Allens has a gender pay gap of less than 10 per cent, but Big Six cohorts Clayton Utz, Herbert Smith Freehills and MinterEllison don’t fare as favourably in efforts to achieve salary equity, according to the latest numbers.
Australia’s largest plaintiff law firms and IP boutiques are among the worst law practices when it comes to pay equity, with some of them having a gender pay gap more than double the legal services industry median gap of 17.1 per cent.
A judge has ruled hearsay evidence given by Ashurst solicitors is sufficient for Racing Victoria to bring a claim for legal professional privilege over documents ordered to be produced to Racing NSW, which alleges it was the victim of an anti-competitive plot.
The DPP’s complaint to Victoria’s judicial watchdog that prompted the shock resignation of Supreme Court Justice Lex Lasry was an abuse of process, experts say, and the judge’s decision to step down was a “deeply saddening end to a stellar judicial career”. But the Office of Public Prosecutions has strongly rejected the claim.
The Australian Information Commissioner has launched an investigation into the personal information handling practices of law firm HWL Ebsworth following a cyberattack that saw the firm’s data dumped on the dark web.
Hamilton Locke has recruited two senior lawyers from Corrs Chambers Westgarth and Clifford Chance to bolster its regulatory advice practice.
Ashurst has lured a senior commercial litigation partner from Corrs Chambers Westgarth, who has praised her new firm’s commitment to gender equity.
King & Wood Mallesons has snagged an industrial relations and employment law ace from Clayton Utz, who collaborated with the Attorney-General on implementing the recent Respect@Work reforms.
Looking for a slice of the class actions pie in Australia, UK plaintiffs firm Pogust Goodhead has launched an office in Sydney, headed by two lawyers from boutique Crichton & Co.
Herbert Smith Freehills has filed proceedings against its former client United Petroleum, seeking costs of successfully defending a lawsuit alleging it acted negligently in relation to the company’s failed initial public offering in 2016.