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Barrister fights to remain anonymous as NSW Bar seeks stiffer penalty for lewd act
An appeals court hearing the case of a barrister who allegedly made a sexual comment to a clerk while intoxicated at a dinner following a legal industry event has questioned how a professional reprimand can serve a protective purpose if the person remains unnamed.
High Court frowns on judge’s private chats with counsel
Trial judges should not communicate with barristers outside of court, the High Court has ruled in a “troubling” case of apprehended bias that saw a divorcee’s counsel socialising with the judge presiding over her long-running and “tortured” Family Law case.
Lawyer who allegedly doctored invoices, stole from client can’t stay suspension
A Sydney solicitor accused of stealing over $130,000 from a client and doctoring five invoices has lost a bid to pause the NSW Law Society’s suspension of her certificate after a judge found there was a “very significant” risk of harm to the public if she continued to practice.
NSW Bar says former barrister keeps practising, in criminal breach of injunction
A former barrister has continued to practice in local courts without a valid practising certificate, in “very serious” criminal contempt of a court-ordered injunction, the NSW Bar Association has told a court.
PwC partner kept on JBS brief to maintain privilege despite CFO’s unhappiness
A PwC partner who the ATO claims was assigned to work on a matter for meat processing company JBS to bring a “cloak of legal privilege” kept a supporting role on the brief despite the company CFO’s dissatisfaction, a court has heard.
PwC partner was used to give ‘cloak of privilege’ to work, ATO tells court
Accounting giant PricewaterhouseCoopers used one of its legally qualified partners as a "postbox" to provide a "cloak of privilege" to work conducted for meat processing company JBS, the Commissioner of Taxation has told the Federal Court.
Law firm can’t get fees after ‘dishonourable conduct’ toward clients
An appeals court has upheld a ruling that Sydney law firm Atanaskovic Hartnell was not entitled to the bulk of $165,000 in legal fees charged to two media company clients defrauded by jailed former solicitor Brody Clarke, calling the firm's attempt to renege on its undertakings "dishonourable".
Bar Association defends judges’ impartiality in face of ‘misleading’ bias analysis
The Australian Bar Association has criticised “flawed” methodology used to analyse the competency of judges, weighing in on controversy over the Australian Law Reform Commission’s handling of a submission to its judicial impartiality inquiry.
Ex-gangland lawyer fined for misleading Legal Services Commissioner
A Melbourne lawyer, who formerly represented gangland figures, has been reprimanded and fined $9,000, after a court found he recklessly misled the Victorian Legal Services Commissioner regarding his involvement in a de-facto relationship matter in which unsatisfactory professional conduct was allege
Lawyer who admitted to professional misconduct loses bid for costs from public fund
A solicitor who admitted to allegations of professional misconduct has lost a NSW Court of Appeal bid for the costs of a NCAT proceeding to be paid from the state’s Public Purpose Fund, despite twice winning appeals of the tribunal's findings.