CLAYTON UTZ

Clayton Utz News

Pro bono, a business necessity (6-Jun-2008)
Pro bono work has been at the mantle of some successful law firms for more than 100 years. But it’s only recently that the practice has moved from a scattering of voluntary hours across the firm to an organised front; a necessary means to remaining competitive and responsible. Angela Priestley reports

Art and law a passionate combination (23-May-2008)
ART AND law seem to be combining their disparate charms everywhere we look this week, from chilly Melbourne to sunny Queensland.In Victoria, the Passion exhibition launched this year’s Law Week and Arts Law Week in Victoria, where law professionals and visual artists have combined forces to create a visual tour-de-force of unique art works. The exhibition program featured an artists meet and greet with guest speakers Brian Tee MP, the Parliamentary Secretary Justice, Julian Burnside QC, and Penny Hutchinson, Director of Arts Victoria.

Top firms in takeover bid (12-May-2008)
MALLESONS STEPHEN Jacques has revealed it is currently acting for British Gas (BG) Group in the proposed acquisition of Origin Energy limited,

Minters stands up to credit crisis (12-May-2008)
AGAINST THE backdrop of the sub-prime credit crisis, Minter Ellison has finalised complex financial structuring of a hostile healthcare acquisition.

Energy expert joins Clayton Utz (23-Apr-2008)
CLAYTON UTZ has lured energy and resources law expert, Graeme Dennis, to the firm’s corporate/energy and resources practice in Sydney.

Saturation point (15-Apr-2008)
A document saturation point has some lawyers reaching their information absorption limits. But with effective document management moving beyond mere housekeeping to a powerful weapon of knowledge, at least the desk is tidy

Death be to WorkChoices (28-Mar-2008)
EMPLOYERS ARE working with legal teams to scale back WorkChoices after Parliament formally declared the initiative “dead”, yet lawyers believe round one of the changes are far from complicated.

Allens and Clayton Utz advise on massive mining merger (20-Mar-2008)
ALLENS ARTHUR Robinson and Clayton Utz have advised on the merger of Melbourne-based companies Zinifex Ltd and Oxiana Ltd.

Firms fight for women in talent war (16-Mar-2008)
HOLDING ONTO good lawyers has never been harder, and with women now making up a clear majority of law graduates, law firms are pulling out all the stops to attract and retain top female legal talent.

AAR joins others on coal deal (3-Mar-2008)
ALLENS ARTHUR Robinson was the legal adviser for financiers to the Newcastle Coal Infrastructure Group in the financing of a Newcastle project.

Privilege problematic for in-house lawyers (15-Feb-2008)
DESPITE THE almost mystical appeal that working in-house has for many lawyers, corporate lawyers can face some added complications when it comes to claims for privilege.

Clayton Utz builds project finance team (15-Feb-2008)
PRE-EMPTING INCREASING market activity over the next year, Clayton Utz has strengthened its project finance practice by appointing a new partner and senior associate – both with significant international experience – to its debt finance team.

Systematic discrimination next target for legal centre (12-Feb-2008)
THE HUMAN Rights Legal Resource Centre (HRLRC) made its submission to the Victorian Equal Opportunity Act review on the final day for first-round submissions.

Allens and Mallesons top Global Chambers survey (12-Feb-2008)
DATA EXTRACTED from the Chambers Global survey database reveals Allens Arthur Robinson and Mallesons Stephen Jaques topped the Australian firm rankings for practice areas in 2008.

‘Non-partners’ recognised in Chambers Global Guide 2008 (31-Jan-2008)
AUSTRALIAN LAW firms are sprucing up their marketing pitches, with the release of the annual Chambers Global guide to the world’s leading lawyers for 2008.

London firm Maxwell Winward investigates Australian opportunities (24-Jan-2008)
CITY OF London firm Maxwell Winward LLP is canvassing the prospect of opening an Australian arm of its building and construction practice.

Clayton Utz solicitor honoured for excellence in construction law (4-Jan-2008)
TREVOR THOMAS, a solicitor in the construction and major projects group at national law firm Clayton Utz, is the inaugural recipient of the Tom Yuncken Young Construction Lawyer of the Year Award.

Calls for reversal of ‘damaging’ Sons of Gwalia decision (4-Jan-2008)
THE OUTCOME of the Sons and Gwalia decision in the High Court continues to cause consternation among insolvency lawyers and their corporate clients.

Paperless courts to leave profession crumpled? (6-Dec-2007)
With the development of new technologies for use in litigation, judges, barristers, lawyers and their clients are facing new issues in and out of the courtroom. Zoya Sheftalovich and Michael Romei report

Minters on Campbell Brothers’ acquisition (28-Nov-2007)
MINTER ELLISON has advised Brisbane-based Campbell Brothers Limited on its acquisition of leading Australian coal services company, ACIRL Pty Ltd, for $76.8 million.

High speed rail project a long journey for Clayton Utz (5-Nov-2007)
FOUR YEARS into the project, Clayton Utz lawyers can celebrate the success of a new US$16 billion bullet train service between Taipei and Kaohsiung with its clients, the Taiwan High Speed Rail Corporation (THSRC).

Chang, Pistilli & Simmons on public market deal (1-Nov-2007)
SYDNEY LAW firm Chang, Pistilli & Simmons (CP&S) is acting for joint bidders in their takeover bid for the Australian Hotel Fund (AHO).

Freehills has firm grip on top spot in league tables (16-Oct-2007)
THE LATEST M&A league tables will likely reignite debate about the criteria the various analysts use that have produced significantly different rankings. What isn’t a point of contention, however, is that Freehills is the dominant adviser in the Australian and Asian markets, no matter which league table you refer to

Clayton Utz advises on global mining deal (16-Oct-2007)
CLAYTON UTZ advised Norilsk Nickel Group on its purchase of Canadian-controlled LionOre Mining International, the Russian miner’s largest acquisition to date outside of Russia.

Clayton Utz assist major infrastructure deal in the west (5-Oct-2007)
CLAYTON UTZ advised Yilgarn Infrastructure Ltd on the planned construction of the $3 billion Oakajee Port and Rail Project to service iron ore mines in the mid-west of Western Australia.

Blakes, Clayton Utz on bank buy (19-Sep-2007)
BLAKE DAWSON Waldron and Clayton Utz advised on the Bank of Queensland’s bid to acquire and Home Building Society for $592 million.

Steel deal for Deacons, Clayton Utz (19-Sep-2007)
DEACONS AND Clayton Utz advised on a $1.8 billion deal between one of China’s largest steel producers and Western Australian miner Grindalbie Metals to develop a major iron ore project in Western Australia.

Firms sour over cherry picking in pro bono (14-Sep-2007)
Cherry picking the sexiest pro bono cases is now common practice for many firms in New York, and now Chicago is considering the same. But will Australian law firms enter this fruitful game? Kate Gibbs reports

No pay-to-play here, but elusive pro bono work frustrates firms (14-Sep-2007)
PRO BONO work in Australia is done on a needs basis, rather than a pay-to-play basis that is common in the United States. But according to one senior lawyer, New South Wales in some cases has an unusual system of distributing pro bono work to lawyers.

Olympic champ wins lawyers ski race (17-Aug-2007)
Over 300 lawyers headed down to Thredbo for the annual Lawyers Ski & Snowboard Race at Thredbo on 3–4 August.

Deacons, Corrs and Blakes top revenue growth (3-Aug-2007)
MANY OF Australia’s top firms recorded healthy rises in revenue last financial year, with one firm even taking the rare step on trumpeting a jump in profits. But even the top earners say sheer size of revenue isn’t everything.

Freehills confirmed M&A favourite (13-Jul-2007)
FREEHILLS COMMANDING performance in mergers and acquisitions has been confirmed in the second-quarter league tables from Thomson Financial, in which the firm dominated both the Australia and New Zealand, and Asia-Pacific (excluding Japan) markets.

Clayton Utz keeps trains rolling (13-Jul-2007)
Trains travelling the length and breadth of Australia now have a fully integrated and simplified communications system, thanks in part to the work done by Clayton Utz with client Australian Rail Track Corporation Ltd (ARTC) and Telstra.

Victoria a model for pro bono: NPBRC (6-Jul-2007)
A NATIONAL study has identified some of the main constraints discouraging legal practices from becoming involved in pro bono work, and suggests the Victorian Government’s approach to using incentives to encourage more to take on pro bono work should be followed.

Griffith Hack hires Goatcher (29-Jun-2007)
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY firm Griffith Hack Lawyers has taken on a new IP partner in Andrew Goatcher.

Freehills push brings art and business together (29-Jun-2007)
One Freehills consultant is making a contribution to the cultural health of Western Australia through ongoing work with the Australian Business Arts Foundation (AbaF) and arts organisations.

Freehills remains strong in M&A (29-Jun-2007)
FREEHILLS HAS extended its leading run in mergers and acquisitions in Australia, securing the most money and recording the highest number of announced deals in the second quarter of 2007.

How the East was won from home (21-Jun-2007)
Resisting rather than pursuing the ‘bricks and mortar’ approach in Asia is the key for two Australian firms. Alex Boxsell reports

Young Lawyers bolster support to save AustLII (21-Jun-2007)
AS MORE supporters of Australia’s most widely used free legal research service are increasingly pledging their money to keep it operating effectively, the New South Wales Young Lawyers have been working behind the scenes to build awareness.

Taps opened a notch on PPP pipeline (21-Jun-2007)
THEY’RE NOT reaching the “pipeline” of deals that investors and bidders would like, but despite a cautious approach to public private partnerships (PPPs) in Australia, some see a growing number of significant projects ahead.

Insolvency reforms may scoop the pool (7-Jun-2007)
The Federal Treasury announced a Bill to improve the efficiency and cost effectiveness of the insolvency process last week, although at least one lawyer has isolated continuing problems with the issue of pooling in insolvent corporate groups.

Disparate takes on a professional responsibility (7-Jun-2007)
Firms have vastly different approaches when it comes to getting lawyers involved in pro bono matters, Clare Buttner reports

Chief Justice praises young lawyers’ altruism (7-Jun-2007)
IN AN inspiring speech to the younger end of the legal profession, the Chief Justice of Queensland has asked that they not let the pressure of practice erode the fresh enthusiasm and altruism that he says they currently exhibit.

Victorian Government panel spending on the rise (29-May-2007)
GOVERNMENT SPENDING in Victoria by users of legal services under panel arrangements has risen in 2005/2006 by over 21 per cent, as compared to the previous financial year.

Allens, Clayton Utz in latest health bid (11-May-2007)
ALLENS ARTHUR ROBINSON and Clayton Utz are advising on the $2.8 billion consortium bid for Symbion Health Limited, announced last week.

Top-tier firms tight lipped as United Kingdom pay soars (11-May-2007)
AS MAGIC CIRCLE firms in London broadcast record pay increases, Australia’s top six remain fiercely protective of their financial information.

Top six most attractive to NSW’s bright young things (9-May-2007)
MOST LAW students would prefer to work in one of Australia’s top six law firms than any other type of organisation. But this is only marginally ahead of mid-tier firms, which rank high on the most appealing places to work, a Lawyers Weekly survey reveals.

Piper Alderman: rich and hot (27-Apr-2007)
PIPER ALDERMAN has the most friendly working environment, the best work life balance and offers its staff the best career prospects, all of which should make up for its disappointing meeting room biscuits, the final results of a UK online survey of Australian law firms suggest.

Magic circle lawyer returns to Clayton Utz (20-Apr-2007)
HEATH LEWIS has been appointed a partner in the corporate advisory and M&A practice of Clayton Utz’s Perth office.

M&A tables put Freehills on top (20-Apr-2007)
DESPITE BLAKE Dawson Waldron’s commanding performance in the Thomson Financial tables, Freehills has brought in the most deals and the highest dollar value for the first quarter of 2007 according to the mergermarket league tables for legal advisors in Australasia.

Anonymous lawyers spill the beans on own firms (20-Apr-2007)
PIPER ALDERMAN scores top points for its pay, but its meeting room biscuits leave a little to be desired. While Arnold Bloch Leibler has the best biscuits, it is rumoured to be stingey with equity. So say the results of a UK survey of Australian law firms.

Trafficking words in today’s contract (5-Apr-2007)
AS THE trend in the interpretation of contracts has changed from a textual to contextual basis over time, the impact on cost and certainty, among other factors has been significant, according to the chief justice of New South Wales.

Scales of (billable) justice (5-Apr-2007)
Australian law firms are still operating on time-based billing structures, but dialogue about the way firms bill clients is increasing. Kate Gibbs examines the alternatives

Who will be at the Fair this year? (13-Mar-2007)
Teams of partners, summer clerks and human resources managers will storm Sydney’s Darling Harbour on 23 March in order to put their best on display. Here, they hope to draw in the finest legal talent from the hordes of job seekers also attending the Fair. Firms tell us what they have on offer

Clayton Utz, Mallesons aid NSBT project (8-Mar-2007)
THE STANDOUT infrastructure deal of 2006, Brisbane’s North-South Bypass Tunnel (NSBT) project, continues to impress in 2007, pulling in a bag of awards.

Firms blaze a trail (1-Mar-2007)
MORE THAN forty lawyers will pound the streets of Melbourne, then three different national parks, and then the Yarra Valley this month in an energetic contribution to charity.

Clayton Utz puts flexible working into action (16-Feb-2007)
THE EXPERIENCE of one Clayton Utz senior associate shows just how flexible law firms are forced to be in a competitive, talent-short market.

Clayton Utz absorbs Corrs’ Canberra team (2-Feb-2007)
CLAYTON UTZ was the firm to benefit most from the collapse of Corrs Chambers Westgarth’s Canberra office, taking a prized partner and a further 10 staff in a move to solidify its standing in the nation’s capital.

One Australian law body to rule them all? (25-Jan-2007)
ALTHOUGH THERE is widespread agreement that the Law Council of Australia (LCA) needs more resources to fulfil its brief, there is contention over whether that money should come directly from individual lawyers as members, or continue as capitation fees from the law societies and bars.

Triple M&A crown for Freehills (17-Jan-2007)
THE FIRM perhaps better known as ‘Threehills’ has maintained its top-place position in mergers and acquisitions for another year.

A string of appointments for Chang, Pistilli & Simmons (15-Dec-2006)
BEGINNING IN the new year, Lance Sacks and Jason Mendens have become partners of Chang, Pistilli & Simmons.

Cherry heads west to Mallon & Co (14-Dec-2006)
WEST AUSTRALIAN firm Mallon & Co Intellectual Property Lawyers has added Nyssa Cherry as a solicitor.

Blakes best firm, but Mallesons has top lawyers (30-Nov-2006)
MALLESONS STEPHEN JAQUES has taken out top spot in the Chambers Global 2007 list of the cream of leading lawyers per practice group in Australia, while Blake Dawson Waldron was named firm of the year.

A standout performance (23-Nov-2006)
For lawyers who want it all, a new prestige car club is offering a smorgasbord of high-powered vehicles for consumption. Alex Boxsell gets a taste of life in the fast lane.

WA Law Society president to Deacons (17-Nov-2006)
LAW SOCIETY of Western Australia president Maria Saraceni has joined Deacons as partner.

Clayton Utz do the Mayne deal (3-Nov-2006)
INVESTMENT IN the healthcare sector is hotting up, leading to a busy period for M&A teams says Clayton Utz.

Cook to serve for Minters (26-Oct-2006)
CANBERRA LAWYER Robert Cook has joined Minter Ellison’s employment practice as partner, having previously acted in the same role for Clayton Utz.

NSW CSO excels as equal opportunity employer (26-Oct-2006)
THE NSW Crown Solicitor’s Office, Freehills and Clayton Utz were amongst the big winners of the NSW Law Society’s awards for equality in employment opportunities last week.

Clayton Utz on board at Lex Mundi (9-Oct-2006)
THE WORLD’S leading association of independent law firms, Lex Mundi, has appointed Clayton Utz partner Simon Truskett to its board of directors.

Bakers acts for buyer of Mayne offshoot (9-Oct-2006)
BAKER & MCKENZIE is acting for Hospira in its proposed acquisition of Mayne Pharma via a scheme implementation agreement.

AWB lawyers part of a broken system: Roxon (9-Oct-2006)
THE LEGAL profession needs wholesale improvement if it is to repair damage done by scandals such as the Cole Inquiry, Shadow Attorney-General Nicola Roxon said in a speech last week.

Building higher with Wales (29-Sep-2006)
Clayton Utz has taken on a new special counsel in Irene Wales to boost its construction and major projects division.

Allens & Minters client favourites: ILO (29-Sep-2006)
THE INTERNATIONAL law office has awarded Allens Arthur Robinson and Minter Ellison Rudd Watts the Client Choice Award for Australia and New Zealand respectively

Foul tidings in the air (29-Sep-2006)
AUSTRALIAN COMPANIES might soon be subject to ‘climate change’ claims if an environmental action filed in the US is a sign of things to come

Freehills, Baker to lead M&A deal advisor rankings (25-Sep-2006)
FREEHILLS is looking to dominate the Thomson Financial legal advisory rankings tables once again, with preliminary results for 2006 showing the firm in top spot in both the announced and completed results

Specialist Baker for AAT (15-Sep-2006)
Regulatory specialist Dr Teresa Baker, of Clayton Utz, has been appointed to the New South Wales division of the Administrative Appeals Tribunal.

Five Years Ago: 31 August 2001 (8-Sep-2006)
31 August 2001

Clayton Utz heads underground (4-Sep-2006)
WORK ON the Brisbane north-south bypass tunnel (NSBT) project is finally getting underway after more than two years of planning, with Clayton Utz acting for the Brisbane City Council for the entirety of the tender phase for the $2 billion project.

Clayton Utz to the rescue (4-Sep-2006)
CLAYTON UTZ partners were called upon by administrators PricewaterhouseCoopers to string together a last minute deal, without which 10,000 workers in the automotive industry might have been stood down.

Leading Lawyers for Allens, Mallesons (29-Aug-2006)
ALLENS ARTHUR Robinson and Mallesons Stephen Jaques were equal first in this year’s Asialaw Leading Lawyers survey for local firms in Australia, while Freehills and Clayton Utz shared third position

Razor Sharp at HGR (29-Aug-2006)
In an effort to expand its Melbourne and Sydney property services group, Herbert Geer & Rundle has appointed Vicki Sharp as a partner

Firms’ best running from the law (29-Aug-2006)
SYDNEY’S LAWYERS were in the thick of the record 63,000 entrants in this year’s City to Surf run

Firm’s own superhero (29-Aug-2006)
He can remember a spreadsheet of numbers in a single glance, sort through a pack of cards in 90 seconds. Is it a magician? Is it a genius? No, it’s a technical specialist at Clayton Utz. Kate Gibbs speaks to Simon Orton

Five Years Ago: 10 August 2001 (18-Aug-2006)
10 August 2001

The fun of the fair (11-Aug-2006)
Armed with brochures and goodie, law firms at the Fair will be trying to fill your arms with information, and your head with ideas, on what they are really like. To make it easier for you to navigate the bustle, Alex Boxsell finds out who will be there, what they want, and what they will offer you

Issues 001 - 050 (3-Aug-2006)
Issues 001 - 050

Issues 051 - 100 (3-Aug-2006)
Issues 051 - 100

Issues 101 - 150 (3-Aug-2006)
Issues 101 - 150

Issues 251 - 300 (3-Aug-2006)
Issues 251 - 300

Woolworths leases back acquired centres (3-Aug-2006)
Arnold Bloch Leibler acted for SAITeys McMahon (SAITM) and Australian Prime Property Fund Industrial (APPF), a fund managed by Lend Lease, on their acquisition and leaseback of Woolworths’ distribution centres. Clayton Utz represented Woolworths on the deal, which was worth $846 million.

What keeps managing partners up at night (3-Aug-2006)
What stops the big guns from sleeping easy? Kate Gibbs speak to some of Australia’s biggest private practice players

OFM adds to property funds folio (20-Jul-2006)
Melbourne-based financial services company OFM Investment Group has bought Century Funds Management for $42.4 million. Herbert Geer & Rundle (HGR), led by Adam Brooks, advised OFM, while Clayton Utz, led by Matthew Anderson advised Century.

Freehills and Blakes dictate M&A tables (10-Jul-2006)
THREE SEPARATE M&A league tables, covering the past six months, were released over the last week, with Freehills, Blake Dawson Waldron and Allens Arthur Robinson consistently vying for the top spots and featuring throughout the Asia Pacific charts.

Banking on finance (30-Jun-2006)
The Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA) and Leighton Holdings Limited have entered into an agreement to provide a $750 million fully underwritten revolving operating lease facility

New dawn for Land of the Rising Sun (30-Jun-2006)
AS JAPAN arises from its enduring economic slump, Australian law firms that nurtured relationships with their Japanese clients during the lean times are welcoming back their client base, and advising on deals in the energy and resources, manufacturing, property, food and education sectors

Appointments 23 June (27-Jun-2006)
Appointments 23 June

Secondment to Paris a first for Clayton Utz (27-Jun-2006)
National law firm Clayton Utz has set up a new secondment relationship with a French firm, and sent their first young lawyer from the Melbourne office

Law firms furnish Super A-Mart deal (9-Jun-2006)
Clayton Utz, Minter Ellison and Phillips Fox were all involved in the recent management buyout of Queensland-based furniture retailer Super A-Mart for approximately $500 million, by a private equity consortium.

Clayton Utz a private equity champion (2-Jun-2006)
Clayton Utz has advised CHAMP Ventures on the establishment of its sixth venture capital fund, with partner Mark Williamson leading the firm’s team.

Incitec deal cultivated (26-May-2006)
Clayton Utz and Freehills have worked on the institutional sell-down of part of majority shareholder Orica Limited’s 70 per cent stake in Incitec Pivot Limited (IPL), and the proposed buy-back by IPL of Orica’s remaining shareholding. Clayton Utz advised IPL led by partner Charles Rosedale, while Freehills advised Orica led by Rodd Levy

Getting the right fit (19-May-2006)
Finding a mentor with whom you click is one of the biggest challenges of professional development, and is more important than ever. Deborah Hodgson reports

I gotcha, coach (19-May-2006)
Law firms might be giving more attention to mentoring, but it won’t by itself meet all a lawyer’s professional development needs. Coaching, however, can help close the gap, and coaching is even becoming all but de rigueur for the successful partner. So what’s the rap?

Mining contracts hold up acquisition (19-May-2006)
Minter Ellison’s Perth office advised Leighton Contractors on its $211 million acquisition of contract miner Henry Walker Eltin (HWE) Mining. HWE provides surface and underground mining and bulk materials movement expertise to the Australian and New Zealand mining sectors, and has contracts with companies in the iron ore, nickel and gold mining sectors

Wisdom workers and networkers at IPBA event (15-May-2006)
Networking creatively was the subject of an animated Women Business Lawyers session at the sixteenth annual Inter-Pacific Bar Association (IPBA) conference, which took place last week in Sydney.

The media, the litigation and the takeover (1-May-2006)
“More twists and turns than a zig-zag railway is how one lawyer described the Toll/Patrick deal. Possibly the most talked about and most litigious takeover ever, it involved a veritable posse of lawyers from four different firms

Lawyers welcome WA justice upgrade (21-Apr-2006)
SOON TO be appointed Chief Justice of Western Australia, Wayne Martin QC, has announced plans to make the state’s justice system more accessible, cheaper and relevant.

A game proposal (13-Apr-2006)
Clayton Utz advised Tattersall’s and Mallesons Stephen Jaques advised UNiTAB on the companies’ proposed merger by scheme of arrangement.

Blakes dominates Asia Pac in M&A (30-Mar-2006)
BLAKE DAWSON WALDRON has asserted its dominance in the Asia-Pacific M&A market, advising on 11 deals worth US$10.76 ($15.18) billion in the March quarter of 2006

Appointments 30 March (27-Mar-2006)
Appointments 30 March

GI Jane (6-Mar-2006)
There is no time to get itchy feet if you fill up your spare minutes with things you love doing. Clayton Utz’s Jane Warrington tells Kate Gibbs how being in the army and an athlete to boot has stopped her contemplating a law firm move

GI Jane (6-Mar-2006)
There is no time to get itchy feet if you fill up your spare minutes with things you love doing. Clayton Utz’s Jane Warrington tells Kate Gibbs how being in the army and an athlete to boot has stopped her contemplating a law firm move

Unique insurance bond seals deal (20-Feb-2006)
Union negotiations added to the duration of the transaction when Nylex Industrial Products sold three non-core automotive businesses to Huon Corporation

Clayton Utz heats up Versacold (13-Feb-2006)
Clayton Utz advised Canadian cold storage facilities operator Versacold Holdings Corp on its acquisition of P&O Cold Logistics, a refrigerated warehousing and distribution business, from the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company (P&O).

Clayton Utz plays Mayne role (20-Jan-2006)
Clayton Utz was the legal adviser for Mayne Group Limited on its recently completed $1.8 billion demerger, which involved separate Australian listings of its global injectable pharmaceutical business, Mayne Pharma Limited, and its domestic healthcare businesses, now called Symbion Health Limited

Timeline: May 2005 (16-Dec-2005)
Timeline: May 2005

The brilliant Coudert goes bung (16-Dec-2005)
After months of negotiations over merger opportunities with other firms, international law firm Coudert Brothers made the shock move in August of admitting it would be closing all of its offices and that all staff’s pay would be cut from November.

Far from the glamorous profession in ‘LA Law’ (16-Dec-2005)
LIFE IN a modern law firm is no laughing matter, Lawyers Weekly revealed this year. An award winning campaign by this magazine uncovered the common and worrying trend that many law firms are not doing enough to satisfy their staff – from new entrants to partners – who are unhappy and not working to their full potential.

Five minutes – what’s it worth? (16-Dec-2005)
The billable hour – bane of lawyers’ lives or the only way they can function? At the end of 2005 there is still no definitive agreement amongst the profession

Practice areas: Telecommunications (16-Dec-2005)
Practice areas: Telecommunications

Practice areas: Information technology (16-Dec-2005)
Practice areas: Information technology

Listings soar in value (16-Dec-2005)
IPOs have proven the flavour of 2005, with a spike in value to a predicted tally of $15.3 billion for the year, a report released by Deloitte revealed

Timeline: September 2005 (16-Dec-2005)
Timeline: September 2005

The silk curtain (16-Dec-2005)
Asia continued to be a great source of interest, and work, for lawyers in 2005. But not all was smooth in the region.

Appointments 9 December 2005 (9-Dec-2005)
Appointments 9 December 2005

Commitment plus (2-Dec-2005)
On scanning the list of Fiona McLeay’s responsibilities at law firm Clayton Utz, you could be forgiven for assuming that she is a glutton for punishment. In actual fact, McLeay is a talented lawyer who loves her work and is dedicated to social justice – so much so that she carries three titles at the firm

Appointments 2 December 2005 (2-Dec-2005)
Appointments 2 December 2005

Prosecuting the witness (2-Dec-2005)
The NSW Law Reform Commission’s report on expert witnesses wasn’t tough enough for the state Attorney-General, but the Government is not giving up, with further inquiries likely. Shaun Drummond reports on how the Commission’s decisions have been received

Appointments 25 November 2005 (28-Nov-2005)
Appointments 25 November 2005

Quality time (28-Nov-2005)
Five minutes of your time – what’s it worth to you? Kellie Harpley looks at the difficulties inherent in both time billing and breaking with tradition

Not moving, looking (28-Nov-2005)
CLAYTON UTZ is not moving from its Sydney offices at 1 O’Connell Street, Sydney – at this stage

Ironbridge Capital stokes up the barbie (11-Nov-2005)
The first instance of an Australian private equity firm completing a public-to-private transaction on a NASDAQ-listed company saw Ironbridge Capital purchase specialty retailer Barbeques Galore, by way of a scheme of arrangement. Combined funding on the deal was approximately $110 million

Appointments 4 November 2005 (4-Nov-2005)
Appointments 4 November 2005

Woolworths ups liquor stakes (3-Nov-2005)
Clayton Utz advised Woolworths on the recent acquisition of Victorian pub owner Taverner for $380 million. Taverner owns 33 hotels in NSW, Victoria and South Australia, with annual sales worth about $200 million

G+T steels itself for redevelopment (31-Oct-2005)
Gilbert + Tobin is currently working on two major port developments – the $120 million redevelopment of Port Kembla and the development of a new coal loader at the Port of Newcastle

Marriott lays down challenge (31-Oct-2005)
AN INFLUENTIAL UK lawyer and international arbitrator has challenged Australia’s businesses and legal communities to work together on problems in the litigation system, which he claims prevent commercial outcomes

Folklaw 21 October (24-Oct-2005)
Folklaw 21 October

Proceed with caution (24-Oct-2005)
Law firms’ clients have been assailed by corporate governance rules imposed in many jurisdictions in recent years, but law firms themselves are under pressure to beef up their internal risk management. Shaun Drummond looks at the top professional risks facing firms, how they deal with them now and what’s looming

Appointments 14 October 2005 (14-Oct-2005)
Appointments 14 October 2005

The final sell-off (14-Oct-2005)
The Commonwealth is almost out of assets to sell and activity is limited in the states. Kellie Harpley looks at the future of traditional privatisation

Depression widespread, firms admit (7-Oct-2005)
LAWYERS ACROSS Australia will next week wear blue to mark mental health day, acknowledging that it is not escaped the “devastating reach” of depression.

The private patch (30-Sep-2005)
Privacy advocates have had a hard time making themselves heard since the September 11 attacks, but there may be a growing backlash to the exploitation of new technologies in the name of security, says Shaun Drummond. At the same time, technological change has contributed to an increasingly complex web of overlapping privacy regulations

Deals 30 September (30-Sep-2005)
Deals 30 September

Deals 23 September (23-Sep-2005)
Deals 23 September

If you can make it there… (23-Sep-2005)
Despite being a legal market comparable in size to London, finding a place in New York has always been harder. Shaun Drummond, however, finds the barriers are coming down

The final countdown for Coudert (23-Sep-2005)
PARTNERS AND LAWYERS formerly of Coudert Brothers Australia this week took up their new posts at law firms Clayton Utz, Corrs Chambers Westgarth and Deacons. This marks the final stage of the firm’s closure in Australia.

Conduct complaints made before Kazaa case concluded (23-Sep-2005)
COMPLAINTS ABOUT the conduct of Clayton Utz’s lawyers in the preparation of an expert witness report for the recently concluded case Universal Music v Sharman License Holdings Ltd were made to the NSW Legal Services Commissioner well before the case concluded.

New York’s moment (23-Sep-2005)
FOR AUSTRALIAN lawyers looking for international experience, the New York legal market remains a relatively difficult one to crack, but recent developments have made it an easier option.

Kazaa case sets global precedent (16-Sep-2005)
Last week’s win for the record companies in Universal Music Australia Pty Ltd v Sharman License Holdings Ltd sets an important worldwide precedent as it was the first time that a case targeting piracy on peer-to-peer file sharing networks has gone to a final judgement, according to the firm that represented the successful applicants.

Firm rejects undue influence (16-Sep-2005)
CLAYTON UTZ has rejected suggestions that its lawyers acted inappropriately in exchanges with one of its expert witnesses who gave evidence in the recently concluded action by major record companies in the Federal Court.

Deals 9 September (12-Sep-2005)
Deals 9 September

Clayton Utz jumps aboard for pro bono (12-Sep-2005)
THE OLD ADAGE ‘it’s who you know’ now rings true for a Brisbane rowing club, whose coach Wei-Loong Chen turned out to be a senior associate at Clayton Utz with enough sway to encourage the firm to provide it with pro bono legal advice.

Which firms will be there? (2-Sep-2005)
Firm listings

Work improvement (2-Sep-2005)
When used properly, technology has the potential to make the lives of busy lawyers much easier. But, as Kellie Harpley reports, there is still plenty of room for progress

Top work no sweat for mid tier (2-Sep-2005)
WHILE THERE will always be room for a Freehills or an Allens Arthur Robinson, even generalist mid-tier firms are competing effectively in the current market, a newly appointed managing partner said last week.

Businesses warned not to rely on TPA (2-Sep-2005)
CLAYTON UTZ partner, Nick Miller, has warned prospective business owners, particularly franchisees, to make sure they have done their homework thoroughly before signing a contract.

Deals 26 August (29-Aug-2005)
Deals 26 August

Coudert weighs up partner prospects (29-Aug-2005)
AS INTERNATIONAL law firm Coudert Brothers embarks on discussions regarding its inevitable closure, announced last week, all eyes are on the detail, and exactly where 14 Coudert partners and its lawyers will be going.

Success expected for Winneke Cup (29-Aug-2005)
The annual Winneke Cup, to be held this Sunday, 28 August, promises to be a massive AFL and netball event.

Waging the war for talent on the legal front (15-Aug-2005)
The second war for talent has well and truly started, and law firms in particular are facing more than their fair share of challenges when it comes to attraction and retention. Jenny Bourke looks at the common challenges law firms face and examines how they can gain a competitive edge

Fighting the Guandong Cancer (15-Aug-2005)
Clayton Utz’s David Lyons has found an exceptional pro bono cause, lending his legal skills to the battle against one of China’s most common cancers. Kellie Harpley reports

Changing their mindset (29-Jul-2005)
Law firms in Queensland are going to have to rethink the way they train their graduates with the implementation of the national profession legislation. Kellie Harpley reports

Tattersall’s win for Clayton Utz (29-Jul-2005)
CLAYTON UTZ this month pulled off a challenging role as the lead adviser to Tattersall’s on its recent $2.17 billion IPO and listing on the Stock Exchange. The various stakeholders in the restructure impacted significantly on the work the firm did, and demanded significant flexibility on behalf of those involved.

Sorting at a higher level (22-Jul-2005)
The wide acceptance of document management systems is giving rise to a demand for more sophisticated models. Kellie Harpley reports

Mallesons pulls off PPP boon (22-Jul-2005)
WHILE ALMOST doubling the total project amount achieved by its closest competitor in project finance over the past six months, according to recently released tables, Mallesons Stephen Jaques is expecting a continued project finance boon in the remainder of the year

Australia gets its own back (15-Jul-2005)
Australian firms are feeling the pinch in the same areas that are in demand in London as the top firms there vacuum up some of our most talented lawyers. But this time firms here are prepared for the exodus. Shaun Drummond reports.

Appointments 8 July 2005 (8-Jul-2005)
Appointments 8 July 2005

Mid tier wins premium award (8-Jul-2005)
According to Holding Redlich Sydney managing partner Ian Robertson, you don’t have to cover every area of law as a medium sized law firm; you only need to be effective and thorough in the areas that you do cover. This specialised culture did not, however, stop the firm taking a more general, though premium, award at the 2005 Fuji Xerox Australian Law Awards – the CCH Law Firm of the Year Award (51 to 500 practising certificates).

Appointments 1 July 2005 (1-Jul-2005)
Appointments 1 July 2005

Clayton Utz powers through deal (1-Jul-2005)
Clayton Utz advised on what could be the largest energy sector deal in Asia this year – China Light & Power’s $2.2 billion acquisition of the Australian merchant energy business of Singapore Power International

Lawyers flock to Brisbane’s Eagle Street (1-Jul-2005)
LAW FIRM Clayton Utz has abandoned the offices it has inhabited in Brisbane for the last 20 years, taking up a new post in the city’s Eagle Street.

Firms explain partner crunch (1-Jul-2005)
IT WAS NOT just top-tier firms that saw a wave of partners depart over the past six months, it can now be revealed. Smaller firms, as well, since December have seen a relative exodus of senior partners and entire teams into other firms.

Deals 24 June 2005 (24-Jun-2005)
Deals 24 June 2005

Clayton Utz takes new budgeting system (24-Jun-2005)
LAW FIRM Clayton Utz has scrapped the old method of developing its annual budget using spreadsheets, and is to use instead a business planning and forecasting solution.

Demand prompts new legal clinic for homeless (17-Jun-2005)
A new legal service for homeless people in NSW has quickly found a place among some of society’s most needy. Shaun Drummond reports

Man behind the five gongs (17-Jun-2005)
AT THE END of the day you are only as good as the organisation you run, says Holding Redlich’s managing partner Chris Lovell about his recent Fuji Xerox Australian Law Awards Managing Partner Award. But then the firm did win five awards this year, so these words should come easily.

Capitalising on a civil service (10-Jun-2005)
A trend towards outsourcing government legal work has greatly expanded public sector work for private firms, writes Shaun Drummond. This could increase further, but a reassessment of private sector financing of infrastructure projects has led to some uncertainty about prospects in this area

Australian Law Awards 2005 – full list of winners (3-Jun-2005)
More than 500 guests enjoyed an evening of fine dining, entertainment, a keynote speech by Julian Burnside QC and the presentation of 33 trophies in this year’s Australian Law Awards. The Awards, now in their fifth year and organised by Lawyers Weekly magazine, were held on 2 June 2005 at the Westin Hotel, Sydney.

Appointments 4 March 2005 (4-Mar-2005)
Appointments 4 March 2005

Olympian narrowly wins lawyers’ ski race (3-Sep-2004)
Zali Steggall, bronze medalist in the slalom at the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, raced to victory in this year’s Volvo Lawyers Ski Race, narrowly beating past winner Caroline Sweeney of Mallesons and Andrew Wallis of PWC, who took third place.

Appointments 26 March 2004 (2-Apr-2004)
Appointments 26 March 2004

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