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Hearsay

February

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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
Paul Keating, standing alone again, naturally

Keating says there was no vice-regal offer to Lowitja O’Donoghue

Paul Keating has played down a tale that he asked the late Indigenous leader to be governor-general.

  • Michael Pelly

January

Michael Hutchence in Mystify.

‘Need, like love, is hard to measure’, says judge citing INXS

When judge Bill Everson was grappling with the concept of “need”, he decided no one explained it better than Australian music legends INXS.

  • Michael Pelly

November 2023

Liable: Judge Sal Vasta

Protection for judges, but no tax relief

Federal judges can no longer be sued, but some will have to pay more tax. Plus, a new chief prosecutor for the Commonwealth.

  • Michael Pelly

October 2023

Victorian barrister Lana Collaris.

Barristers on losing streak with constitutional change

A vote by members of the Victorian Bar to include clauses that promoted diversity and made a stand against discrimination and harassment has tanked.

  • Michael Pelly
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Left: Noel Pearson and former Chief Justice of the High Court, Murray Gleeson.

Why is Noel Pearson upset with Murray Gleeson?

The Indigenous leader says the former chief justice deserted the Voice in its ‘hour of need’.

  • Michael Pelly

August 2023

Federal Circuit Court judge Salvatore Vasta

Vasta caning makes case for judicial commission

Like the recently formed National Anti-Corruption Commission, a federal judicial commission has been a long time coming.

  • Michael Pelly
Miller with and her husband Robert Beech-Jones, a NSW Supreme Court judge: “He understood how hard it was to be in the law and not have connections.”

Playwright on a high over judgment day

Playwright Suzie Miller told a recent Lunch with the AFR how she met High Court judge Robert Beech-Jones after he agreed to work on a case.

  • Michael Pelly
High Court Chief Justice Susan Kiefel.

Cripps or Kiefel? Caught between a ruck and a known face

The AFL superstar and the High Court Chief Justice took part in a lunch in Melbourne. But which one had top billing for guest of honour Ray Finkelstein?

  • Michael Pelly
Walter Sofronoff, KC, during the inquiry into the handling of the Lehrmann case.

What were you thinking, Walter Sofronoff?

Why would the former judge provide advance copies of his Lehrmann inquiry report to only two journalists? And a farewell tour, of sorts, for High Court Chief Justice Susan Kiefel. That’s Hearsay.

  • Michael Pelly
New Minters partner: Joao Segorbe.

AGL executive joins Minters

A former McKinsey partner turned AGL executive has moved to Australia’s largest law firm. And the attorney-general says lawyers should find their Voice: that’s Hearsay.

  • Michael Pelly

July 2023

Harsh judgment: Federal Court justices Ian Jackman and Kathleen Farrell.

Did Justice Wolverine go too far with departing judge?

Should Justice Ian Jackman – brother of Hugh – have toned it down when criticising colleague Kathleen Farrell, or should he be applauded?

  • Michael Pelly
History of legal privilege problems: PwC.

PwC claiming legal privilege – that’s a bit Rich

There have been legal professional privilege missteps at the troubled firm since 2005.

  • Michael Pelly
Karen Evans-Cullen in 2021 when she moved from PwC to Gilbert + Tobin.

PwC top lawyers are gone, and a critic is back

The firm’s two top lawyers are gone as PwC sets out to repair its fortunes under new leader. But why?

  • Michael Pelly

June 2023

Justice Mordy Bromberg played football for St Kilda before a legal career that led to the Federal Court and now the ALRC.

Law reform machine Mordy Bromberg scores the perfect job

The union-friendly Federal Court judge is an interesting choice to lead the Australian Law Reform Commission.

  • Michael Pelly
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Justice Melissa Perry in 2015, two years after she joined the court.

The long, long wait for Nudie tax judgment

Federal Court judge Melissa Perry may have set a record with her judgment in the recent tax case.

  • Michael Pelly
Bar speech: Solicitor-General Stephen Donaghue.

Donaghue shocks dinner with ‘political’ speech

The Commonwealth solicitor-general weighed in to the Voice debate at the Victorian Bar dinner.

  • Michael Pelly
 Paul Brereton says he “senses a tide in the affairs of the nation” with the advent of the NACC

New anti-corruption boss hails ‘unique opportunity’

Paul Brereton started as head of the National Anti-Corruption Commission on Thursday. Could PwC be an early customer?

  • Michael Pelly

May 2023

Lorraine Finlay’s view that the Voice will create “constitutional uncertainty” has been criticised as misleading.

Bar should be raised for an ‘eminent’ lawyer

Eminent is a word people like to attach to lawyers. And farewell to a “High Court whisperer”. It’s Hearsay.

  • Michael Pelly
“Privilege is a really important thing you have to think about it before you claim it,” one ex-PwC partner said this week.

Why lawyers are enjoying the PwC scandal

There is no sympathy in law firm land for PwC. And why doesn’t the High Court live stream cases? It’s Hearsay.

  • Michael Pelly

Original URL: https://www.afr.com/topic/hearsay-1mx8