This Month
Supreme Court turns 200, with a didgeridoo salute
An Indigenous barrister and musician had lead roles in a ceremony to mark the bicentenary of the NSW Supreme Court.
- Michael Pelly
Allens to be king of the hill in Sydney’s new legal district
Allens and four other law firms are set to move into the revamped AMP building at Circular Quay as a new legal district in Sydney develops towards the harbour.
- Maxim Shanahan and Campbell Kwan
Directors welcome ‘no change’ report on disclosure laws
A review of continuous disclosure laws says the end of the no-fault regime for class actions has had no impact on “meritorious” claims
- Michael Pelly
Law graduates are about to crack a salary record
Top-tier graduates will earn more than $100,000 this year – in Sydney only – but law firms remain tight-lipped on pay rates despite moves towards transparency elsewhere.
- Maxim Shanahan
HWL Ebsworth anoints ‘co-pilots’ to replace the late Juan Martinez
Australia’s largest legal partnership, HWL Ebsworth, has new leaders who are hoping for “not such a combative relationship with the media”.
- Michael Pelly
If AI can do the work of a grad lawyer, what does a grad lawyer do?
As tech increasingly takes on the legal grunt work, MinterEllison is trying to rethink the work and skills of its young lawyers.
- Hans van Leeuwen
Optus denies ‘cloaking’ Deloitte report on 2022 cyberattack
A press release published after Optus’s 2022 cyberattack had legal purposes, even though they were never mentioned, Optus has argued in a court appeal.
- Jenny Wiggins
New lawyers to earn $341,600 as London talent war explodes
Wages for new hires at Quinn Emanuel will rise by tens of thousands from next month in a recruitment blow to Magic Circle rivals.
- Eir Nolsoe
CBA victory shows tide is turning on shareholder claims
The decision is more proof that shareholder claims are no longer a lay-down misere, lawyers say.
- Michael Pelly and Lucas Baird
- Opinion
- Review
How the US Supreme Court became a political organisation
When judges make decisions that should be left to politicians, they undermine democracy.
- Amanda Stoker
Thomson Geer takes 4.9pc stake in ASX takeover target
Law firm Thomson Geer has built a 4.9pc stake in ASX-listed Qantm Intellectual Property, currently the subject of a takeover tussle.
- Maxim Shanahan
Allen & Overy merger creates $5.3b firm in push for US clients
Local managing partner Jason Denisenko says the new-look firm will occupy the same space in the market, but will increasingly take on US firms with Australian arms.
- Maxim Shanahan
High Court rejects Crown immunity for sacred sites damage
The custodians of Kakadu National Park have won a test case in the High Court over a walking track at picturesque Gunlom Falls.
- Michael Pelly
Law Council ‘extremely concerned’ by ATO’s privilege allegations
In response to comments by Jeremy Hirschhorn to the Senate, the Law Council warned against casting doubt over the purpose of law firms’ consulting arms.
- Maxim Shanahan
Judge cited for ‘demeaning’ conduct in rape case
Victoria’s judicial watchdog has found that Judge Geoffrey Chettle ‘infringed the standards of conduct generally expected of judicial officers’.
- Michael Pelly
- Exclusive
- Harassment
One word reshaped legal watchdog’s public complaint guidance
The NSW Office of the Legal Services Commissioner changed its wording on disciplinary complaints from “must” to “may” investigate after being contacted by a female lawyer.
- Max Mason
Legal grad pay tops $110k, but wage gap still stubborn
The gender pay gap in the legal industry remains “stubbornly and consistently high”, a survey has found.
- Updated
- Maxim Shanahan
April
I lost $2.5m of my super to scammers
Five victims outline how their funds were taken by sophisticated impersonation fraudsters and why they feel abandoned by their banks.
- Duncan Hughes
Super Retail legal action expands to at least four staff
Lawyers acting for employees say they offered to settle confidentially for less than a third of the $30 million to $50 million sought.
- Carrie LaFrenz and Ayesha de Kretser
- Exclusive
- Harassment
Legal watchdog accused of quashing sexual assault claim
A lawyer who alleges she was sexually assaulted by a high-profile Sydney solicitor has accused the industry watchdog of blocking a full investigation.
- Max Mason