November 2020
ASX slips 0.7pc in biggest fall this month
The Australian sharemarket snapped a three day winning streak as banks and miners weighed on the index. Bega acquired Lion for $560 million. Stockland appointed Tarun Gupta as its new CEO. Origin raised its gas production outlook.
- Updated
- Robert Guy, Sarah Turner, William McInnes, Tom Richardson and Luke Housego
July 2020
- Opinion
- Class action
Follow the money in class actions
Rising insurance costs, caused by an increase in class action cases, are not the fault of litigators but firms breaking the law, says Omni Bridgeway's Andrew Saker.
- Jennifer Hewett
Omni Bridgeway to chase Fairview's insurers in cladding action
A multimillion-dollar damages case over combustible panels needs court permission to continue after target goes into administration.
- Michael Bleby
Litigation funders not making 'avaricious returns'
Australia's largest litigation funder says claims there had been an 'explosion' in class actions and that funders were making 'avaricious returns' were simply false.
- Ronald Mizen
June 2020
More than 1000 buildings could join cladding class action
Federal court judge gives first official indication of scope for claims over combustible panels, saying they could reach 'many billions'.
- Michael Bleby
May 2020
Crackdown on class action funders
Wealthy litigation funders face tough new oversight rules and ASIC reporting requirements, as the Morrison government moves to crack down on costly shareholder class actions.
- Tom McIlroy and Michael Pelly
March 2020
Cladding class actions widen claims over Alucobond, Vitrabond
Amended pleadings give claimants a bigger stick to take to suppliers of combustible aluminium composite panels.
- Michael Bleby
December 2019
- Opinion
- Legal profession
High Noon in the High Court for class actions
Australia is a very popular destination for litigation funders, drawn by high returns for relatively low risk in class actions. But a High Court judgment could change their lucrative business model.
- Jennifer Hewett
November 2019
New Zealand's cladding-affected buildings aren't a secret
Litigation funder IMF Bentham says local councils' public lists make it easier to identify prospective claimants.
- Michael Bleby
October 2019
Class action funder IMF Bentham boosts global reach
IMF Bentham will buy a Netherlands-based litigation funder to boost its global presence.
- Jemima Whyte
IMF Bentham in $139m raising for acquisition
Listed litigation funder IMF Bentham is in front of investors seeking $139 million in fresh funds.
- Sarah Thompson and Anthony Macdonald
September 2019
IOOF bid to blame lawyers for trustee breaches falls flat
Just one week after its big legal win against APRA, IOOF has lost a bid to palm $80m of investor losses off on its lawyers.
- Aleks Vickovich
August 2019
Class action against UGL reaches conditional settlement
A long running class action alleging poor disclosure over cost blowouts for the Ichthys gas project, has reached a conditional settlement.
- Tim Boyd
Short seller prompts IMF Bentham to defend model
US-based short seller Muddy Waters has taken aim at UK litigation funder Burford Capital, and ASX-listed IMF Bentham is dealing with the fall-out.
- Jemima Whyte
Treasury Wine urges ASIC probe into research report
The owner of Penfolds and Wolf Blass is furious over claims made in a HK firm's research report, and short selling practices more broadly.
- Simon Evans and Jemima Whyte
July 2019
Victoria welcome to join cladding class actions: IMF Bentham
Cases already under way give state government a better chance of recouping damages, litigation funder says.
- Michael Bleby
'$100m in excess fees': NAB's wealth arm faces class action
NAB-owned MLC Super Fund trustee NULIS Nominees faces a class action over excess fees allegedly charged to clients.
- Tim Boyd
IMF Bentham: Is it 'the next Macquarie'?
Fans of IMF Bentham say it should be looked at as a fund manager rather than a speculative litigation funder.
- Jemima Whyte
June 2019
- Opinion
- Chanticleer
Busting class action myths
Class action lawyers are enjoying a purple patch thanks to burgeoning support from litigation funders and a willingness of companies under attack to settle matters before trial.
- Tony Boyd
- Exclusive
- Cladding crisis
Supplier Fairview the target of second cladding class action
Litigation funder IMF Bentham and Williams Roberts Lawyers file federal court case against second-largest supplier.
- Michael Bleby