Skip to content

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.

Page 2



Newsletter The Edition

Fare fight

Uber is heading to the High Court to challenge an $82 million payroll tax ruling, in a case that could reshape how Australia taxes the gig economy.


It takes special talent to go backwards on an appeal, but that's what happened to Bruce Lehrmann this week.



Chief Justice Stephen Gageler wanted speakers at the Australian Legal Convention to be "provocative". They didn't disappoint.




The merger between Ashurst and US firm Perkins Coie this week demonstrates the influence of the American legal market on Australia — and the choice facing some of our biggest firms.


The Commonwealth may have “won” the Russian embassy case in the High Court, but it will still have to fork out millions in compensation.




What is stopping King & Wood Mallesons — or at least its Australian arm — from finally pulling the pin on its 13-year alliance?


Behind the scenes of the courtroom clash that almost killed Mayne Pharma’s $615 million takeover — and the lawyers who pulled it back from the brink.


The tax office wanted to settle a royalty battle with US tech giant Oracle in the courts. Now it has been stymied by an appeal court and a tax treaty with Ireland.


Taking hackers to court has become a standard part of the cyber response toolkit since law firm HWL Ebsworth was attacked in 2023. But for those still paying ransoms, the price has only risen.




High Court justice Simon Steward says it is "only a matter of time" before directors face court for involving their companies in social and political debates.


Clive Palmer’s costly tilt at Australia over whether he qualifies as a foreign investor ended in defeat. But will the country retrieve its $13.6 million in costs?



Divorce is good business for fintech investor Craig Carroll and his startup JustFund, as family law lending sheds its “wild west” reputation.


Queensland’s new AI guidelines hint courts may take a softer stance on chatbot use, though litigants risk costs if affidavits or citations go wrong.


As leading legal AI platform Harvey sets up shop in Australia, founder Winston Weinberg says a major impact of the technology will be on how associates learn the job.


The Katy Perry v Katie Perry legal battle is “a rare and valuable opportunity” for the High Court to resolve important questions about reputation and trademarks.



The High Court delivered a record-equalling five decisions on a single day this week, underlining how Chief Justice Stephen Gageler is running a tight ship.


Media lawyers' new public interest defence for defamation "has legs", and the "serious harm" might have helped Brittany Higgins.




Qantas’ shoddy apology for cutting 1,820 ground staff jobs in 2020 — and CEO Vanessa Hudson’s no-show in court — left Justice Michael Lee unconvinced.




Justice Jacqueline Gleeson is shaping as a High Court swing vote, while Justice James Edelman seems content in his role as the bench's soloist.



Litigation funders and lawyers are reaping the rewards of Australia’s class action system, while the clients they represent are often left with the scraps.



The High Court has launched a modern website, switched to LinkedIn and unveiled a national hotline — all part of a broader push to improve public access.



Walter Sofronoff sent two journalists copies of his report into the prosecution of Bruce Lehrmann before its official release. He admits it was unwise, but says his motives were pure.


Did Justice Michael Wigney go too far and veer into politics with his pointed decision in the Torres Strait climate case?


Next page