Transportation & Infrastructure
Uber did not conspire to take out TaxiApps, court says
TaxiApps, the operator of the GoCatch rideshare app, has failed to prove that Uber engaged in an unlawful conspiracy, despite a judge finding the rideshare giant intended to harm the defunct taxi app and "surreptitiously" obtained a confidential driver list.
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.
Andrew Roe
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
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
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
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.
Intellectual Property
Fonterra, Bega settle row over licences in wake of $3.8B sale to Lactalis
Fonterra said Tuesday it had settled a dispute with Bega Cheese over the status of lucrative licence agreements as part of a $3.8 billion sale of its Australian business to French dairy company Lactalis.
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.
Insurance
Privilege fight erupts in Greensill case over email repeating Ashurst advice
Lender White Oak has argued it can shield an email that repeats legal advice from Ashurst that was accidentally disclosed to insurers Bond & Credit Company and Tokio Marine, which it has sued over the collapse of supply chain finance company Greensill.
Employment
Wiggles CEO axed after complaints about group leader Anthony Field: suit
The Wiggles former CEO says he was axed from his role with the children's music sensation after complaining about the group's leader, Anthony Field, who allegedly doled out bonuses to friends and relatives and "undermined" him.
