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Bench movements and BigLaw expansions: What’s hot in law this week (22-26 May)
The judiciary has seen both a high-profile appointment and resignation in recent days, while the big end of town has undergone seismic shifts in shoring up their market positions. Here is your weekly round-up of the biggest stories for Australia’s legal profession.
Jerome Doraisamy
For the week from 22 May to 26 May, these were the 10 most-read stories on Lawyers Weekly (in case you missed them):
Lawyers Weekly is pleased to announce that 33 winners have been chosen out of over 160 finalists at the seventh annual Corporate Counsel Awards 2023.
The acting Attorney-General has revealed who will lead the Administrative Appeals Tribunal through its reform process and then ultimately lead the new body once the AAT is abolished.
3. Allen & Overy, Shearman & Sterling to merge
Global law firm Allen & Overy will be merging with US-headquartered BigLaw firm Shearman & Sterling to be a “firm unlike any other in the world” at a time when client demand for global elite firms “has never been greater”.
4. SA judge resigns following ‘complaint about conduct’
A South Australian District Court judge has resigned following an investigation into a complaint about his conduct.
5. Clayton Utz adds team from DLA Piper
National law firm Clayton Utz has appointed a partner and two lawyers from BigLaw rival DLA Piper for its Melbourne-based litigation and dispute resolution team.
6. Clyde & Co launches gender-neutral 26-week parental leave policy
Clyde & Co has launched a new global gender-neutral parental leave offering, in a move that will reportedly improve gender diversity at a senior level.
7. ‘We’re human’: Senior cop hits back at alarming DPP allegations
A senior police officer whose explosive report labelled Brittany Higgins a “manipulative” sexual assault complainant has defended himself against serious allegations from the ACT’s top prosecutor.
8. Exercise caution in going against your employer’s Voice position
Corporate Australia is increasingly taking positions on social issues, particularly given the growing prominence of ESG. But this can put employees who have alternate views in a “potentially difficult position” if they express those differing perspectives, warns one employment partner.
9. Spruson & Ferguson expands to Manila
APAC-based intellectual property firm Spruson & Ferguson, which is part of ASX-listed IPH Group, has opened its 10th office in the region, expanding its reach into the Philippines.
10. 6 legal risks around ChatGPT
New research has revealed that legal and compliance leaders should address their organisation’s exposure to a number of key ChatGPT risks.
Jerome Doraisamy
Jerome Doraisamy is the editor of Lawyers Weekly. A former lawyer, he has worked at Momentum Media as a journalist on Lawyers Weekly since February 2018, and has served as editor since March 2022. He is also the host of all five shows under The Lawyers Weekly Podcast Network, and has overseen the brand's audio medium growth from 4,000 downloads per month to over 60,000 downloads per month, making The Lawyers Weekly Show the most popular industry-specific podcast in Australia. Jerome is also the author of The Wellness Doctrines book series, an admitted solicitor in NSW, and a board director of Minds Count.
You can email Jerome at:
