Meat processor JBS Australia has appointed new legal representation in a battle with the Australian Taxation Office over the scope of privilege attached to thousands of documents produced by its tax adviser, PricewaterhouseCoopers, after a judge raised concerns about potential conflicts of interest in PwC’s representation of its client.
A judge has ordered Carlton United Breweries, maker of iconic Australian beers Victoria Bitter and Carlton Draught, to hand over information to the Commissioner of Taxation relating to an audit of the beer giant.
The Full Federal Court has granted a limited appeal in the Kingdom of Spain’s challenge to a judgment enforcing a $375 million arbitration award over two renewable energy investments, ordering a redrafting of the primary judge’s orders but rejecting claims that Spain was immune as a foreign state from enforcement of the award.
An upcoming class action trial over alleged side effects resulting from the Hendra virus horse vaccine, which will commence shortly after a COVID-19 vaccine is rolled out in Australia, will raise “timely” issues concerning vaccine safety, a judge has heard.
Race car driver and former owner of the famed Byron Bay Hotel, Max Twigg, has launched an appeal of a ruling that he misappropriated around $100 million in family trust money and took steps to conceal the transfer of funds from his mother.
Monster Energy, which makes Mother brand energy drinks, has appealed a ruling from IP Australia that granted rival caffeinated beverage maker Vittoria Food & Beverage’s application for the removal of Monster’s ‘Motherland’ trade mark for non-use.
Chinese businessman Dr Chau Chak Wing has been awarded $590,000 in a Federal Court judgment that found an ABC Four Corner’s report contained “untrue and seriously defamatory imputations” about alleged espionage, bribery of UN leaders, and links to the Chinese Communist Party.
Allens has snagged two new heavy hitters from HWL Ebsworth to bolster its corporate team in Perth.
The Australian Taxation Office has reached a $138 million settlement in proceedings against Israel Discount Bank, the last remaining defendant in a long-running case over an alleged international tax evasion scheme involving the Binetter family, founders of Nudie Juice.
A former HWL Ebsworth partner claims the firm and managing partner Juan Martinez have failed to pay her money she is owed because she did not support the law firm’s aborted plan to go public.
For information on rights and reprints, contact subscriptions@lawyerly.com.au
