July 2023
In the Forrest family empire, it’s all a matter of trust
Andrew and Nicola Forrest’s sprawling private empire was incorrectly applying a key clause of the Corporations Act for years. So who’s in charge now?
- Peter Ker and Brad Thompson
February 2023
Time’s up for ‘equal rights’ in court custody battles
The government has called time on the “shared responsibility” test for child custody battles.
- Michael Pelly
March 2022
Family courts win big in budget with cash to combat domestic violence
There is an extra $88 million to expand a program that has been hailed as a “game-changer” in efforts to stem family violence.
- Michael Pelly
December 2021
‘Pack your toothbrush’: Vasta case puts judge immunity in the dock
Even the presiding judge has described the false imprisonment claim against Judge Salvatore Vasta as ‘unusual’.
- Michael Pelly
Judge sued over jail ‘mistake’
A judge who wrongly jailed a family law litigant for contempt behaved like a character from Alice in Wonderland, a court has heard.
- Michael Pelly
October 2021
Eleven new judges for merged Family Court
The Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia now has 104 judges as it undergoes ‘significant reform and modernisation’.
- Michael Pelly
Coffee catch-ups put judges at risk of bias: High Court
A Family Court judge who had coffees, drinks and text and phone conversations with a barrister involved in one of his cases has fallen afoul of rules banning judicial bias.
- Hannah Wootton
September 2021
How divorcing couples hide (and find) family assets
Burying cash under a watchdog’s kennel, sending money offshore and overpaying credit cards are among the strategies warring partners use.
- Duncan Hughes
August 2021
Video ‘reality check’ for family law litigants
Every new litigant will have to watch a video as part of a revamp of the family law system
- Michael Pelly
The listed company disrupting family law
Bad marriages and Australian Rules football have proven a successful mix for AF Legal – and its shareholders.
- Michael Pelly
- Opinion
- Legal industry
Why law firm IPOs are a bad idea
The listing of a commercial law firm can enrich a select few, but at what long-term cost?
- John Nerurker
July 2021
Judge resigns over ‘sexualised’ conduct
A Federal Circuit Court judge has resigned, heading off a likely parliamentary inquiry that could have led to his dismissal.
- Updated
- Michael Pelly
June 2021
Why lawyers say you need a prenup for your pets
Breaking up is hard to do and even more so when a beloved pet is involved. To ease the heartache, law firms are offering prenup agreements for pets.
- Matt Teffer