This past week, two of the world’s biggest firms joined forces, Western Australia named new silks, and a national law firm may be open to negligence action from a former client. Here is your weekly round-up of the biggest stories for Australia’s legal profession.
For the week from 17 to 21 November, these were the 10 most-read stories on Lawyers Weekly (in case you missed them):
1. Reprimand marks end to lawyer’s 50-year career
A Port Macquarie lawyer has been reprimanded and fined for assisting a client with the sale of a property in circumstances where he was also the creditor and second mortgagee.
2. How an unintended lawyer became managing partner of a national firm
For many young lawyers, the road to partnership is often a carefully charted journey, driven by ambition and clear goals. But for the newly appointed managing partner of Colin Biggers & Paisley, the path was far from planned.
3. Shine Lawyers open to ‘potential cause of action’ by former client
Shine Lawyers, one of Australia’s biggest compensation and personal injury firms, may be open to negligence action brought by a former client whose serious injury application was significantly hindered by its delays, confusing advice and communication failures.
4. Ashurst to merge with Perkins Coie
Earlier this week, global law firm Ashurst (which has five offices across Australia) and US-headquartered BigLaw practice Perkins Coie made public the entities’ plans to combine into a top-20 global law firm.
5. Ex-Wotton Kearney senior associate launches standalone practice
A former senior associate from a global law firm has opened the doors to his own practice, GopherWood Lawyers.
6. Firm offers way for lawyers to go solo without admin headaches
Lawyers wanting to branch out on their own, ditch billable hours, and explore niche specialities without the administrative headaches can do so under the umbrella of a well-established law firm.
7. 9 new senior counsel appointed in Western Australia
The Honourable Chief Justice Peter Quinlan has announced the appointment of nine new senior counsel to the Supreme Court of Western Australia.
8. Piper Alderman dragged back into costs fight with Care A2
National legal practice Piper Alderman was unable to hold onto the default judgment entered against former client and the director of Care A2, meaning their lengthy costs dispute will resume.
9. Man wins bid to become lay associate despite intimate image conviction
A tribunal has allowed a man to work as a lay associate despite his conviction for threatening to “expose” a woman’s intimate image.
10. Uber driver reinstated after dismissal over alleged on-the-job masturbation
Ride-sharing giant Uber was found to have unfairly deactivated a Melbourne driver’s account following allegations that he was masturbating while transporting a female passenger.
