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Prominent Sydney barrister sexually harassed three women, tribunal finds
A tribunal has found prominent barrister Charles Waterstreet guilty of unsatisfactory professional conduct for sexually harassing three women, but declined to find he was unfit to practice after accepting expert evidence that undiagnosed mental illness “was the dominant causal factor" behind his actions.
Settlement reached in class action against NSW law firm
A class action seeking to hold a regional NSW law firm liable for the actions of a former employee who was sentenced to a term of imprisonment for fraud offences in 2021 has reached a settlement. 
Indigenous fishing rights class action against NSW could cover 15,000 people, court told
A class action against the New South Wales government alleging it discriminated against Indigenous communities on the south coast for engaging in cultural fishing practices will include up to 15,000 people, a court has heard.
Judge’s refusal to disqualify himself from MinterEllison costs dispute overturned
A judge’s refusal to recuse himself from hearing a costs dispute between MinterEllison and a former client has been overturned, with a court finding that a number of complaints made about the judge by the client created “a contest” between them.
Sydney developer Thirdi hits back at class action over alleged shoddy construction
Property developer Thirdi has rejected the claims of a class action brought by the owners of lots in an allegedly shoddy townhouse development in Sydney, and has filed a cross-claim seeking an indemnity from its builder.
Public housing class action loses bid for injunction blocking Melbourne tower demolition
A court has dismissed a bid to temporarily halt the demolition of three public housing towers in inner city Melbourne as a class action pursues the Victorian government over its decision to redevelop the sites.
New Victorian Supreme Court practice note ‘should have gone further’, lawyers say
Leading lawyers have welcomed a new practice note in the Commercial Court division of the Victorian Supreme Court, including a “rigid framework” to cut down on interlocutory disputation which is expected to benefit commercial class action litigants, but some say the note “should have gone further” to compel discovery from defendants.
HWL Ebsworth wins appeal in negligence case over $150M Auto Alley property
Law firm HWL Ebsworth has successfully appealed a decision finding that its negligent advice over property in Paramatta’s 'Auto Alley' cost a client $2 million, with an appeals court finding the commercial opportunity lost by the client had no value.
Lawyer who closed firm to avoid counsel fees lacks character needed to practice: tribunal
A Perth solicitor found guilty of professional misconduct for failing to pay a barrister's $137,000 bill and deliberately misleading the Legal Practice Board of WA has been struck from the roll of practitioners.
Litigant tells court Dentons are his new lawyers, firm tersely denies it
A litigant in an estate dispute dropped his lawyers and filed a notice to the court naming Dentons Australia as his new firm of solicitors. Unhappily for him he made two mistakes: filing the notice himself, and apparently failing to tell anyone at Dentons he had hired them.