M&A
Takeovers Panel says Cosette can’t shutter Mayne’s Adelaide drug plant
The Takeovers Panel has found Cosette cannot close a Mayne Pharma drug manufacturing plant in Adelaide, another win for Mayne in its push to block the US drug maker from walking away from their $672 million merger.
Class Actions
Qld energy class action’s bid for evidence of $40M in defence costs meritless: judge
The applicant in a failed class action against Queensland utilities Stanwell and CS Energy can't get its hands on fee invoices as it prepares its response to a claim for recovery of what could be up to $40 million in costs.
Courts
Barristers with high-stakes litigation chops appointed to NSW Supreme Court
A senior counsel who represented the Department of Defence in a PFAS class action that settled for $132.7 million and a silk who helped Keybridge Capital defeat a suit by investor Nicholas Bolton have been appointed judges on the NSW Supreme Court.
Professional Negligence
Client of injury firm Margalit can’t revive negligence suit
Plaintiff firm Margalit Injury Lawyers has escaped a client's bid to revive his negligence suit, with an appeals court finding the firm was protected by advocate’s immunity.
Class Actions
In class action defence, AFL denies duty to shield players from racism
The AFL has rejected claims it owed a duty to protect footballers from racism on the oval, saying the risk of racist abuse was caused by “prevailing attitudes” and comparable to the risk they faced in other areas of life.
Employment
Sacked Canva software engineer drops coercion claim from Fair Work suit
Design tech giant Canva has succeeded in opposing a former software engineer's claim of coercion in an employment suit over his sacking.
Securities
London City Equities settles with Excelsior over $101M sale
London City Equities has reached a settlement with listed firm Excelsior in a case alleging shareholder oppression over a decision to sell off a subsidiary for $101 million and not distribute the proceeds.
Employment
Slater & Gordon asks court to toss former HR exec’s negligence case
Slater & Gordon has asked a court to summarily dismiss a negligence suit launched by a former HR executive who claims she was wrongfully accused of sending a firm-wide email containing sensitive salary data.
AI
From trickle to steady stream, how GenAI and ‘fake law’ are impacting courts
The use of generative AI in litigation is on the rise in Australia, according to a new report, and one expert says he hopes that increasing awareness of the risks of using generative AI means lawyers will be smart about its use in the future.
Telecommunications
Optus fined $826,000 over scam breaches
Optus has been hit with a penalty of more than $826,000 after scammers exploited a vulnerability in its third-party verification system and stole $39,000 from customers' bank accounts.
