CORRS CHAMBERS & WESTGARTH

Corrs Chambers & Westgarth News

Corrs take on WYD (14-Jul-2008)
IT’S SET to be the largest event Australia has ever hosted, but all the legal work for World Youth Day 2008 rests on the shoulders of two senior associates from Corrs Chambers Westgarth, who job-share an in-house counsel role.

Corrs and Mallesons take out top spots (27-Jun-2008)
CORRS CHAMBERS Westgarth has beaten off the top tier at the International Legal Alliance Awards, taking out the title of Best Australian Law Firm 2008 at a ceremony held in Paris.

Two new partners join Corrs (29-May-2008)
Corrs Chambers Westgarth has bolstered its mergers and acquisitions and commercial litigation capacity following the appointment of two new partners, Bryon Koster and Simon Crawford.

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.

Corrs named employer of choice (7-Mar-2008)
AUSTRALIAN LAWYERS have named Corrs Chambers Westgarth the Australian law firm “employer of choice” in the Asia Legal Business 2008 employer of choice survey.

Corrs CEO heads up workplace laws group (24-Feb-2008)
ADDING ANOTHER string to his bow, Corrs Chambers Westgarth CEO John Denton has been appointed co-chairman of the group that will work with the government to draft new workplace relations legislation.

Juggernauts can't claim talent monopoly (22-Feb-2008)
LARGE FIRMS dominate the annual Chambers Global survey, but smaller firms aren't short on talent.

Two partners join Corrs (23-Jan-2008)
GARY CHIERT and Beverly Kennedy have joined Corrs Chambers Westgarth as partners in the firm’s Sydney and Melbourne offices.

Hatches down, 2008 brings rough weather (15-Jan-2008)
Stark new figures show 2008 will bring many of the same woes as businesses saw last year. Firms speak to Zoe Lyon about how they are preparing for the storm

Corrs takes lead on media mergers (18-Dec-2007)
IN WHAT is one of the first media mergers to be completed following the relaxation of cross-media ownership laws, Corrs Chambers Westgarth has advised Southern Cross Broadcasting (Southern Cross) on its $1.35 billion merger with the Macquarie Media Group (MMG).

Bakers on $120m acquisition (28-Nov-2007)
LAW FIRM Baker & McKenzie has advised on the Australian-listed financial group DKN Financial Group Limited (DKN) on it acquisition of two new groups, valued at $120 million.

These lawyers are good, homeless clients say (8-Nov-2007)
A FREE legal clinic for the homeless in Sydney’s eastern suburbs was officially opened last week by the NSW Attorney-General.

Articled clerks winners in booming Perth market (23-Oct-2007)
LAW GRADUATES in Western Australia can expect more opportunities for articled clerkships next year, and some firms have anticipated a pay increase as well, Lawyers Weekly has learned.

Litigation steady, but lawyers anticipate change (16-Oct-2007)
LITIGATION WORK has been steady, though not booming, but lawyers can expect an increase if the cyclical nature of the work is anything to go by, leading lawyers in the area said last week.

Leading IP litigator joins Corrs (16-Oct-2007)
Corrs Chambers Westgarth has appointed Odette Gourley to the intellectual property and technology practice group.

Engineering a bright future (3-Sep-2007)
Corrs Chambers Westgarth senior associate Peter Tomkins speaks about building a career in construction law

Corrs partner joins CSPC (3-Aug-2007)
CHRISTINE COVINGTON has been appointed as a state government representative to the Central Sydney Planning Committee (CSPC).

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.

Sceale & Co appoints tax partner (13-Jul-2007)
PERTH TAX law firm Sceales & Company has welcomed the appointment of Alex Sceales as partner.

Making some head space (6-Jul-2007)
An Australian pioneer in helping young people overcome mental health problems is now expanding its service to the US, with a little help from MySpace and a couple of law firms. Shaun Drummond reports

Timbs part of the McInnes Wilson plan (6-Jul-2007)
NEW ASSOCIATE Gerard Timbs has been appointed to the planning and environment group at McInnes Wilson Lawyers.

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.

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

Lead a lawyer to learning (14-Jun-2007)
The business of education is a serious one for an increasing number of Australian firms. But just how do the teams of people organising CLE for a firm’s lawyers keep control of quality, quantity and partner involvement? Kate Gibbs and Clare Buttner report

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.

Corrs promotes in Sydney and Brisbane (23-May-2007)
BOTH THE Sydney and Brisbane offices of Corrs Chambers Westgarth have welcomed a pair of lawyers, with two senior associates in the former and two senior overseas legal advisors in the latter.

Special counsel double for Corrs (11-May-2007)
Law firm Corrs Chambers Westgarth has appointed two special counsel to its Perth office, in Estelle Blewett and Scott Nalder, along with new senior associate Brian Fisher in Brisbane.

Corrs finalises Foster’s restructure (11-May-2007)
CORRS CHAMBERS WESTGARTH has described the final sale in Foster’s restructuring of its business as a “mammoth” task.

Corrs recruits for Asia and telco success (11-May-2007)
TWO MAJOR telecommunications lawyers have been lured by Corrs Chambers Westgarth from Freehills in an effort to make the firm’s intellectual property and technology (IPT) group leaders in the country.

Corrs, Blakes advise on first housing PPP (4-May-2007)
CORRS CHAMBERS WESTGARTH and Blake Dawson Waldron have advised on Australia’s first public private partnership to deliver a government housing project.

Graham partners up with Barry & Nilsson (20-Mar-2007)
THE COMMERCIAL property team of Barry & Nilsson has been boosted by the addition of Cameron Graham as partner.

Mills Oakley guns for rival partners and clients (20-Mar-2007)
MILLS OAKLEY has used the opening of its office in Brisbane to fire a warning shot at both top and mid tier firms.

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

Ex-Corrs men sign up at Piper Alderman (8-Mar-2007)
TWO CORPORATE lawyers, Simon Champion and Matthew Richards, have left Corrs Chambers Westgarth to become new partners at Piper Alderman.

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.

Allens, Blakes, Corrs in bid for APN (22-Feb-2007)
Three law firms acted in the latest moves on media interests in Australia – the consortium bid for APN News & Media.

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.

Corrs jumps Canberra ship (25-Jan-2007)
CORRS CHAMBERS WESTGARTH is the latest firm to pull the plug on its Canberra office, preferring to service those clients from Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra.

Inspiring workplace key at Corrs (14-Dec-2006)
Corrs Chambers Westgarth took home the Eversheds Employer of Choice Award at the 2006 Law Awards.

Minters finds new man in McLean (30-Nov-2006)
BANKING AND insolvency specialist Alex McLean has joined Minter Ellison’s office in Perth.

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.

McCarthy brings wealth of experience to BDW (17-Nov-2006)
BLAKE DAWSON Waldron has reinforced its commonwealth government practice with the appointment of Susan McCarthy to its Canberra team.

Firms falter as partners enforce closed door policy (17-Nov-2006)
IT MAY look like a partnership, feel like a partnership, but many law firms work more like a network of sole traders under one roof, a commentator from the UK has told an audience of legal professionals at a law firm management conference.

Singing the right tune for Corrs (3-Nov-2006)
CULTURAL LIFE at Corrs Chambers Westgarth was given a surprise boost last week with news that David Parkin of the litigation team had won the ABC TV’s Operatunity Oz competition.

Corrs helps give Foster’s shareholders an amber glow (12-Oct-2006)
CORRS CHAMBERS WESTGARTH acted for Foster’s Group in its final exit from the Asian region with the sale of its Vietnamese and Indian businesses for US$225 million ($303 million), completed last month.

Profession depression (29-Sep-2006)
They are high achievers, they are among the brightest sparks in the country, and they advise some of the world’s top players on how to do business. But lawyers are also more stressed than ever. Kate Gibbs investigates

Corrs’ Young Achiever (29-Sep-2006)
CONSTRUCTION LAWYER Jess Wellard of Corrs Chambers Westgarth has been named Queensland Young Achiever of the Year

GST brain for Corrs Chambers Westgarth (25-Sep-2006)
New special counsel Paul Stacey, has joined Corrs Chambers Westgarth’s revenue group in the firm’s Sydney office

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

Corrs injects healthcare know-how (8-Sep-2006)
Corrs Chambers Westgarth advised Healthe Care Australia and SAITeysMcMahon on the purchase of five hospitals from Ramsay Health Care Limited for more than $88 million, the sale concluding in late June this year

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

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

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

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

Foster’s leaves China market to Suntory (17-Jul-2006)
The Foster’s Group has ceased manufacturing beer in China with the sale of its Shanghai brewery operations and local Chinese beer brands to Japanese beverage company Suntory Limited, which has consolidated its position as a major brewer in China.

Court expands power of pre-emption notices for sellers (10-Jul-2006)
Life has just become harder for intending sellers of interests that are subject to pre-emptive rights thanks to a recent Supreme Court ruling writes Bruce Adkins

Too much porridge: Uncle Tobys sold (9-Jun-2006)
Mallesons Stephen Jaques represented Nestle Australia on its recent acquisition of iconic Australian food business Uncle Tobys from Burns Philp, represented by Freehills. Corrs Chambers Westgarth, completed the due diligence.

Appointments 19 May (19-May-2006)
Appointments 19 May

Fosters not so Aussie (1-May-2006)
Blake Dawson Waldron advised Scottish & Newcastle (S&N) on the Australian aspects of its $750 million acquisition of the Foster’s brand in Europe from Australian company Foster’s Group Limited, represented by Corrs Chambers Westgarth.

Queensland railroads split in two (10-Mar-2006)
Queensland Rail and Babcock & Brown position themselves as rivals to rail monolith Pacific National with the announcement on 14 February 2006 of a $1300 million joint purchase of West Australian rail industry monolith Australian Railroad Group from joint owners Wesfarmers Ltd and US company Genesee & Wyoming.

Building on their skills (6-Mar-2006)
Matters of greater complexity requiring increasingspecialisation are characterising the work now being briefed to construction lawyers

Ahead of the pack (20-Jan-2006)
From all accounts, gaining certification with Law 9000 has great benefits to management systems and customer relations. However, Kellie Harpley writes that law firms have been slow off the mark to apply for the ‘five ticks’

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.

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

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

Orica and Exxon off load (28-Nov-2005)
Blake Dawson Waldron advised Orica and Exxon Mobil on the sale of their 50/50 plastics joint venture Qenos. The companies sold Qenos to state-owned diversified chemicals company China National Chemical Corporation.

Minters takes two (18-Nov-2005)
ABN Amro Capital’s (ABN) management buy in of two family-owned transport businesses is a good example of a developing trend where two or more companies in the same sector are bought together under a new holding company, according to ABN’s lead legal adviser on the deal.

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

Ruddock steps up for journalists (14-Oct-2005)
FEDERAL ATTORNEY-GENERAL Philip Ruddock has intervened in the case of two Herald Sun journalists who face possible jail sentences for refusing to reveal their sources.

Litigation October 7 (7-Oct-2005)
Litigation October 7

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.

Appointments 16 September 2005 (16-Sep-2005)
Appointments 16 September 2005

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

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

Corrs snaps up Coudert partners (8-Sep-2005)
AS INTERNATIONAL law firm Coudert Brothers crumbles, law firms the world over have been benefiting from the demise of the beleaguered law firm, Corrs Chambers Westgarth was last week among the first to make some high profile gains.

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

Tickets for admission (2-Sep-2005)
While measures have been taken to ensure there are options in addition to articled clerkships to gain admission to practise law in Victoria, now the students have to be convinced of the merits of the alternatives. Shaun Drummond reports

Corrs partner calls for PPP legal structure (5-Aug-2005)
GOVERNMENTS NEED to establish a legal and economic structure in which infrastructure and road projects are to be delivered if public private partnerships (PPPs) are to be successful, a Corrs Chambers Westgarth partner said last week.

Deals 22 July (22-Jul-2005)
Deals 22 July

Litigation 15 July (15-Jul-2005)
Litigation 15 July

Billing: Time vs efficiency (8-Jul-2005)
Is time billing the best option for law firms and their clients? Kellie Harpley looks at the growing demand for certainty of fees

Urban legend (24-Jun-2005)
Celia Gerreyn regards winning the ACLA Australian Government Lawyer of the Year award as the highlight of her career to date, and when you consider the exciting path her career has taken, that’s saying something

Gadens woos Corrs construction team (24-Jun-2005)
GADENS LAWYERS have achieved a “major coup” in wooing a construction team from Corrs Chamber Westgarth, the firm said last week.

TressCox Lawyers in transition (17-Jun-2005)
TRESSCOX LAWYERS, one of the oldest firms in Australia, has announced the appointment of Peter Smith as managing partner.

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.

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