Special

Law firm Wotton + Kearney has become the latest firm to beef up its cybersecurity practice, luring special counsel Nick Martin from EY Law.

Federal parliament has passed legislation extending judicial immunity to judges on the Federal Circuit and Family Court, after a judge on the court was held personally liable for the false imprisonment of a Queensland man.

The Albanese government on Wednesday introduced legislation that would protect sexual harassment claimants from adverse costs orders in litigation, the latest step in its commitment to implementing the recommendations of a landmark report.

Warning that board directors need to “up the ante” in their company’s cyber preparedness, Clayton Utz has appointed a Big Four partner to lead the firm’s strengthened cyber and data governance practice.

ANZ is facing proceedings by a shareholder who wants the bank to turn over documents related to its risk management systems in response to concerns it is increasing loans to fossil fuel companies and failing to properly address climate change risks.

New High Court Chief Justice Stephen Gageler was lauded by a group of legal luminaries at a swearing in ceremony, where he was described as the “unbackable favourite” for the country’s highest legal post and “the judge’s judge”.

Glencore-owned Viterra has failed in its bid for High Court leave to challenge a ruling in a 10-year battle with Cargill over the 2013 sale of malt producer Joe White, leaving the grain producer to fork over damages of almost $300 million.

An investigation is underway against US medical device maker Exactech on behalf of patients who allegedly received faulty hip, knee or ankle implants.

Lawyers have spoken out against Treasury’s plan to implement a three-year moratorium on private litigation against companies that make misleading claims about their climate credentials, as the Albanese government proposes new climate disclosure requirements.

The government is seeking submissions for a review of widely criticised Morrison-era reforms that weakened continuous disclosure obligations, but the review may be hampered by the lack of case studies from the courts.