The Federal Court will take comprehensive steps to protect court staff, lawyers and litigants from the coronavirus, including expanding the use of videoconferencing and avoiding formal hearings when possible.
The Full Federal Court has thrown out an appeal by a former special counsel of HWL Ebsworth, ruling the senior practitioner was reasonably fired for violating the firm’s media policy in press interviews and not because of his political views.
The number of law firms forcing staff to work remotely in response to concerns about exposure to the new coronavirus has grown, with four firms making the decision Thursday to shut down floors or whole offices.
Staff at the Sydney office of Clayton Utz can return to work Monday after the law firm sent employees home last week amid concerns that one of its employees has been exposed to the coronavirus.
Law firm Clayton Utz has sent staff at its Sydney office home amid concerns that one of its employees may have been exposed to the coronavirus.
As Victoria looks set to pass legislation allowing law firms to cut litigation funders out of class action work, and the High Court increases the risks of financing group proceedings, funders operating in Australia have been forced to think on their feet to adapt to the ever-changing regime. Australia’s largest litigation funder IMF Bentham is no exception, CEO Andrew Saker told Lawyerly.
A former Piper Alderman partner is seeking to revive her unlawful discrimination case dismissed last year by the Australian Human Rights Commission, saying the seriousness of the allegations and the “public importance” of protecting women leaders from discrimination were powerful reasons to allow her claims to move forward.
A judge has signed off on a $2 million payout for Maddens Lawyers in a class action against electricity provider Powercor over a 2018 St Patrick’s Day bushfire in Victoria that settled last year for $17.5 million, despite finding that the law firm’s cost agreement with group members was void.
Two executives of car wash franchisor Geowash that were found to be knowingly involved in the company’s unconscionable conduct in its dealings with franchisees have lost their bid to void a costs agreement with law firm Thomson Geer, with a judge calling legal cost estimations “an inexact science”.
Non-equity partners at leading law firms are looking to jump ship in search of higher pay and greater decision-making powers, a new survey has found.