This Month
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
Government legal spending hits $600m
Commonwealth spending on legal fees increased rapidly before an overhaul of the government panel, but barristers’ bills were trimmed.
- Maxim Shanahan
The law firms trawling through corporate scandals
Demand for law firm-led investigations has grown but concerns remain about their independence and probative value.
- Maxim Shanahan
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
Ashurst, Freehills, Clayton Utz in hiring spree
Top-tier law firms are looking to capitalise on the weakness of the big four, opportunities in the energy sector and the high levels of insolvencies.
- Maxim Shanahan
August
Clayton Utz raids MinterEllison office
Clayton Utz has hired four partners from rival MinterEllison as part of a push to bolster its Canberra office and win more government legal advisory work.
- Edmund Tadros
July
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
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
More Baker McKenzie exits as firm declares turnaround
Two more partners have left for other firms, but Baker McKenzie says it returned double-digit revenue growth in FY2024.
- 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
- Exclusive
- Funding
Under-the-radar Melbourne software firm worth $90m after VCs pounce
Atticus has built a roster of clients including BHP, CBA and numerous top law firms for its software that verifies documents are truthful.
- Paul Smith
May
Why dads take less time off than mums
Gender stereotypes are discouraging men from taking paid parental leave, a survey has found, making it harder for Australia to close the gender pay gap.
- Euan Black
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
- Opinion
- Chanticleer
Queensland in secret bid to buy stricken coal-fired power plant
It’s three years since Queensland power station Callide C blew up, and the fallout hasn’t stopped. Now, a secret deal for the government to buy a 50 per cent stake is in doubt.
- Anthony Macdonald
March
More partners exit Baker McKenzie amid integration talks
Baker McKenzie’s Australian managing partner is in Hong Kong for discussions about greater integration with the global firm’s Asian division
- Maxim Shanahan
Baker McKenzie practice head jumps to Clayton Utz
Baker McKenzie’s head of restructuring and insolvency, Maria O’Brien, will join Clayton Utz, continuing a string of recent departures from the firm.
- Maxim Shanahan
February
Why Corrs CEO Gavin MacLaren has a target on his back
Gavin MacLaren has become the best-known law firm leader in the land. And that’s not a good thing.
- Michael Pelly
How to get a job at a top-tier law firm
Mere legal ability is no longer enough to secure a prized top-tier clerkship. Firms are looking for excellence in all aspects of life. Here’s our guide.
- Maxim Shanahan
The judge who made business better
When the economy opened up in the 1980s, Andrew Rogers helped Australia become a more commercially sophisticated country, NSW’s chief justice writes.
- Andrew Bell