Oceania/Australia - Page 24
Mud-slinging in Queensland over Chief Justice appointment
The gloves are off in Queensland over the appointment of a new Chief Justice as the legal establishment rallies against the front-runner.
Australian judges overwhelmed by family cases
Judges who travel to remote parts of Australia are being overwhelmed by the volume of family law cases, with workloads rising so much that they have to handle 70 matters a week.
Divorces soar in Australia among over-55s
The number of 'grey divorces' has increased almost 40 per cent in the last four years, according to family lawyer Jane Miller of Adelaide-based Tindall Gask Bentley.
Merger mania leaves many partners cold
An Australian who bailed out of the partnership in a large firm is saying that many partners feel marginalised and dissatisfied when their original firms go into merger.
Lawyer pay flatlines in Australia
The number of firms planning to give salary increases above the rate of inflation is taking a substantial dip in 2014, according to the ALPMA Australasian Legal Industry Salary and HR Issues Survey Report.
Herbert Smith moves to end pay freeze
Herbert Smith Freehills is lifting the pay freezes in Australia which came into force after the firm blocked pay reviews in 2013.
Australian firms beef up social media
Australian law firms are coming within reach of the top mainstream businesses in their use of social media, according to the latest BRR Media report 'Sociability in the Top 100'.
Baker & McKenzie to open Brisbane office
Baker & McKenzie is understood to have recruited a Clayton Utz partner and one from Allens with the aim of opening a Brisbane office in June or July.
HWL Ebsworth enters Aussie top three with boutique merger
HWL Ebsworth will have some 187 partners, 425 lawyers and revenue of about A$200m after the proposed July merger, putting it third in Australia after Clayton Utz and Minter Ellison.
Australian merger creates top 15 firm
A new 80-partner firm, Thomson Geer, has been created with offices in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Adelaide through the merger of Thomson Lawyers and Herbert Geer.
Corrs lays off corporate lawyers in Sydney
Corrs Chambers Westgarth has followed other large US firms in laying off staff.
McCullough Robertson names chairman
Australian independent law firm McCullough Robertson announced Dominic McGann would replace Brett Heading as its Chairman of Partners.
Lawyer explains his Ponzi scheme past
Philip Linacre, a 61 year old lawyer, has pleaded guilty in a Melbourne court to 21 counts of obtaining a financial advantage by deception in relation to funds worth Aus$12m.
Minter Ellison appoints new chief executive
Minter Ellison has announced today that Tony Harrington will be its new chief executive.
Aussie boutique to offer fixed fees only
Sydney-based Aurora Workplace Law, founded by a former Henry Davis York, will offer only fixed fee arrangements to clients.
Half of women experience discrimination in Australian law firms
A survey of 3,801 lawyers has found that 50% of women and 10% of men feel they have been discriminated against because of their gender.
Sydney firm lays off 13 legal and support staff
Henry Davis York - with a total payroll of some 400 people - is laying off five lawyers and eight support staff in its Sydney headquarters.
In the spotlight: Carmel Mulhern
Carmel Mulhern is Group General Counsel of Telstra Corporation, Australia's largest telecoms and media company. She discusses the challenges of running a 200 strong legal team with The Global Legal Post.
Firm which abolished hourly billing opens 6th office
AdventBalance - the Australian practice which seconds lawyers to clients for fixed time periods - has opened a Brisbane office, bringing its total to six.
Gadens lays off 20 staff in Brisbane
Three partners are among the 20 lawyers and support staff who are being made redundant by Gadens.