Special

A senator has slammed companies for abusing legal professional privilege, after hearing that KPMG has refused to hand over documents in an ASIC investigation into misuse of client information by KPMG auditors.

Insurance specialist firm Gilchrist Connell has boosted its partner ranks by six, hiring a financial services regulation expert from a superannuation fund and promoting five lawyers internally.

Commercial construction company Shape Australia has made its second acquisition of a retail fitout company in five months, putting down $29.4 million for Australian Professional Shopfitters.

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.

Hamilton Locke has brought on four new partners to boost its expertise in areas in high-demand among its clients. 

Ex-South Australian senator and self-proclaimed transparency warrior Rex Patrick has been hit with a higher maximum costs order in his case seeking documents about the $12 billion Snowy 2.0 renewables project.

The federal government is underwriting 19 new wind, solar and battery projects in the largest tender yet under its Capacity Investment Scheme, which will unlock $17 billion in private investments.

The federal government is moving forward with a plan under recently passed changes to the environmental laws that will help speed environmental approvals on major projects.

Holding Redlich has bolstered its tax team by hiring the Australian Taxation Office's former deputy chief tax counsel.

Finding the documents are not relevant to the dispute, a judge has refused access by Martinus Rail to Qube's agreements with other subcontractors working on Sydney's $4 billion Moorebank Intermodal Terminal.