Financial Services
‘Unseemly’ fight breaks out as firm seeks bigger cut of $29M AMP settlement
Law firm Piper Alderman is seeking a larger cut of a $29 million settlement in a class action it ran against AMP alongside Shine Lawyers, arguing its current payout punished it for "relative efficiency".
AI
AI rules in courts, tribunals an ‘unholy mess’, senator says
Greens leader and senator David Shoebridge has criticised the "unholy mess" of different courts and tribunals' adopting different rules around generative AI use.
Courts
Pressures mount as Federal Court filings rise 9 per cent
The Federal Court is grappling with “substantial and evolving” pressures as the number of filings rose to 6,010 over the past year, including an “exponential rise” in the numbers of self-represented litigants.
Employment
MinRes’ Chris Ellison loses bid to strike out lawyer’s dismissal claim
Mineral Resources managing director Chris Ellison has lost his bid to strike out an unfair dismissal claim by a former in-house lawyer for the company, who told the court Ellison said “just get rid of her” in a 2024 meeting.
High Court
Digital Freedom Project denies it lacks standing to oppose social media ban
The advocacy group that's challenging the government's under-16s social media ban has hit back at the Commonwealth’s allegation that it lacks standing, telling the High Court the ban is having “profound” effects on its members.
Legal Ethics
Shine Lawyers judgment deferral bid an abuse of process, judge says
A judge has ordered Shine Lawyers to pay costs in a client’s negligence claim, finding that it was improper for the firm to seek to reopen the case to rely on documents that were of limited relevance.
Class Actions
Judge slams disclosure failure over sibling funding deal in CuDeco case
A judge has blasted the lack of disclosure about a sibling relationship between the litigation funder and solicitor for a class action against directors of collapsed mining company CuDeco, and has ordered the parties to explain themselves.
Class Actions
Silk remembered as ‘clear-eyed’ litigator, class action innovator
Senior member of the Victorian Bar Dr Kristine Hanscombe SC has died at the age of 76, leaving a lasting mark on the class action regime in Australia.
Class Actions
BHP, Rio Tinto lose bid to declass discrimination class actions
Mining giants BHP and Rio Tinto have failed to declass group proceedings over alleged failures to protect female employees from discrimination, but a judge struck out victimisation and sexual assault claims.
Appeals
Apple to seek fast-track appeal in Epic Games case
Apple will seek an expedited appeal of a finding that it engaged in anti-competitive conduct in relation to its App Store and orders forcing it to allow third-party app marketplaces and in-app payment solutions for Australian users.
