As states across Australia shut down non-essential services and close borders in the battle to control the spread of the coronavirus, companies are turning to their lawyers for guidance on everything from contracts to disclosure obligations, staff reductions to workplace health and safety issues. Lawyerly talked to practitioners to find out what was on the minds of their corporate clients.
A judge has signed off on a $42.5 million settlement of a class action against Cash Converters, brought on behalf of consumers that look out personal loans, in a move that will see the plaintiffs firm behind the case pocket $12.4 million.
A fight to lead a class action against Monsanto over its allegedly cancer-causing weedkiller Roundup is on foot, with a third class action soon to be filed against the chemical giant.
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.
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.
Two law firms have mandated that staff begin working from home to limit the spread of the new coronavirus, while others begin shifting their workforce offsite as firms test their ability to weather what is expected to be a prolonged public health crisis.
Calling the complex intellectual property dispute a “total war” between the tech giants, a judge has dismissed a proposed amended defence by Hytera Communications to Motorola’s allegations of copyright infringement, finding that the “wholly new case” would derail an upcoming trial in May and push it back by at least a year.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission says it has no grounds to challenge a ruling that found the $15 billion merger of Vodafone with telecommunications rival TPG would not substantially lessen competition.
The Australian Stock Exchange has denied claims by ISignthis that it suspended the fintech company’s shares without warning and at the direction of ASIC, but has admitted that it told the company it would consult with the securities regulator before lifting the ongoing suspension.
The judges overseeing two competing class actions against Monsanto in the Federal and Victorian Supreme Courts may hold a joint sitting as the multiplicity fight continues and the chemical giant flags a future bid to either transfer or permanently stay the state court proceeding.