A star studded legal panel discusses the future of ADR while Australia's arguably most progressive judge, the Chief Justice of WA, receives the Order of Australia Companion medal for his service to law reform and legal education. Chris Freeland kicks off the 2012 Sydney Film Festival as it is announced his term as managing partner at Baker & McKenzie will be extended for two more years. A global M&A survey, commissioned by Clifford Chance, finds Australia just makes it into the top-ten destinations for acquirers, and the latest legal salary surveys find the gap in top-tier and upper mid-tier salaries is narrowing. LW journalist Stephanie Quine brings you the top legal business stories of the week.