The first working week of 2026 has seen the establishment of a royal commission into anti-Semitism, and multiple national law firms promoting lawyers. Here is your weekly round-up of the biggest stories for Australia’s legal profession.
For the week from 5 to 9 January, these were the 10 most-read stories on Lawyers Weekly (in case you missed them):
1. Grill’d facing employee class action
Thousands of past and present employees of Grill’d have filed class action proceedings, alleging that the burger chain failed to provide employees with the rest breaks that they were entitled to.
2. Struck-off lawyer fights Melbourne firm over allegedly unfair costs agreement
A struck-off Victorian lawyer has fought a boutique law firm over a costs agreement he alleged was unclear and unfair.
3. Lawyers ‘fighting among themselves’ make claims of fraud, overcharging and blackmail
A solicitor who fought to win back his practising certificate was caught in a “bitter and high-stakes” dispute between himself, a lawyer he was representing, a law firm accused of overcharging clients, and another firm that was considering a class action against it.
4. The rise of regulatory lawyers
Prior to the banking royal commission, “there was not a clear class or even definition” of a regulatory lawyer. Now, this area of financial services legal practice has seen extraordinary growth, says one BigLaw partner.
5. Firm owner suspended from practice, ordered to pay $10k to employees
A New Zealand-based lawyer who repeatedly watched pornography at work has been suspended from practice after a disciplinary tribunal found he repeatedly exposed female staff to such explicit conduct in his office.
6. Virginia Bell to lead anti-Semitism royal commission
This afternoon (Thursday, 8 January), former High Court justice, the Honourable Virginia Bell AC, was appointed as the head of a newly announced royal commission into the recent Bondi terror attack and anti-Semitism more broadly across the country.
7. Ashurst adds projects and energy partner from NRF
Global law firm Ashurst has appointed a new partner for its projects and energy transition team, who has come across from BigLaw rival Norton Rose Fulbright.
8. Expelled barrister accused of launching ‘collateral attack’ on firm
In what appeared to be “an element of abuse”, an ousted barrister who was restricted from representing a tenant turned his attention to an application to restrain a mid-tier firm from representing the landlord.
9. Colin Biggers & Paisley names new partner, senior associate
National law firm Colin Biggers & Paisley has elevated an employment lawyer to its partnership, and promoted an insurance lawyer to senior associate, effective 1 January.
10. Cyber security risks are escalating for Australian law firms – and most still aren’t prepared
As cyber criminals grow more sophisticated and brazen, William Welch warns that Australian law firms are now confronting a level of cyber risk unlike anything seen before – and many still lack the specialised tools and expertise needed to defend themselves.
