The KPMG inquiry has turned the spotlight on law firms, privilege and the blurry line between independent investigation and corporate protection.
Michael Pelly
Michael Pelly
Legal writer
Michael has been a journalist and editor over the past 40 years at The Australian Financial Review, The Australian and The Sydney Morning Herald. He has been an advisor to state and federal attorneys-general, has a Masters in Law (UNSW) and is on the NSW roll of legal practitioners. He has written a biography of former High Court chief justice Murray Gleeson and a history of the NSW Law Society.
Contact Michael via email.
Law firms Ashurst and Allens were dragged into KPMG’s mess, but the Senate inquiry could not make them carry the blame.
The former NSW premier put KPMG chair Martin Sheppard on the back foot over the firm’s refusal to release data leak reports.
The federal court judge named and shamed six judges over delayed rulings. Now the chiefs have told their courts to keep any criticism in-house.
The Federal Court judge said former CEO Matt Bekier and chief lawyer Paula Martin would have faced harsher penalties if not for deals ASIC struck with other executives.
Ashurst and Allens are expected to refuse any questioning over their work for the consulting giant on professional privilege grounds, raising the prospect of a legal fight.
The High Court is finally getting down to the real issues in shareholder class actions.
The native title battle between the Yindjibarndi people of the Pilbara and mining giant Fortescue will likely end up in the High Court — again.
Justice Robert Beech-Jones’ combative speech took aim at a conservative legal society — and exposed tensions inside the High Court.
The outgoing ASIC chief says the regulator wants to help courts “get to the heart” of cases more quickly.
The ACCC has claimed a big win in the Coles fake discount case, but the real gauge of success will be the size of the penalties. And they may fall short of the hype.
Zip Co might have lost its trade mark battle with Firstmac, but the case has settled a tricky area of intellectual property law.
Musk says OpenAI betrayed its mission. But as the trial enters its final stretch, prediction markets are turning against him.
Who does covert footage of “cruelty” at abattoirs ultimately belong to — the activists or the abattoir? The High Court will decide.
Clive Palmer is weighing in on a push to bring prediction markets to Australia. The lobby’s claim it should not be regulated as gambling may be its biggest bet.
The High Court’s May sittings open with a case that has media outlets and content creators on high alert over copyright and covert footage.
This week, the defamation dance between Sue Chrysanthou SC and Rebel Wilson veered from smooth foxtrot to dramatic bolero.
Now the dust has settled on the Claude Mythos announcement, legal cyber experts say there is no need to panic — just yet.
Defamation litigants used to slug it out in state courts. Now the Federal Court is where showbiz and politics go public.
After years of resisting the livestreaming of important cases, the nation’s highest court is now considering the move.
Gina Rinehart’s 16-year legal battle over mining royalties lays bare what the WA chief justice calls an ‘intolerable’ burden on the justice system.
The Commonwealth has hired criminal barristers Tim Game SC and Simon Buchen SC for Ben Roberts-Smith’s war crime murder case.
The defamation proceedings Roberts-Smith pursued against Nine may end up making the difference between a guilty and not guilty verdict.
Why did Ruth Higgins SC agree to appear at a press conference with Attorney-General Michelle Rowland to announce her appointment?
The High Court is set to decide whether Uber’s driver payments should be taxed as wages, with implications across the gig economy.
Norman O’Bryan’s fall from grace has been staggering. Now the former barrister faces the prospect of jail.
ARN Media has set the stage for a bruising court battle with Kyle Sandilands over the radio host’s $100 million contract.
On Monday, it’s back to the future for Mallesons after 14 years of hitching its wagon to China.
The first crypto case to reach the High Court may turn on two “simple” arguments — and whether ASIC’s logic stretches far beyond digital assets.
The parties are so far apart that it would be a surprise if radio presenter Kyle Sandilands and his employer ARN don’t end up in court.
Katy Perry lost her High Court trade mark fight with Australian designer Katie Perry in a ruling lawyers say could limit celebrity brand claims.
The High Court will finally settle the Katy Perry v Katie Perry trade mark battle on Wednesday.
The Federal Court judge has a penchant for colourful prose and historical references — and that was on full display in his Star judgement.
Justice Michael Lee’s ruling in the Star carries a tough message for directors: stop complaining about information overload.
Zac Lomax and the Melbourne Storm held a losing hand in their contract dispute with Parramatta, which shadowed the start of the NRL season.
The head of the firm’s superannuation practice will take over from Richard Spurio, who has been managing partner for 10 years.
At last year’s State of the Union, President Donald Trump warmly greeted the Supreme Court justices in attendance. That wasn’t the case this year.
Shareholder class actions are heading to the High Court for a landmark test on materiality and damages, following a string of courtroom defeats.
