PwC can’t claim privilege over all advice to JBS, judge finds

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A judge has rejected the Australian Taxation Office’s claim that legal professional privilege does not apply to any communications between PricewaterhouseCoopers and its client, meat processor JBS, but has found that many of the reviewed documents do not satisfy the test of privilege.

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Senior partner was not negligent in rejecting $4.45M Westpac settlement, court finds

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A Sydney-based law firm and one if its senior partners has defeated lawsuits by five former clients alleging breach of duties and conflict of interest relating to a rejected $4.45 million settlement in an employment case against Westpac.

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Peters served with $12M penalty for exclusive dealing

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Peters Ice Cream has been hit with a $12 million penalty after admitting to entering an anti-competitive exclusive agreement for distribution of its single serve ice creams to service stations and convenience stores across Australia.

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High Court to weigh in on peak indebtedness rule in win for Gunns liquidators

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The High Court will clarify the so-called peak indebtedness rule used by liquidators recouping payments to unsecured creditors, granting a special leave application brought by the liquidators of collapsed forestry giant Gunns Group.

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Green groups dodge $450,000 security in cases against VicForest

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Environmental groups fighting to protected the threatened greater glider have defeated VicForests’ bid for security for costs after a judge found the orders would “stifle” litigation in the public interest.

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ATO hits back at Pepsico lawsuit over Schweppes bottling payments

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A notice issued to Pepsico demanding royalty withholding tax over bottling payments made by Schweppes correctly notified the soft drink giant of its tax liability, the Australian Taxation Office has said.

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High Court won’t hear Clive Palmer’s appeal over $102M Queensland Nickel loan

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The High Court has declined a special leave application by Clive Palmer-owned mining firms challenging a judgment which ordered the billionaire to repay a $102 million loan taken out from Queensland Nickel prior to its collapse in 2016.

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Ashurst poaches three partners from Norton Rose Fulbright

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Ashurst has snagged three Norton Rose Fulbright partners to join its corporate and projects team as part of its plan to grow its energy and resources practice in the Asia-Pacific region.

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Chasm emerges between judges, Morrison government on management of class actions

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Despite the Morrison government’s decision to shelve its latest proposed class action reforms before the election, there are plainly competing perspectives between those in government that seek to politicise the class action regime and industry experts — including judges — about the appropriate management of class actions, writes Slater & Gordon’s Claire Pirie.

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Law firm’s bill for distributing Robodebt class action settlement cut by $1M

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A judge has ordered that $1.27 million be set aside to cover the costs of the law firm administering the settlement in the class action over the federal government’s Robodebt scheme, cutting about $1 million from the figure sought.

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