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Breaking news

Freehills makes moves to lead in competition law

27/01/2012 | Freehills has hired a Blake Dawson partner as it moves to bolster its competition practice amid ongoing scrutiny of M&A deals by the ACCC.


Mallesons advises Chinese on Qld gold investment

27/01/2012 | Mallesons has advised the Chinese corporation, Reignwood International Investment, on its agreement to invest $50m into Citigold to fund the development of its Queensland gold mine.


Commercial property team picks up, moves

27/01/2012 | A senior lawyer with 40 years experience in commercial property law, and his entire team, have been hired by a major Sydney law firm.


Partners jostle for fewer in-house roles: recruiter

27/01/2012 | Experienced lawyers are competing for fewer in-house roles this year, a senior legal recruiter says. And this year, the contracts are getting shorter.


PNG police charge prominent lawyer

24/01/2012 | Papua New Ginean police have charged a prominent lawyer for perverting the course of justice as the country's leadership stoush continues.


Freehills finds more work with Abacus

23/01/2012 | Freehills is advising long-time client Abacus on a proposal to merge its property group with the unlisted Abacus Storage Fund (ASF).


Clayton Utz leads China's LNG buy up

23/01/2012 | Clayton Utz has advised Australia Pacific LNG Pty Ltd on a deal that sees China Petrochemical Corp increase its holding in the company an additional 10 per cent.


DLA Piper moves employment hub to Sydney

23/01/2012 | DLA Piper has moved its head of the employment practice in the Asia Pacific to Sydney from Hong Kong.


'Disgraced' partners suspended from practice

20/01/2012 | Three partners at a Melbourne law firm, including one managing partner, have been found guilty of professional misconduct. The trio have been suspended from practice after mishandling more than $300,000.


Bakers only Aus team on Asia investment deal

20/01/2012 | Baker & McKenzie has acted for Sims Metal Management, the world's largest listed metals and electronics recycler, on its first major step into Asia.

Deals

Mallesons advises Chinese on Qld gold investment

27 January 2012 | Mallesons has advised the Chinese corporation, Reignwood International Investment, on its agreement to invest $50m into Citigold to fund the development of its Queensland gold mine.


Freehills finds more work with Abacus

23 January 2012 | Freehills is advising long-time client Abacus on a proposal to merge its property group with the unlisted Abacus Storage Fund (ASF).

Law firms

'Disgraced' partners suspended from practice

20 January 2012 | Three partners at a Melbourne law firm, including one managing partner, have been found guilty of professional misconduct. The trio have been suspended from practice after mishandling more than $300,000.


Middletons to merge with Brisbane's Flower & Hart

19 January 2012 | Australian law firm Middletons has confirmed it will merge with a Brisbane law firm in a bid to access previously under-tapped markets.

Appointments

Freehills makes moves to lead in competition law

27 January 2012 | Freehills has hired a Blake Dawson partner as it moves to bolster its competition practice amid ongoing scrutiny of M&A deals by the ACCC.


Commercial property team picks up, moves

27 January 2012 | A senior lawyer with 40 years experience in commercial property law, and his entire team, have been hired by a major Sydney law firm.

Practice areas

M&A lawyers 'cautiously optimistic' about year ahead

11 January 2012 | Australian merger and acquisition activity will continue to be driven by resources this year, a leading M&A lawyer says, as well as financial services, agriculture and property.


Slater & Gordon to launch new practice

21 November 2011 | Slater & Gordon is breaking into new markets after a decision to move outside the personal injury space.

Government & Regulation

Laws to face human rights check

6 January 2012 | All new laws will be checked against human rights standards in a new Act that came into effect this week.


New laws will bolster human rights: Attorney

25 November 2011 | The country's first legal officer today welcomed the passage of laws designed to enhance the protection of human rights in Australia. 

Comment & Debate

Dry pen trumps wet ink: lawyer

13 January 2012 | A US court case does nothing to change the fact that the original wet ink signature defence is a non-defence, lawyer Jonathan de Vere Tyndall writes.


Lawyer calls for compensation overhaul

11 January 2012 | The legal profession needs to help abolish a flawed compensation framework, argues lawyer Rob Bryden.

Bar & Bench

Bank fees class action widens

16 December 2011 | FOUR more banks face class actions by 150,000 bank customers who accuse them of charging exorbitant fees.


Judiciary not 'out of touch' on sentencing: profession

9 December 2011 | Victoria's judiciary has rejected claims it is out of touch with public sentiment on sentencing.

In-house

Partners jostle for fewer in-house roles: recruiter

27 January 2012 | Experienced lawyers are competing for fewer in-house roles this year, a senior legal recruiter says. And this year, the contracts are getting shorter.


Corporate counsel battles rise in class actions

29 August 2011 | Corporate counsel in Australia has the constant cloud of potential class actions hanging over their heads, largely due to a growth in litigation funding.

Practice management

China makes moves on Australian M&A

19 January 2012 | Australia is becoming a safe haven for Chinese M&A, a new law firm report reveals, and is now the fifth largest inbound target market for M&A deals.


Law firm wins green gong

16 November 2011 | Norton Rose Australia reduced carbon pollution by 214 tonnes and energy bills by $42,000 last year.

Suppliers

PNG police charge prominent lawyer

24 January 2012 | Papua New Ginean police have charged a prominent lawyer for perverting the course of justice as the country's leadership stoush continues.


Lehman Brothers Australia files for US court protection

11 January 2012 | Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc's Australian subsidiary is seeking bankruptcy protection under US law.

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