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A disappearing act, London calling, and lessons from dancing: What’s hot in law this week (2–6 Dec)
BigLaw firms are shoring up their ranks with teams from rivals ahead of 2025, while a national plaintiff firm has been criticised for “enormous costs” incurred in a recent class action. Here is your weekly round-up of the biggest stories for Australia’s legal profession.
Lawyers Weekly
For the week from 2 to 6 December, these were the 10 most-read stories on Lawyers Weekly (in case you missed them):
1. Qld lawyer to be struck off after disappearing act
Despite a claim he would “aggressively” chase a client’s matter, a Queensland lawyer failed to make any progress for years at a time.
2. Barrister’s contempt of court finding challenged by client
An NSW barrister banned from engaging in legal practice was challenged by a former client over listings on directory websites.
3. ‘Seriously overblown’: Shine slated for fees in WA stolen wages class action
Shine Lawyers has been criticised for the “enormous costs” it ran up in the West Australian stolen wages class action, particularly for the “excessive” hourly rates charged for unqualified law clerks.
4. Qld pro bono lawyer to face disciplinary action
A Queensland woman will have to face legal disciplinary proceedings for an alleged breach of her practising certificate after she failed to convince a tribunal to toss the matter out.
5. Former Dentons partner demands salary records
A former Dentons partner said the firm’s salary records for equity partners would support his claim for loss and damages arising out of alleged breaches of the Fair Work Act.
6. Barrister struggles to hold onto practising certificate after controversy with massager
A Queensland barrister has fought to hold onto his practising certificate months after a court ordered him to repay the $240,000 loaned to him by a friend who massaged him.
7. Thomson Geer to take 2 teams from Clyde & Co
National law firm Thomson Geer is set to welcome a construction partner and a financial services regulatory partner and their teams, all from global practice Clyde & Co, in the new year.
8. Wotton Kearney takes financial lines team from Clyde & Co
International law firm Wotton Kearney has moved to bolster its financial lines and ESG offerings with a partner and his team from global rival Clyde & Co, who will be based in Sydney.
9. Why London firms see Australians as attractive recruitment prospects
The holistic experience that Australian practitioners bring to the table has long been viewed favourably by leading law firms in the UK, says one recruiter.
10. What dancing taught me about lawyering
The performing arts may seem like a world away from the practice of law, but for one practitioner, professional dancing has offered transferable skills for her career as a lawyer – particularly given the persistent environmental hurdles placed in front of women in the profession.
