz has snagged a senior partner from Allens’ mergers and acquisitions team to become its head of private equity.
Competition & Consumer Protection
ACCC flags concerns over Igneo’s plan to acquire Benedict Recycling
The ACCC has raised competition concerns about the proposed acquisition of Benedict Recycling by its "closest competitor" Igneo Infrastructure Partners, a subsidiary of Australian asset management giant First Sentier Investors.
Competition & Consumer Protection
Cement Australia wins OK to acquire BGC assets after bringing Adbri into the mix
The ACCC has approved a deal that will see the assets of a unit of materials giant BGC Group sold to Cement Australia, Holcim, Heidelberg Materials Australia and Adbri, after worrying an initial proposal could affect the supply of ready-mix concrete in the Perth area.
Employment
BHP can’t halt same job, same pay decision pending appeal
Mining giant BHP and its in-house labour hire subsidiary have failed in their Federal Court bid to stay same job, same pay orders by the Fair Work Commission ahead of an appeal.
