Judges have power to manage competing class actions by picking a winner in a so-called beauty parade, the High Court has ruled, but there is no one size fits all approach to the decision, and the law firm that files first is not guaranteed the coveted prize.
As pressure mounts for the board of MinterEllison to remove the law firm’s CEO in response to a staff email apologising for a partner’s representation of the federal attorney general, legal ethics experts told Lawyerly law firms must be free to vet potential clients, and that social issues may in the future play a bigger role in deciding whether to reject matters.
Greensill Capital UK filed for insolvency in a London court on Monday after losing insurance coverage for $4.6 billion in client loans.
The lead plaintiffs in two class actions against 7-Eleven have appealed a decision rejecting the very first Federal Court application for oral discovery, which would have seen four former employees bound by confidentiality agreements give evidence.
A judge has found a group of insurers defending a $309 million lawsuit over an Australia Pacific LNG project in Central Queensland cannot be represented by two law firms, saying it would not be in the interests of justice.
The first battle in the legal tug of war between Qantas and Virgin over a defecting senior executive will centre on whose lawsuit should be the one to ventilate the dispute, a court heard Tuesday.
Generic pharmaceutical company Sandoz has hit back in an intellectual property lawsuit by Merck Sharp & Dohme, filing a cross-claim that seeks to undo an extension of time granted to the US drug manufacturer for a patent relating to its multibillion dollar Januvia and Janumet diabetes drugs.
All Herbert Smith Freehills staff worldwide will receive a five per cent bonus in March, in addition to their usual yearly bonuses, due to the law firm’s strong performance so far this year.
ANZ will fight to keep a sacked trader from accessing a client file held by HWL Ebsworth, citing privilege over the documents, a court has heard.
After months of uncertainty and a scolding from the judge about “vague” excuses, former Linchpin Capital directors facing proceedings by ASIC and a class of investors have been given assurance that their legal costs will be covered under an insurance policy.
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