A judge’s recent ruling throwing out an expert report in a trade secrets case because the law firm briefing the expert had failed to disclose its involvement in preparing the evidence is a stark reminder to solicitors their paramount duty is to the court, not to their client.
Ultra Tune is facing contempt of court proceedings for allegedly breaching a judge’s orders and failing to meet the requirements of a court-ordered compliance program, instituted after the company copped a $2 million fine for contravening its disclosure obligations to franchisees.
The New Zealand law commission has called on the government to implement a class action regime that would allow funders to seek the equivalent of a common fund order to “improve access to justice and efficiency in litigation”.
Arnold Bloch Leibler has picked up a new partner from King & Wood Mallesons to bolster its property and development practice.
The solicitor found to have acted as a “postbox” to hide conflicts of interest in the class action over Banksia Securities’ collapse has been suspended from the roll of practitioners in Victoria for two years, after a judge found he was presently unfit to practice.
Law firm Mills Oakley is launching a cyber risk and insurance offering spearheaded by former HWL Ebsworth partner Jason Symons.
As it severs ties with specialist outfit Greenwoods, Herbert Smith Freehills has brought on three tax law experts as part of the firm’s plans to beef up its commercial tax practice.
The head of NSW’s peak legal body has called on the state’s Attorney General to retain a number of COVID-19 measures to improve access to justice.
The federal government said Friday it would consider the implications of an appeals court’s finding that the managed investment scheme structure was unsuited to class actions, a ruling it said was a victory for ordinary Australians and a vindication for Labor.
The ruling by the Full Federal Court that funded class actions are not managed investment schemes marks the end of an ill-considered regime enacted by the Morrison government to rein in class actions, but the debate over regulation of litigation funders is not over yet.