This past week, another major international firm established a foothold in the Australian market, and a big four firm came under the microscope for its handling of a class action settlement. Here is your weekly round-up of the biggest stories for Australia’s legal profession.
For the week from 13 to 17 October, these were the 10 most-read stories on Lawyers Weekly (in case you missed them):
1. MinterEllison fee fight on pause for bias complaints
The taxation of legal fees allegedly owed to major firm MinterEllison was stalled by a number of complaints, including an objection to a judicial officer whose wife used to be employed at the firm.
2. King & Spalding launches in Sydney
International law firm King & Spalding, with 1,300 lawyers across more than two dozen offices globally, has established a foothold in Sydney, marking its first official presence Down Under.
3. Universities respond to major law degree, PLT revamp
A proposed shake-up of the practical legal training program could bring major changes to law degrees. While some NSW universities were open to it, others have already considered and dismissed it.
4. Criminal lawyer’s email outburst leads to reprimand
A West Australian criminal lawyer was publicly reprimanded and fined for writing off his client’s instructions as “bulls--t” and “self-serving nonsense” in emails to counsel.
5. ‘Unfortunate’ loophole denies compensation to clients of disciplined solicitor
A Queensland solicitor could be struck off for a failure to deliver competent legal services, but the clients he left in the lurch were unable to secure compensation orders because of a technicality.
6. Newsreader blames ‘bad law’ after Federal Court blow
Former SBS newsreader Mary Kostakidis failed in her bid to strike out the entirety of a statement of claim that alleged she breached the Racial Discrimination Act in social media posts about the Gaza conflict.
7. WA lawyer’s case against 2 other practitioners falls apart
A court has freed an independent children’s lawyer and counsel from proceedings brought by another lawyer, who sought an order that they both explain why they should remain on the roll of practitioners.
8. Case tossed over ‘threatening, nonsensical’ statements to solicitor
Proceedings in the Fair Work Commission were dismissed because a man sent hundreds of lengthy, inappropriate and threatening emails to his former employer, the staff, and its solicitors.
9. OPINION: The hardest case I’ve ever taken was my own
Sometimes, the bravest thing you’ll ever do is quietly decide: I’m going to build something of my own and I’m not giving up until I do, writes Sepi Agahi.
10. Deloitte grilled over handling of class action settlement
The Federal Court’s Chief Justice questioned how Deloitte could say it was “surprised” with the information it was receiving from group members of the Northern Territory stolen wages class action, particularly because of evidence it “knew what it was getting into”.
