Yesterday
High Court expands native title rights in historic ruling
The High Court unanimously ruled that the extinguishment of native title rights should attract compensation under “just terms” from the federal government.
This Month
Maurice Blackburn losses mount amid class action failures
Contingency fees were expected to boost plaintiff firms, but the recent reversal in results has exposed the high-risk, high-reward strategy.
‘David and Goliath’ firm nabs six partners from global outfit
Piper Alderman has hired six partners from Squire Patton Boggs, as the international legal market in Australia undergoes another shift.
Australia needs to keep a cool head on Trump 2.0: Wong
Penny Wong tells the Financial Review Business Summit that tariffs are the new reality; Bill Shorten warns Victoria is a challenge for federal Labor. How the day unfolded.
‘Oh, the irony’: Bosses chide Maurice Blackburn for lawyer shutout
Employers have seized on the union-aligned law firm’s shut out of its workers in response to a historic billing ban as justification for lockout powers in IR disputes.
Directors ‘overwhelmed’ by compliance burden
Company say their own regulatory and compliance burdens are too high, and corporate governance principles should be related to allow more risk-taking.
‘We need women coming through’: KPMG director looks to change industry
Kate Gardiner, who has worked on all sides of the property sector, says females should embrace challenges to change the male-dominated industry.
‘Unsatisfactory’: US-based firms book biggest gender pay gaps
Law and consulting firms run out of the United States are grappling with the effects of an anti-DEI drive from the US government.
Open justice needs social media-era rethink, says Chief Justice
Federal Court Chief Justice Debra Mortimer wants to move beyond “misused” conceptions of open justice, which are tied to traditional methods of media consumption.
‘What email?’: Inside Slater and Gordon’s workplace meltdown
An all-staff email featuring the pay details of more than 900 staff has ricocheted around a law firm already torn between its private equity owner and trade union heritage.
February
Slaters staff (CEO included) shared rogue email 300 times in an hour
In an emergency meeting, Slater and Gordon chief executive Dina Tutungi said allegations in a rogue email were “rubbish” and her wage was exaggerated by a “shitload”.
Second Slater and Gordon HR manager sues firm
Former payroll manager Bridgett Maddox is suing Slater and Gordon and alleges she was sacked after reporting a decade-long underpayment.
Chief justices in stand-off over ‘surprise�� review intervention
The Federal Court Chief Justice withdrew a surprise submission to a review of the Federal Circuit and Family Court, after its Chief Justice complained.
Slater and Gordon to make police report over mass email revealing salaries
The email sent to hundreds of Slater and Gordon staff purports to reveal all staff members’ salaries and performance ratings, as well as the outgoing head of HR’s views on key managers.
Kendrick Lamar and Japanese punk: Meet Victoria’s new chief justice
Richard Niall, KC, was welcomed to his new role this week, and was provided with some advice by the current head of the Federal Court.
Judge lets rip at intolerant universities as source of antisemitism
Justice Michael Lee blames antisemitism on cancel culture and intellectual conformity in universities.
Synagogue to mosque, the legal profession gathers in a divided city
Members of the NSW and federal judiciary, along with solicitors and barristers, gather for traditional religious ceremonies at a time of heightened tension.
‘You have to be at the top of your game to survive’
London’s legal market is famously competitive, something Adelaide lawyer Eloise Crompton has come to admire.
Progress stalls on bar’s pay gap, with targets under review
Just one-fifth of the $1.8 billion worth of reported briefs went to women last financial year, according to Law Council data.
Why the Star case has unnerved Australian boardrooms
“It’s a private company” is a big selling point for directors when headhunters call, and ASIC’s case against the embattled casino group is making many directors more nervous about public company boards.
