The biggest news affecting in-house lawyers in 2019
It’s been a massive 12 months. Here are our top 10 most-read Corporate Counsel stories.
10. What’s luring in-house lawyers back to private practice?
9. Young lawyers encouraged to make in-house switch sooner
March saw workplace law specialist at Bartier Perry Linda Mackinlay prompt young legal professionals to consider a career path that switches between private practice and in-house, noting the strategy can help build better lawyers.
8. High Court decision in Glencore ‘potentially worrying’ for in-house lawyers
In August, the Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC) voiced its concerns about the High Court’s stance on legal professional privilege and the potential motivation for cybercriminals to hack sensitive client information.
7. Law schools can do more to promote in-house careers
Speaking to Lawyers Weekly early on in 2019, University of Tasmania legal counsel Theo Kapodistrias – who is a two-time winner of the 30 Under 30 Awards and a winner, too, at the Corporate Counsel Awards – said law schools and law student societies have traditionally promoted opportunities which are available in the large commercial firms and clerkship opportunities.
6. AMP hits back at ‘condescending’ GC suing them for $2.5m
In late October, financial services giant AMP responded to the claims lodged by former general counsel Larissa Baker Cook, denying she was the one who exposed the “fees for no service” saga or that it had authorised her to bring legally privileged documents into a mediation.
5. Businesses with Facebook pages ‘should be worried’
The Supreme Court of NSW, in an action brought by former Don Dale detainee Dylan Voller, ruled that news outlets are primary publishers of defamatory user comments posted on their public Facebook pages, even prior to receiving any complaint.
In this piece, Marque Lawyer partner Hannah Marshall shared the flow-on effects.
4. What does a typical day look like for in-house counsel?
In a blog post, Coca-Cola Amatil legal counsel Jessie Porteus outlined what up-and-coming lawyers can expect from life in-house.
3. Former GC sentenced after giving false or misleading information to ASIC
In June, a former general counsel found herself in hot water after pleading guilty to one count of giving false or misleading information to ASIC.
2. Salaries, bonuses and benefits: What lawyers are worth
Remuneration, salary bonuses and incentives are always catching the eye of readers. In this story, Mahlab broke down the latest stats on what lawyers in the in-house space were getting paid.
1. Why Qantas may be liable in Folau case
The Folau saga was one of the most high-profile sports stories Australia has seen in years – filled with plenty of ramifications.
In this story, we spoke to McDonald Murholme managing director Alan McDonald on how Qantas was set to be implicated in the saga.
Interested in the issues shaping the roles of in-house lawyers? Don’t miss your chance to hear from local and global in-house legal powerhouses at the Corporate Counsel Summit 2020!
Emma Musgrave
Emma Musgrave (née Ryan) is the managing editor, professional services at Momentum Media.
Emma has worked for Momentum Media since 2015, including five years spent as the editor of the company's legal brand - Lawyers Weekly. Throughout her time at Momentum, she has been responsible for breaking some of the biggest stories in corporate Australia. In addition, she has produced exclusive multimedia and event content related to the company's respective brands and audiences.
Prior to joining Momentum Media, Emma worked in breakfast radio, delivering news to the Central West region of NSW, before taking on a radio journalist role at Southern Cross Austereo, based in Townsville, North Queensland.
She holds a Bachelor of Communications (Journalism) degree from Charles Sturt University.
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