This Month
Bigwig lenders line up to bankroll Carlyle’s big waste services buy
Confidential documents seen by Street Talk show the Nasdaq-listed asset manager has secured a covenant-lite unitranche loan.
- Sarah Thompson, Kanika Sood and Emma Rapaport
Explore: Law Partnership Survey results for second-half of 2024
The latest results show law firms continue to perform strongly, boosted by big-ticket deals, litigation assignments, and the steady flow of fees from insolvencies and disputes.
- Maxim Shanahan and Edmund Tadros
It was a boom year for law firms. But signs of a slowdown have emerged
Law firms held their gains in the second half of 2024, but some leaders are wary of rising pressures on price and profit margins.
- Maxim Shanahan
November
SingPost schedules board meeting to anoint FMH winner; eyes on PEP
Sydney private equity firm Pacific Equity Partners is believed to be in pole position; however, the team has not yet secured exclusivity, according to sources with knowledge of the sale.
- Sarah Thompson, Kanika Sood and Emma Rapaport
October
Why the $5m lawyer is no longer a rarity at top Aussie firms
Top law firms are forking out more than $5 million a year to poach or protect big-billing market leaders from rivals, amid intense industry competition.
- Maxim Shanahan
- Opinion
- Chanticleer
Why investors should care about ‘clunky’ merger rules
While hostile M&A deals are rare, they help keep boards on their toes. Investors should care about proposed merger reforms.
- Anthony Macdonald
Super Retail asks for Harmers to be ousted from termination suit
Harmers Workplace Lawyers is estimated to be charging $1 million for advice to its two female clients suing the retailer over unfair dismissal.
- Carrie LaFrenz
BofA has snagged a big-name bidder for SingPost’s Aus assets
The portfolio, which is referred to as FMH Group, is expected to be worth as much as $1 billion, sources said.
- Sarah Thompson, Kanika Sood and Emma Rapaport
‘Uniquely broad’ sanctions regime too harsh on business: Allens
Major corporate law firm Allens says the extraterritorial application of local sanctions does little to advance Australia’s foreign policy objectives.
- Maxim Shanahan
September
KWM changes partner pay to reward the biggest billers
KWM’s top-performing partners will be able to take home a greater share of the firm’s profits, after “moderate” changes to remuneration structure were approved by partners.
- Maxim Shanahan
July
It turns out Quadrant isn’t quite done with employment group APM
The private equity giant will take a stake alongside Madison Dearborn Capital Partners, if the Chicago-based buyout group acquires the ASX-listed company.
- Sarah Thompson, Kanika Sood and Emma Rapaport
Ex-Allens lawyer sets up Australia’s first prison newspaper
The first edition of About Time was delivered to correctional facilities in NSW, Victoria, Tasmania and the ACT this month.
- Maxim Shanahan
Rapid growth puts pressure on law partnership structures
Almost two-thirds of new legal partners are now on a part-salary arrangement as rapid growth puts pressure on equity allocations.
- Maxim Shanahan
ASX rallies 1pc; Pressure builds on Biden; Get-rich tricks
Read everything that’s happened in the news so far today.
More law firms hit gender targets as partnership gap narrows
A record number of law firms now have more than 40 per cent female partnerships, but part-owner gender ratios contrast sharply with the engine room.
- Maxim Shanahan
June
Top 50 law firms add a record 806 new senior associates
Law firms have promoted a record number of senior associates, as demand for work remains high and staff turnover is slowing.
- Maxim Shanahan
Energy transition lights a rocket under law firms
Law firms are streaking ahead of the broader economy, adding partners as deals return and the energy transition offers decades of lucrative work.
- Maxim Shanahan
- Exclusive
- AI
Aussie brothers’ AI firm worth $120m as big name backers invest
Melbourne-based Affinda has built AI-based software used by numerous big companies around the world, it has doubled its valuation in 18 months with well-known investors.
- Paul Smith
Challenger firms increase pay in fight for top-tier legal talent
Clients, social positions and work-life balance are among the factors in-demand graduates are looking for in a firm – but high rates of pay don’t hurt.
- Maxim Shanahan
Top law firms question AI’s usefulness
The technology, which has been touted as a revolution in legal practice, will streamline basic tasks but is likely to have limited impact on core legal work.
- Maxim Shanahan