Christine Caulfield

Release of a review by the NSW government of the state's container terminal policy is "imminent", new transport minister John Graham told a parliamentary committee hearing last week.

The Victorian unit of privately-owned builder Roberts Co has entered voluntary administration, citing rising prices and the insolvency of critical subcontractors.

Holding Redlich has agreed to cover the costs awarded against its clients in a property spat, after a judge took the law firm to task for generating almost $30,000 in work following a settlement.

The Albanese government's response to a review of security of payment laws was a positive first step, building and construction industry groups said on Friday.

Russian company UC Rusal has lost a High Court leave bid after an "extremely harsh" finding that Rio Tinto was entitled to refuse alumina deliveries because of export sanctions.

A group costs order giving class action solicitors a percentage cut of the proceeds of a case is a factor in weighing whether proceedings should be transferred from Victoria to a state in which such an order could not operate, the High Court has ruled.

Liquidators of collapsed engineering company Hastie Group have brought proceedings against Hall & Wilcox, the law firm for the company's previous liquidators.

Are group costs orders a factor in deciding a bid to transfer a class action? Can the orders survive the move to an inhospitable state? These questions are to be decided by the High Court Wednesday, in a ruling that will clarify the relevance and reach of Victoria's contingency fee regime.

Law firm Holding Redlich faces a possible adverse costs order for racking up what a judge said were "out of hand" fees following the settlement of a property dispute.

The High Court won't hear Bayer's appeal of an invalidity finding over patents for blood thinner Xarelto, despite the company's claim the decision has "profound" consequences for drug R&D.