This Month
Top NSW judge says Elon Musk is fanning antisemitism
Chief Justice Andrew Bell says the Tesla chief executive and Mark Zuckerberg were emboldened by Donald Trump to act in ways that harmed social cohesion.
- Maxim Shanahan
High Court win for law firm over billionaire’s private company
Atanaskovic Hartnell closed off a second near decade-long legal battle in a matter of months, ahead of a busy year for the High Court.
- Maxim Shanahan
The Federal Court finally comes clean on (lavish) work functions
Officials have finally revealed the impost of former chief justice James Allsop’s national farewell tour. Some of his colleagues held more restrained affairs.
- Maxim Shanahan
Law firms prep for year ahead by poaching big names from rivals
The big firms have capitalised on a soft professional services market, spending the summer picking off partners and staff for their own ranks.
- Maxim Shanahan
The Australian lawyer behind DC’s new MAGA hangout
From Steve Bannon to Sean Spicer, clubhouse Butterworth’s has become the place to be seen for Republican operatives. And a former Liberal staffer is its biggest backer.
- Hannah Wootton
Westpac to offer legal services as it vies for business bank customers
The big four bank has made a strategic $10 million investment in Lawpath, as it looks to maintain its recent market share gains.
- James Eyers
January
Pratt’s granddaughter married in lavish Raheen wedding
The lavish garden wedding at the Pratt family mansion took place on the same day another branch of the clan were fighting it out over the $23 billion family empire.
- Updated
- Patrick Durkin and Yolanda Redrup
- Aussie Lawyers Overseas
- Jobs
From billables to barbaresco: An Australian lawyer in Italy
Former Allens lawyer Eleanor Fletcher moved to Italy with her winemaker husband and between work and wine has discovered la dolce vita.
- Updated
- Daniel Arbon, Maxim Shanahan and Ciara Seccombe
Hamilton Locke owner HPX Group leaps into ESG consulting
RSM Australia’s ESG and client services partner Linda Romanovska will head up the effort.
- Sarah Thompson, Kanika Sood and Emma Rapaport
Sayers steps down from Carlton after ‘very tough’ few weeks
Luke Sayers has stepped down as Carlton president and said he would take time off work after a “very tough” period that followed a post of a penis on his X account.
- Updated
- Hannah Wootton and Mark Di Stefano
Burnt-out lawyers seek exit amid long hours, high targets
Australian billing targets are moderate compared with big US legal firms, but profit pressures mean partners are pushing juniors to work longer.
- Maxim Shanahan
- Exclusive
- Workplace culture
Dentons sought to bury bullying claim, email shows
An internal email shows the firm sought to protect a senior partner and avoid damaging its local expansion plans.
- Maxim Shanahan
The time Allens hired a Test batter to beat KWM
Allens showed the sort of ruthlessness clients pay it for, drafting in future Test captain Kepler Wessels for a social cricket game.
- Maxim Shanahan
Union takes aim at Maurice Blackburn ‘hypocrisy’ amid strike threat
Plaintiff law firm Maurice Blackburn is locked in a pay dispute with staff, who have vowed to continue industrial action after rejecting a new pay offer.
- Maxim Shanahan
December 2024
Dutton declares legal assistance ‘gift’ from Arnold Bloch Leibler
The ‘ongoing legal assistance’ was declared in an update to the opposition leader’s register of member’s interests.
- Maxim Shanahan
Harsher penalties urged for PwC-style false privilege claims
The changing nature of law firms is making privilege claims more difficult to determine, a federal government discussion paper says.
- Maxim Shanahan
Slater & Gordon staff win pay rise of up to 22pc
Long-running pay negotiations between the Labor-aligned legal firm and staff have ended without a key union demand being met.
- Maxim Shanahan
Workers lodge record number of Fair Work claims
Workers brought a record number of claims to Fair Work last financial year in a trend lawyers say was driven by the heightened hardship of losing one’s job amid the rising cost of living.
- Updated
- Euan Black
Robin Khuda’s go-to finance lawyer finds a home at Baker McKenzie
Street Talk understands banking and finance partner Bryan Paisley has returned to the top-tier firm he left five years ago.
- Sarah Thompson, Kanika Sood and Emma Rapaport
Former human rights barrister to lead Victorian Supreme Court
Court of Appeal judge Richard Niall, who is recognised for his administrative and constitutional law expertise, has been picked to be Victoria’s chief justice.
- Maxim Shanahan