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Complaints against barristers and Lehrmann’s costs objection: What’s hot in law this week (14–18 Oct)
This week, it was reported numerous complaints against the former ACT DPP have been dropped, and complaints against NSW barristers have significantly increased in the last year. Here is your weekly round-up of the biggest stories for Australia’s legal profession.
Lawyers Weekly
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For the week from 14 to 18 October, these were the 10 most-read stories on Lawyers Weekly (in case you missed them):
1. WA solicitor to face strike-off application in Supreme Court
The director of a West Perth firm has been suspended while he waits for the Supreme Court to decide if his name should be struck from the roll.
2. Number of complaints against NSW barristers soars by 43%
In the last 12 months, the Office of the Legal Services Commission referred over 100 complaints against barristers to the NSW Bar.
3. Complaints against Shane Drumgold dropped by ACT Bar
The ACT Bar Association has dismissed 10 grounds of complaint against the territory’s former chief prosecutor, with an 11th ground being withdrawn.
4. Criminal lawyer Zali Burrows’ case against firm ‘doomed to fail’
A court says criminal lawyer Zali Burrows’ fourth attempt to avoid paying her former law firm $12,000 in legal bills was “doomed to fail”.
5. Colin Biggers & Paisley adds insurance team from Clyde & Co
National law firm Colin Biggers & Paisley has continued to bolster its insurance ranks, this time with the appointment of a partner, two special counsel, a solicitor, and a legal assistant from a BigLaw rival.
6. Centrelink, OnlyFans, and advertising revenue behind Lehrmann’s objection to security of costs
The lawyer for Bruce Lehrmann told the Federal Court the only way he could come up with $200,000 to secure his appeal hearing would be if he turned to “OnlyFans or something silly like that”.
7. Seven seeks to bury communications to ‘avoid embarrassment’, court told
With its fight against a former journalist heating up, Seven Network has asked a court to toss out the allegedly “salacious communications” she included in an amended statement of claim.
8. International law firm’s dispute with former director spills into Australian courts
A law firm based in Kazakhstan has been fighting its former director and shareholder across central Asia, the United Kingdom, the British Virgin Islands, New Zealand, and now Australia.
9. Lawyer cleared of allegations of negligence in Fair Work matter
A West Australian solicitor faced allegations that he settled his client’s Fair Work matter without authority or instructions, but the Federal Court has stepped in and dismissed the proceedings against him.
10. Santos’ ‘silencing tactics’ raise concerns
Greenpeace Australia has warned against the “aggressive legal tactics” used by Santos in the Federal Court recently, as the Munkara case continues.
