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In first, court finds non-bank lender Firstmac breached DDO obligations
In a win for ASIC, the Federal Court has found that non-bank lender Firstmac Limited breached the design and distribution obligations, introduced in 2021, by marketing a managed investment scheme that could be unsuitable for customers’ financial needs. 
HWL Ebsworth, ex-partner file competing appeals over expulsion finding
HWL Ebsworth and a former capital partner have both appealed a ruling that found the partner was invalidly expelled in 2020 but that his partnership had been dissolved from the day he sued his former firm. 
BlueScope’s circumstantial evidence falls short in unfair dismissal case
The Fair Work Commission has ruled that an electrician with BlueScope Steel was unfairly dismissed following a complaint by a coworker who did not give evidence to the commission, finding that it was “abundantly unfair” for the complaint to be advanced as hearsay evidence.
Partner declined advice at key stage of Slater & Gordon share offload, court told
A law firm partner who alleges a Melbourne solicitor failed to properly advise him on a share sale agreement with Slater & Gordon in 2014 declined assistance before signing a term sheet that outlined he could not sell his shares in the firm for three years, a court has heard.
Lawyers win appeal in professional negligence case over settlement advice
An appeals court has rejected a challenge by a woman who said she was given negligent advice by her lawyers about two settlement offers which she rejected, finding that she would not have taken advice to accept the offers in any case.
Partner sues Melbourne firm over advice on Slater & Gordon share sale
The managing partner of a leading plaintiff law firm has sued a Melbourne firm, alleging it failed to properly advise him on an agreement that prevented him from selling his shares in Slater & Gordon before its share price plummeted in 2015.
The West Australian hit with $180,000 defamation judgment over ‘sensationalist’ article
A judge has ordered Seven West-owned publication The West Australian to pay a former public servant $180,000 in damages over an article about an allegation of fraud that had “a sensationalist overtone”.
Bid to trade mark ‘accredited nutritionist’ hard to swallow, IP Australia tells Dietitians Association
The Dietitians Association of Australia can't register a logo featuring the words 'accredited nutritionist' as a trade mark, with a delegate agreeing with a competing nutritionist group that the association should not have a monopoly over the highly descriptive term.
Contingency fees for class action lawyers are allowed, says Full Court
Lawyers are allowed to take a cut from a class action settlement or judgment under a so-called solicitors’ common fund order, the Full Federal Court has ruled, saying they are a permissive use of the court’s power.
Ashurst, LegalVision sued over Woolworths lease transfer advice
A unit of petrol store chain EG Australia has sued Ashurst and LegalVision alleging they breached their implied duty of care through advice given to Woolworths about the assignment of a disputed Sydney petrol station lease.