Law Firms

Advised by Johnson Winter Slattery, Morrison-managed investment fund Utilities Trust of Australia has bought out a Canadian pension fund for full ownership of the Sydney Desalination Plant.

A judge has called out the directors of failed Super Rugby club Melbourne Rebels for their “startling” inability to explain their case against the club’s administrators and the tax office.

Gilbert + Tobin has poached a litigation partner from Jones Day, strengthening the law firm's blue ribbon disputes practice.

A judge has found the ATO knowingly received millions misappropriated by a former Kupang Resources director in order to satisfy a tax debt against him, with a judge skewering the tax office for instituting a “policy of wilful blindness” in pursuit of the debt.

King & Wood Mallesons has announced its China and Australia partnerships will split into two independent firms, 14 years after the pair's merger created one of the world's largest global law firms.

ASIC has sued superannuation trustee Diversa for investing $300 million in retirement savings into Falcon Capital's failed First Guardian Master fund.

A judge has refused a bid by several KFC franchise owners to send a notice encouraging group members register for an underpayments class action prior to mediation, which the applicant argued would “blow up” settlement talks. 

Commercial real estate group JLL has hit back at a case by a former CEO who says he was sacked over his handling of a harassment complaint against a manager, arguing the manager admitted his behaviour was “completely unacceptable”.

CIP Group can subpoena Queensland Police, with a judge finding the timing of an ex-business partner's complaints to police may be material to a change of tack in CIP's $30 million suit over a residential development.

Solar developer Green Gold Energy has lost its bid to bifurcate an upcoming trial in its case accusing competitor Trina Solar of misusing its confidential information, with a judge citing the risks of a retrial.