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Australia

Dispute resolution to open flow of work for lawyers

5 March 2010 | There is money being made, and until now Australian lawyers haven’t had their share. But a new dispute resolution centre in Sydney is set to open the floodgates.


New CEO joins top IP law firm

1 March 2010 | A major intellectual property law firm has appointed a new chief executive officer to its ranks.


Judicial complaints face new scrutiny

23 February 2010 | Bringing men and women in wigs into account has become the end-game for a host of politicians and legal representative bodies in recent years. Now, finally, they are getting somewhere.


Implications of Allen & Overy's Entry Into Australia

12 February 2010 | Shocking Australian law firms last week was the news that Allen & Overy would be entering the Australian marketplace. What does it all mean, asks Ted Dwyer 4 comments


Copyright war has only just begun

5 February 2010 | The fight is likely not over for movie studios and other media producers, which are likely to lobby for more legal protection despite a major loss in the Federal Court this week, lawyers now argue.


Remuneration: Confidence lost

1 February 2010 | Lawyer Anthony Ford questions the various recommendations within the Productivity Commission's review of executive remuneration.


Lawyers applaud family law report

29 January 2010 | The peak body representing Australian lawyers has applauded the federal government's three newly released reports examining the operation of the family law system and law courts.


Harbert hires Middletons for Aesop deal

28 January 2010 | Middletons has advised an international investment fund in its investment in Emeis Holdings, the owner of Aesop cosmetics.


Jobs, the GFC, and the lawyers in the sandwich

25 January 2010 | Mimi Fong, managing director of recruiters Amicas Global, writes the first jobs and recruitment column for The New Lawyer. The big question to start the year in recruitment? How are lawyers coping as they are stuck between their jobs and the GFC?


Merger law changes stem controversy

19 January 2010 | Merger law is set for an overhaul and lawyers are gearing up for big changes in 2010.


2009: When firms dodged a bullet

18 January 2010 | Partner intakes slowed last year and some firm partner numbers decreased. But, generally speaking, most managing partners in Australia dodged a bullet in 2009, writes John Chisholm. 1 comment


Copenhagen: Does it really matter?

18 December 2009 | Whatever happens in the final hours of the Copenhagen climate change meetings, does it really matter whether a legally binding agreement is reached? Deacons partner Rebecca Hoare writes. 1 comment


Mallesons advises on Woodside equity offer

14 December 2009 | Woodside said today it will raise $2.5 billion through an equity offer to strengthen its balance sheet and develop its liquefied natural gas projects in Western Australia.


Minters, Mallesons bank on Barclays M&A

3 December 2009 | Minter Ellison and Mallesons have claimed legal roles on the newly completed acquisition of Barclays Global Investors by BlackRock.


Mallesons merger talks just merger swan song

2 December 2009 | Rumours of a merger between Clifford Chance and law firm Mallesons Stephen Jaques have again bubbled up, while the Australian firm maintains that no merger is imminent.


Minters, Allens, work on Rio Tinto acquisition

30 November 2009 | Minter Ellison has acted as Australian counsel on Amcor’s acquisition of Rio Tinto Plc Alcan’s packaging business units.


Older people's legal rights on govt agenda

27 November 2009 | Older people may have better access to legal services if the federal government’s plans for older people in the law, tabled yesterday in Parliament, are successful.


Law firms investing in arbitration

26 November 2009 | Australia is set to become a global leader in international arbitration after Attorney General Robert McClelland yesterday tabled legislative amendments in Parliament.


Minters drives retirement overhaul

18 November 2009 | Confusion and administrative burdens in the retirement village industry has spurred law firm Minter Ellison to back calls for uniform legislation to regulate the industry.


Australia to play host to leading legal minds

5 November 2009 | Top law officers from around the world will descend upon Australia for the Commonwealth Law Ministers Meeting in 2011.


Lawyers granted relief on class actions

5 November 2009 | Lawyers working on funded class actions have been granted temporary relief from those legal proceedings being classified as managed investment schemes.


Judiciary embroiled in Fiji turmoil

4 November 2009 | Fiji's military leader, Commodore Frank Bainimarama, has ordered the Australia and New Zealand High Commissioners out of the country.


Allens builds multiple deals on one client

3 November 2009 | Allens Arthur Robinson is seeing a flow of work from one major property client.


New partner appointments strengthen firms' alliance

2 November 2009 | For the second time in under a week, DLA Phillips Fox has today announced the appointment of a senior DLA Piper partner to its ranks.


Lawyer slams immigrant's treatment

28 October 2009 | A leading lawyer has today confirmed the Department of Immigration had no legal reason to detain a Lebanese immigrant who has lived in Australia for 33 years.


Foreign firms take lead roles on Aus deals

26 October 2009 | Foreign investors were involved in all seven of the Australian-based public takeovers and schemes of arrangement over $1 billion, which were announced in the last financial year.


Minters acts on speedy Ford sale

03:00 PM | Minter Ellison has worked on the fast-moving Ford Credit Australia deal, which was started and finished in the space of a couple of months.


Legal specific job network launched

19 October 2009 | The legal profession will now have access to a newly launched dedicated jobs network on The New Lawyer site.


Deacons, Norton Rose union comes early

19 October 2009 | The formal merger is yet to occur, but Deacons and Norton Rose are getting awfully close.


Privacy laws outdated: Government

15 October 2009 | The Australian Government has conceded that Australian privacy laws have not kept in pace with changes in technology and how society deals with personal information.


Corrs host to financial services insider

14 October 2009 | In a coup for Corrs Chambers Westgarth, a financial services expert has handed the firm an insider's view of Australia's future in that area.


M&A rankings sort law firms globally

12 October 2009 | Mallesons has topped the merger and acquisition Australian leagues tables in terms of deal value, according to figures released today.


Woolworths upsets apple cart

6 October 2009 | Apple has launched a legal challenge against Woolworths, prompted by the supermarket's new logo that resembles the technology giant's well-known Apple symbol.


DLA Phillips Fox acts on cross-Tasman deal

1 October 2009 | DLA Phillips Fox has advised insurance and financial services institution TOWER Ltd on a NZ$81.3million renounceable rights issue.


JWS acts on $1.6bn scheme of arrangement

30 September 2009 | Johnson Winter and Slattery has advised a leading Australian agribusiness on a $1.6 billion scheme of arrangement to foster its sale.


Law firms to face new threat from mega firm

29 September 2009 | One mega firm to rule them all, and one major mid tier firm that will really be able to compete with the top tier, are very real threats to other firms in the Australian legal services industry.


Court allows Lehman legal action in Aus

29 September 2009 | The Federal Court has opened the door for legal action against collapsed US investment bank Lehman Brothers.


Corrs kicks goal for teaching

29 September 2009 | Donning modified business suits, a bevy of Corrs lawyers and staff took to the football field in an effort to boost awareness of a student support program, backed by the firm.


High Court of Australia, now open Sundays

25 September 2009 | The country's highest court has announced it will open its doors on the weekend.


'Bleak' justice needs new remedy: A-G

24 September 2009 | The Federal Attorney General has labelled the justice outcomes for Indigenous Australians "bleak".


Deacons hires OH&S expert

23 September 2009 | Deacons has secured an occupational health, safety and security leader with the appointment of Barry Sherriff as a partner in its national team.


PM stands firm on emissions laws

21 September 2009 | Kevin Rudd says he's not budging on his emissions trading legislation.


A-G slammed for anti-lawyer slurs

21 September 2009 | The peak body representing Australian legal professionals has attacked the federal Attorney-General for pandering to popular stereotypes about lawyers.


Firms, lawyers, to unite at Perth event

17 September 2009 | Clayton Utz, Mallesons Stephen Jaques, Freehills and a host of lawyers and professionals from within the legal industry will come together in Perth tomorrow to solve and discuss the problems of the day.


Obama appoints lawyer pal as Aus ambassador

16 September 2009 | An old-pal lawyer friend of US president Barack Obama will be the new US ambassador to Australia.


Equal briefs redress in Indigenous policy

14 September 2009 | The Victorian legal profession is the first state to have a policy on equitable briefing for Indigenous Australian lawyers.


A revolution in stock exchange supervision

10 September 2009 | Brisbane barrister and The New Lawyer contributor, David Topp, questions whether recently announced changes to market supervision regimes might generate some unfavourable side-effects


Blake Dawson logs on to broadband deal

8 September 2009 | Blake Dawson has been appointed legal adviser for the Government's $43 billion broadband project.


Good government in practice

3 September 2009 | DLA Phillips Fox partner Anthony Willis speaks to Kate Gibbs about his work as a Government law firm partner in a changing economy and political world.


Letter to the Editor: In defense of law schools

31 August 2009 | Australian law schools, at least, are far from failing the profession, law lecturer Simon Rice says. 2 comments


Calma announces new take on Aboriginal justice

27 August 2009 | A new representative body that will see a new approach to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander affairs was proposed today by a Steering Committee led by Social Justice Commissioner Tom Calma.


Small mining is canary in iron ore recovery

26 August 2009 | One small mining company tests boundaries of iron ore deals with China. Clayton Utz advises.


Editorial note: Firms singing RAP's praises

24 August 2009 | Who can claim the mighty title of being the first firm to fight for Aboriginal rights? 1 comment


Why law schools are failing attorneys and the legal industry

24 August 2009 | Lawyers and law firms need to take up the banner and demand more from law schools, which are failing the profession, Stephen Fairley writes 2 comments


In-house needs reality check on value

20 August 2009 | General counsel need to take the lead on reducing costs, experts claim


Public stoush erupts over lawyer's dignity

19 August 2009 | Lawyers are reeling after the WA's police minister gave a personal attack on the profession yesterday. 1 comment


Mason to lecture lawyers on human rights

18 August 2009 | Lawyers will be preparing themselves for a day-long talk fest on human rights at a conference held in Melbourne this week, headlined by the Honourable Sir Anthony Mason AC KBE QC.


Former Rio exec appoints lawyer

17 August 2009 | Detained former Australian Rio Tinto executive, Stern Hu, has appointed a Shanghai lawyer to defend him against charges of illegally obtaining commercial secrets and bribery.


Erin Brockovich to shine spotlight in Aus

17 August 2009 | Erin Brockovich, the famous lawyer activist who was thrown into the spotlight after Julia Roberts portrayal of her in a self-titled movie in 2000, is teaming up with an Australian law firm to unearth a swag of environmental disasters in this country.


Cross Tasman deal to save business millions

11 August 2009 | AN agreement between the Australian and New Zealand governments will help cut reporting red tape for businesses, the assistant treasurer, Senator Nick Sherry, has announced.


A-Gs focus on Indigenous rights

10 August 2009 | This is what the nation's Attorneys General got up to in Alice Springs on 6 and 7 August.


Firm marketing inspires email vitriol

10 August 2009 | A spat has developed over how law firms can better market themselves. Read the various letters to The New Lawyer here. 1 comment


Sparke new threat to top-tier firms

31 July 2009 | The top tier has a new and passionate opposition, determined to "keep bowling it to them" in the market.


New law firm takes banks to task

31 July 2009 | A six-month old specialist law firm is seizing a new type of work in Australia as businesses attempt to recover compensation from banks.


Henry Davis York acts on Lehman deal

30 July 2009 | Lawyers from Henry Davis York and Sidley Austin have acted on behalf of Perpetual in its case against collapsed financial firm Lehman Brothers.


Capital raisings have changed, say lawyers

29 July 2009 | A recent deal has brought to lawyers' attention the changing nature of capital raisings in Australia.


LIV campaign boosts work for members

27 July 2009 | The Law Institute of Victoria handed its members an opportunity for new work today after it urged overseas students to get legal advice before they embark on study in Australia.


Legal rankings under scrutiny

23 July 2009 | How legal eagles rank against their peers is the cause of much furor in the legal world. But also, the reports that rank, measure and rate them are also under considerable scrutiny.


Legal profession is socially exclusive: report

10:00 AM | The legal profession is socially exclusive, wealthier and better educated than its other-profession peers, a new report has found 1 comment


England tests Australian-style litigation funding

21 July 2009 | Three lawyers are planning to float a $102m fund that they hope will make money by financing legal disputes as well as share in any damages awarded.


Regional lawyers feel like 'failed lawyers'

17 July 2009 | Following the release of the Law Council of Australia's rural, regional and remote areas lawyers survey, The New Lawyer speaks to lawyers about their experiences working in regional Australia


Grads spill on the 'boys' club' legal profession

16 July 2009 | The awful ramifications of working in the top tier, added to strong beliefs about social justice, are the key concerns of lawyers entering the profession. 1 comment


Australian tax law may impede Deacons/Norton Rose merger

29 June 2009 | The impending merger of Australian firm Deacons and the multinational Norton Rose has hit a snag. 2 comments


Chief Justice touts lawyers' moral duty

16 June 2009 | The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court in Queensland has welcomed new graduates into the legal profession, lecturing them on their responsibilities as officers of the court.


Out of work lawyers handed funding aid

11 June 2009 | Attorney-General Robert McClelland has rescued those lawyers being put out of work in the financial downturn, and those forced to do pro bono cases amidst a drop in work.


Chinalco mess a win for dealmakers: Deacons

9 June 2009 | The collapsed $19.5 billion Rio Tinto-Chinalco deal may help foster more deal making from China, a Deacons lawyer has claimed.


Minters best in CSR show

2 June 2009 | Minter Ellison has been ranked amongst the leaders in Australia for corporate social responsibility.


Chinalco chief reassures Aus over Rio deal

27 May 2009 | Global miner Rio Tinto says its $19.5 billion tie-up with Chinalco is an evolving deal, and is still subject to shareholder consultation.


Economy drives alternative billing

26 May 2009 | The number of law firms using alternative billing are increasing as the economy worsens.


High school student talks human rights

25 May 2009 | Year 12 high school student Sarah Yip answers a human rights essay question, and scoops law award.


Lawyers scout for 'asset tourists'

12:00 PM | "Asset tourists" from overseas are scoping Australia for bargain prices and debt-laden portfolios ripe for investment.


A-G announces torture offensive

12:00 AM | Laws to prevent the use of torture will be introduced this year by the Rudd Government, the federal Attorney-General said today.


Government comes through on legal aid

11 May 2009 | The Federal Government has announced more than $20 million in additional one-off funding for legal assistance programs.


Lawyers spout need for new human rights laws

6 May 2009 | The peak body presenting Australian lawyers has spoken out against what it calls inadequate human rights laws.


Litigation funding on the rise

16 April 2009 | The time is ripe for litigation funding to gather steam. As the economy worsens, it's a chance to level the playing fields. Belinda Barclay, associate at New Zealand firm Wynn Williams & Co and former Australian lawyer, writes.


Mallesons merger deal biggest in M&A

25 March 2009 | MALLESONS Stephen Jaques has claimed a "dazzling" $US68 ($97) billion deal in this "rather depressed" market.


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