The behaviour of the legal team running the Banksia Securities class action was “reprehensible” and the solicitor who allowed himself to be controlled by lawyer and funder Mark Elliott should be struck from the court’s roll of practitioners, a judge heard Tuesday.
Moray & Agnew is facing a lawsuit by a former client who says the firm breached its duties by making an unauthorised $3.3 million transfer while representing him on an investment in a Melbourne storage facility development.
A solicitor fighting to remain on the roll after his involvement in the infamous Banksia Securities class action has told of his regret at having lunch with the funder behind the case eight years ago — a meeting that set in motion a plot driven by lawyers to deceive seven Supreme Court judges and defraud thousands of investors.
Ernst & Young has bolstered its disputes resolution and forensic accounting practice, acquiring Sydney-based firm Axiom Forensics.
A NSW developer says law firm Sparke Helmore should face a heftier damages bill for its negligence in failing to alert it to an imminent deadline in two land sale contracts worth a combined $1.5 million that were part of a troubled $30 million development.
A recent appointee to the Federal Circuit Court has resigned after an investigation in response to claims of misconduct made by a third party.
HWL Ebsworth has been taken to task for its spare defence in a $4.4 million lawsuit by a former capital partner, with a judge saying the court was entitled to know how the law firm relied on the partnership deed to deny the solicitor’s right to an equitable share of firm profits.
International law firm HFW has bolstered the ranks of its disputes practice in Australia, recruiting a leading commercial litigation and international arbitration partner from Corrs Chambers Westgarth.
Atanaskovic Hartnell is challenging a $160,000 judgment against the law firm and founding partner John Atanaskovic, who was found to have engaged in a campaign to “abuse, belittle and victimise” a former general manager.
Hall & Wilcox has bolstered its insurance practice with the appointment of new partner Priya Paquet, who will be based at the firm’s Brisbane office.