Law Firms

A judge has refused a developer's request to keep the details of a negligence suit against its former lawyers Bartier Perry under wraps, noting the potential "serious consequences" for law firms facing such claims.

A plastering firm accusing the CFMEU and United Super of coercing more than $1 million in payments while it was working on several major Sydney developments has been ordered to replead vague aspects of its serious claims.

Contractor Civil & Civic Corporation has lost an appeal against construction firm Nova Builders over an alleged mistaken payment for work done on a lakeside townhouse development in Canberra.

A trial in related cases by developer Villawood over a logistics estate near Wallan, Victoria has been pushed back to next year.

A union representing medical officers has lost its appeal of a ruling which found that junior doctors at state-run hospitals in NSW are not temporary employees who are entitled to a 10 per cent allowance. 

A class action accusing Sony of breaching competition laws has said proposed changes to the case will focus on excessive charges in the distribution market, but the electronics giant argues the amended case leaves causation "entirely unarticulated".

Johnson Winter Slattery has promoted five lawyers to its partnership, including three with expertise advising on major projects, saying continued strong growth had opened the advancement path.

Westpac has been hit with a $26 million penalty -- just shy of the $30 million sought by ASIC -- for failing to respond to online hardship applications on time on 277 occasions, in conduct described as “grossly negligent”. 

McDonald’s knew that employees across its stores were not being given continuous 10-minute rest breaks and that its time-keeping systems were deficient, a judge heard on the first day of trial in an underpayments class action that could include 370,000 workers.

A judge hearing a challenge to Woodside's North West Shelf extension will hear arguments from a UN special rapporteur on the relevance of international law, including an International Court of Justice opinion that held countries have an obligation to protect the climate from greenhouse gas emissions.