HWL Ebsworth is keeping its offices open and requiring lawyers and staff to work at their desks despite updated government health advice, a decision that exposes the law firm to potential liability for workplace health and safety breaches, an employment expert says.
Companies under financial strain from measures to stop the spread of the coronavirus will get a reprieve from insolvency and bankruptcy laws as the Federal Government looks to stem a possible tide of company collapses.
For the lawyers conducting the committal hearings in the criminal cartel case over ANZ’s $2.5 billion equity raising, the Sydney Downing Centre courtroom was already too close for comfort.
The Federal Court has updated guidance on its response to the coronavirus outbreak, saying it is working with lawyers to ensure as many hearings listed for the coming months can proceed. And Monday’s calendar, while perhaps lighter than usual, shows multiple matters will be heard as planned — by telephone.
Fairfax Media has failed in its appeal of a judgment that found the publisher defamed Chinese-Australian businessman Dr Chau Chak Wing in a Sydney Morning Herald article that linked him to an international bribery scandal.
Billionaire Clive Palmer has lost his appeals court fight to shut down criminal proceedings alleging his resort company breached takeover laws, with three judges saying his claims were untenable.
The move by Australia’s highest courts to vacate in-person hearings in the face of the coronavirus pandemic is likely to have only a minor impact on cases in the short term, lawyers say, but the delays to trials and other major hearings will have a flow-on effect that could be felt for years to come.
HWL Ebsworth is on the hook for the legal costs of an unfair dismissal case won by ex-partner Tim Griffiths, and the law firm must pay almost two years of legal bills on an indemnity basis after it twice refused an offer of settlement.
A MinterEllison employee has tested positive to the new coronavirus and is now in self isolation, as are all the colleagues they were recently in contact with.
BHP has failed in a bid to shut down a class action over the Fundao dam failure pending criminal proceedings in Brazil, with a judge ruling the mining giant would not be prejudiced if the case proceeded for now.