JD Journal » Australia

Dolly Parton Struggles with Australia Performances

jim — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 16:54:58 +0000

During her recent tour to Australia, Dolly Parton had trouble getting through some outdoor performances. The reason for her problem was her fair complexion, which attracted bugs and bats to her body that simply grossed her out.

Parton’s world tour ended in Australia on December 11 and even though the singer from Jolene enjoyed meeting the country’s people, kangaroos, and koalas, she does not mind if she never sees some other creatures ever again.

Parton said the following about her struggles with outdoor performances in Australia, “It was summer there actually and they have a lot of creatures there. It’s amazing. Seriously, we worked one outside show at a vineyard, and I’m so fair, I’m so white, and usually I like (to wear) light stage clothes, and I was like a beacon to every freakin’ single thing. All I know is that the bugs were bigger than bats and the bats were bigger than eagles.

“It was like, ‘Oh my lord!’ They were just soaring around and (there were) just bugs all over. I was just stomping all over the floor, they thought I was dancing, but I was trying to kill bugs.”

Parton said that she even wound up swallowing one of the bugs: “I sucked a bug down my throat and I kept saying, ‘I stay on a high-protein diet but this is ridiculous because this isn’t the kind of protein I want!’

“I had to stop a couple of times and get a cup of water. Really, they were scary… but the crowds were great, so they made it (worthwhile).”

Legal Throw Down Over Plain Packaging of Cigarettes Has Phillip Morris Seeing Red

rebneely — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 14:12:07 +0000

In recent days, Philip Morris ramped up its legal battle against Australia’s planned cigarette plain packaging laws the tobacco giant fears will rob it of its intellectual property rights.

The packaging laws, due to go into effect next December of 2012, will require cigarette makers in Australia to uniformly package their products. This will, in effect, abolish brand names and concentrate more on the health risks of tobacco.

According to Canberra, the capital city of Australia, the switch to plain label packaging may help more Australians kick the habit. Admittedly, the government says the sale of cigarettes is a money maker, but winds up costing more for health related expenses.

Philip Morris already said it would seek arbitration on the bits and pieces of the new measures, which amounted to the legal challengers earlier filed by British American Tobacco and Imperial Tobacco.

The two tobacco giants filed their complaints before the Australian High Court. They argue that the new government policy will violate their trademark properties and constitutional rights.

Phillip Morris is now claiming the same; the company employes over 800 Australians and has an estimated 40 percent share of the local cigarette market.

In a statement, Philip Morris spokesman Chris Argent said that the new laws would empower the Australian government to prevent the company from using its “valuable brands and intellectual property without offering compensation.” He was quoted as saying: “We believe plain packaging violates the Australian Constitution because the Government is seeking to acquire our property without paying compensation,” in the December 21^st ibtimes.com article, “Philip Morris Asks High Court to Declare Cigarette Plain Packaging Unconstitutional”.

Canberra rejected the arguments behind the legal challenges against its anti-smoking policy, with new Attorney-General Nicola Roxon insisting that “big tobacco is fighting against the government for one very simple reason because it knows that plain packaging will work.”

Roxon was quoted as saying: “While (they are) fighting to protect profits, we are fighting to protect lives.”

Many legal experts made the observation that the imminent legal throw down will see Prime Minister Julia Gillard claim victory, based on established legal tenets that allow governments to set aside property rights in order to preserve public health.

Philip Morris USA is the United States tobacco division of Altria Group, Inc. Philip Morris USA brands include Marlboro, Virginia Slims, Benson and Hedges, Merit, Parliament, Alpine, Basic, Cambridge, Bucks, Dave’s, Chesterfield, Collector’s Choice, Commander, English Ovals, Lark, L&M, Players and Saratoga. In 2003, Philip Morris Companies Inc. changed its name to Altria Group, Inc., a move many view as an effort to deemphasize its historical association with tobacco products.

Philip Morris USA Inc. is headquartered in Richmond, Virginia. As well, it has manufacturing, processing and support facilities there.

British American Tobacco is a global tobacco company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is ranked as the world’s second largest quoted tobacco company by global market share, following Philip Morris International. Brands include Dunhill, Kent, Lucky Strike and Pall Mall.

Merger of King & Wood and Mallesons Stephens Jaques Creates Largest Law Firm in Asia

rebneely — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 00:45:48 +0000

The merger of King & Wood and Mallesons Stephens Jaques will create Asia’s largest law firm, with over 2,180 lawyers in both China and Australia, as well as in cities including London, New York and Tokyo.

Stuart Fuller, who will become global managing partner of the combined firm, King & Wood Mallesons, when the alliance takes effect March 1^st, was quoted as saying in the December 16^th businessweek.com article: “We’re creating a new law firm for the Asian century.”

The firms’ Hong Kong offices will merge and combine with the partnerships in China and Australia through a “verein structure”, and will maintain separate finances. While law firms including London-based Ashurst LLP and Australia’s Blake Dawson have agreed to merge this year, others, like Herbert Smith LLP of London and Germany’s Gleiss Lutz, are ending alliances.

Anthony Root, the China practice head of Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCoy LLP, was quoted as saying of the merger that it “is a pioneering step by two firms seeking to go global. Like any such effort, it presents significant opportunities as well as challenges.”

The combined firm will be able to offer Chinese state- owned enterprises venturing abroad one-stop shopping, as it were, in the form of advice on energy and resource acquisitions, Wang Ling, King & Wood’s Beijing- based managing partner, was quoted as having said in an interview.

Robert Milliner, chief executive partner at Mallesons was quoted as saying: “Australia and China are more robust parts of the world and our clients there are still looking for growth. The world has become much more complex and we’re primarily placed in these opportunity markets.

China is Australia’s largest trading partner. The demand for iron ore and coal is driving the biggest resources boom in one hundred years in Australia. In 2010, relations between the two countries were strained with the trial and imprisonment in China of Stern Hu, an Australian convicted of accepting bribes and commercial spying while working for Rio Tinto Group.

King & Wood Mallesons joins together the Australian firm with the highest profit-per-partner and legal publisher Chambers and Partners’ best China law firm of 2010, and will have 21 offices, including 11 in China, five in Australia, and in London, New York and Tokyo.

The two firms, with the merger of their Hong Kong partnerships, will more than 130 lawyers in the city, which maintains a separate legal system from that of mainland China. Wang Junfeng, who left a Chinese state-owned law firm to found King & Wood in 1993, will be chairman of the combined firm based in Beijing.

King & Wood is a leading law firm in China, providing comprehensive legal solutions to multinational and Chinese clients across a broad range of cross-border and domestic transactions.

Mallesons Stephen Jaques is a commercial law firm that operates in the Asia-Pacific region. It is one of the 30 largest law firms in Australia, and is widely regarded as one of the top commercial law firms in Australia.

Allen & Overy Announces Launch of Office In Istanbul

rebneely — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 21:53:18 +0000

Today, Allen & Overy announced the launch of an office in Istanbul. The move will capitalize on the increasing flow of work being undertaken in Turkey.

According to statistics reported in a press release at the firm’s website, the International Monetary Fund, in its September 2011 World Economic Outlook, forecasted gross domestic product (GDP) growth of 6.6% for Turkey in 2011. That figure is higher than for any other market in Europe. GDP growth is expected to stabilize at around 5% over the medium term.

Also according to current projections, Turkey is expected, by 2050, to rank second only to Germany in terms of GDP in Europe. It is also expected to be upgraded to investment grade in the short- to medium-term, opening the market to a much larger pool of investors.

Banking partner Charles Lindsay will move to Istanbul from London to lead A&O’s Turkey practice. The office will focus on English law project finance, capital markets, general lending and M&A work.

Allen & Overy global managing partner Wim Dejonghe was quoted as saying in a press release at the firm’s website: “Turkey is a market that we have been watching for some time. Turkey’s strong economy, extensive privatization program, pressing demand for infrastructure investment and emerging status as an energy hub, present an immense opportunity for both Allen & Overy and our clients. We see significant opportunities to build on the work we already do in Turkey for clients in our core areas of expertise such as project finance, capital markets, general lending and M&A. Having someone of Charles’s caliber and experience to lead the team will ensure we get our new office off to the very best start possible.”

So as to meet demand for new infrastructure and to support the government’s privatization program it is estimated that private financing of USD50 billion will be required by 2015. Because of this, Turkey presents great domestic opportunities and opportunities for international debt and equity financings. Favorable changes to withholding tax laws on interest payments on bonds, along with a number of high profile international bond issues by Turkish banks into the U.S. under Rule 144A, on which Allen & Overy has advised (Akbank, İşbank, Garantibank, Turk Exim Bank), have also provided opportunities for the debt capital markets to open up to foreign investors.

The launch furthers Allen & Overy’s strategy of continuing to increase the volume of revenue it generates from high growth markets around the world.

Karen Lee, senior associate in Allen & Overy’s ICM practice in London, will also be moving to Istanbul to support the development of A&O’s capital markets practice in Turkey. Seyda Duman, a banking associate in London who is fluent in Turkish, will also be joining the team in Istanbul.

Allen & Overy is headquartered in London. The firm is a member of the UK’s Magic Circle of leading law firms, and is widely considered to be one of the world’s elite law firms, advising national and multinational corporations, financial institutions, and governments. Founded in 1930, Allen & Overy has become one of the largest law firms in the world, both by number of lawyers and revenue. With approximately 5,000 staff and 38 offices worldwide, the firm provides legal advice in Europe, the Americas, Asia, Australia, and the Middle East.

Allen & Overy Expands Australian Practice

rebneely — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 14:21:52 +0000

Leading international law firm Allen & Overy has announced it has expanded its Australian practice; it will now offer litigation and regulatory investigations expertise. In coordination with this expansion, John Samaha, senior Australian litigation lawyer, has been appointed to the partnership.

Samaha’s appointment will enable Allen & Overy to offer integrated local and global litigation and regulatory support to its clients, as the firm has experienced continued success of its corporate and finance practices in Australia.

Samaha possesses significant experience in complex and strategically significant litigation and regulatory work. He has acted for leading corporations and financial institutions in Australia, including many sector leaders. He was previously a senior litigation partner at another leading Australian firm, where he worked for two decades.

The Legal 500 review of Australian dispute resolution lawyers just released reports that John is ‘a consummate professional, highly knowledgeable and commercially minded’.

Tim House, Global Head of Litigation at Allen & Overy, was quoted as saying in a press release at the firm’s website: “John’s arrival is a further boost to our litigation capability across the Asia Pacific region and fits hand-in-glove with our growth plans for Allen & Overy’s global litigation practice. It also represents a unique opportunity for leading Australian litigation solicitors who see the advantages of a career in our growing network.”

Grant Fuzi, Managing Partner of Allen & Overy in Australia, was quoted as saying: “John is a recognized leader in his field. Now that Allen & Overy is well established in Australia, we are pleased to offer our clients litigation and regulatory skills and expertise under John’s leadership. John’s appointment brings our Australian partner tally to 23, with the support of over 160 staff. This outstanding growth has been fuelled by positive client response to our focus on leveraging our global and domestic expertise.”

In the last twelve months, Allen & Overy has completed transactions with an approximate total value of over AUD40 billion. These include advising SABMiller on its proposed AUD12 billion takeover of Foster’s Group by scheme of arrangement, Fortescue Metals Group on a USD2.04 billion syndicated loan facility and a 144A unsecured bond offering and on a USD1.5 billion 144A unsecured bond offering (CFO Dealbook Corporate Bond Issue of the Year 2011), and Equinox on the AUD7.1 billion Barrick Gold offer.

DLA Piper Adds Pair of Attorneys to Beijing Office

rebneely — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 13:46:45 +0000

DLA Piper has announced that John Shi and Nicolas Groffman have both joined DLA Piper as partners in Beijing.

The pair of attorneys will also work closely with the firm’s Shanghai, Hong Kong and other Asia Pacific offices.

The news dovetails with Mallesons preparation to seal a merger with Chinese firm King & Wood. The Australian firm’s partners voted in favor of the tie-up last week, with King & Wood’s partners understood to have given their backing to the deal this week, according to the November 1^st law.com article, “DLA Piper bolsters China practice with double hire from Mallesons”.

Mallesons’ Beijing chief representative since 2004, Shi is a corporate lawyer with significant expertise in M&A, foreign direct investment and all types of corporate structures and operational issues in China.

Groffman is a partner in Mallesons’ Beijing office. He specializes in technology, media and telecommunications. In addition, he has a broad M&A practice.

In a statement, DLA Piper’s joint CEO Nigel Knowles was quoted as having said, per the law.com article: “As the Chinese government continues to encourage Chinese entities to invest overseas we anticipate a growing emphasis on outbound work. As a global law firm with strong US and EMEA offerings, DLA Piper is well placed to support this trend and the appointment of John and Nic will ensure we have a market leading international legal practice in China.”

DLA Asia-Pacific managing director Alistair Da Costa was quoted as having said in the November 29th law.com article: “One of the strategic priorities for the firm, and for Asia Pacific in particular, is the continual development and growth of our Greater China offering, especially our corporate practice.”

Per the article, it’s anticipated that additional lawyers from Mallesons’ Beijing office will follow Shi and Groffman to DLA Piper, which is also expected to make additions to its Shanghai team.

Currently, DLA Piper has nine partners and 62 other fee-earners working across Beijing and Shanghai, while Mallesons has five partners and 22 other fee-earners in these two cities.

Global law firm DLA Piper has 76 offices across 30 countries and more than 4,200 lawyers. As of May 2011, it was the largest law firm in the world by number of attorneys. The firm is composed of two partnerships, DLA Piper International, and DLA Piper U.S. The two partnerships share a single management board but are not financially integrated.

DLA Piper’s clients range from multinational, Global 1,000 and Fortune 500 enterprises to emerging high-tech companies and start-ups, for which it operates a dedicated division for venture-capital placements. The firm represents over 140 of the top 250 Fortune 500 clients and nearly half of the FTSE 350 or their subsidiaries.

Frank Burch and Tony Angel serve as Co-Chairs of the firm’s Global Board, and Senator George Mitchell as Chairman Emeritus.

DLA Piper Open for Business in Australia

rebneely — Tue, 03 May 2011 10:57:57 +0000

Following the integration of DLA Phillips Fox (Australia) and DLA Piper, DLA Piper is now open for business in Australia.

DLA Piper in Australia is a full service business law firm with the ability to provide clients with a broad variety of services across five capital cities nationally, and 11 offices throughout Asia-Pacific.

In Asia-Pacific, DLA Piper has more than 700 lawyers operating out of offices located in Bangkok, Beijing, Brisbane, Canberra, Hong Kong, Melbourne, Perth, Shanghai, Singapore, Sydney and Tokyo.

Globally, DLA Piper now has 4,200 lawyers operating in 76 offices in 30 countries. The group also has alliances with firms in an additional 17 countries.

Managing Partner for Australia Tony Holland was quoted as saying in a press release at the firm’s website: “Our clients are at the centre of everything we do and we are dedicated to supporting them and helping them to do business. We believe this is a significant day for the Australian legal market. We are adding real value by offering a comprehensive range of legal services across a truly national and truly international footprint. Integration has already enhanced our ability to compete for work in the region. Our new positioning in the market has been welcomed by our clients and is attractive to prospective clients, as demonstrated by our recent appointment to the panel of a major international investment bank.”

DLA Piper represents more clients in a broader range of geographies and practice disciplines than virtually any other law firm in the world.

Clifford Chance Expands into Australia

joshua — Fri, 18 Feb 2011 01:00:48 +0000

Clifford Chance is moving into the Australian market by merging with two boutique firms. Chang, Pistilli & Simmons and Cochrane Lishman Carson Luscombe will become Clifford Chance offices as of May 1. The firm says that this is not targeted at Australia so much as it is part of a broader plan for Asian expansion.

Chinese investments in Australia have rapidly grown, particularly in the energy and mineral markets, and the two local firms joining up with Clifford Chance are both corporate law boutiques. An investment into the Australian legal market is an indirect investment in the growth of Chinese foreign investments.

Clifford Chance is one of the UK’s “magic circle” of law fims. With approximately 3,200 legal advisers and 30 offices in 21 countries, it is one of the top ten global law firms measured by number of lawyers and by revenue.

Morning Update

joshua — Thu, 13 Jan 2011 17:15:22 +0000

Good morning! Today is Thursday, January 13, and here’s a quick glance at our recent headlines…

As flood waters rise, the “Big 6″ law firms in Australia are evacuating their offices in Brisbane…

Robins Kaplan is expanding its IP practice with the help of a lateral from Stroock & Stroock…

Jones Day is partnering with a local firm to expand operations in Saudi Arabia…

and Howrey has lost another partner in London…

Australian Firm Eyes Suit Against Goldman Sachs

joshua — Sat, 15 May 2010 00:57:27 +0000

SYDNEY – Australian firm Slater & Gordon said Friday that it was investigating investment bank Goldman Sachs JBWere while considering whether or not to file a $15 million (US $13 million) lawsuit.

Former clients of Goldman Sachs JBWere allege that the bank engaged in deceptive and misleading practices in order to sell contracts designed to limit losses during market downturns. Despite entering into the contracts, clients were allegedly required to purchase certain stocks at inflated prices when the market crashed in 2008.

“On the basis of our investigation it appears the marketing of the product was misleading,” said Van Moulis, Slater & Gordon’s practice group leader.

Goldman Sachs JBWere has not commentted on the potential suit, which has not yet been filed.

NYC based Goldman Sachs owns 45 percent of Goldman Sachs JBWere.

Morning Roundup

joshua — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 17:18:00 +0000

Good morning everyone! It’s Tuesday, December 15, and here’s a snapshot of yesterday’s news…

Loeb & Loeb is opening in Washington…

The Supreme Court will review a government employee’s right to privacy for text messages received on government owned equipment…

Zico is setting up shop in Australia, the first Asian firm to do so…

Seyfarth Shaw gets a pair of laterals in New York…

and Orrick picks up one…

Survey: Aussie Partners See Salary Cuts

Erik Even — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 17:24:27 +0000

A new survey of Australian law firm partners shows plummeting incomes and soaring stress levels.

Mahlab Recruitment reports that partner salaries are down by over 5% in Sydney, and 4% in Melbourne. Last year, partners in both cities saw an 11% increase.

The survey also says that firms have been quietly booting under-performing partners for the last year.

Almost 70% of private practice lawyers were not satisfied with their salary reviews.

Mahlab Recruitment, a legal and practice management recruitment consultancy, has offices in Sydney and Melbourne.

Mallesons to Cut 100 Lawyers, Staff

Erik Even — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 15:58:07 +0000

Commercial law firm Mallesons will begin a redundancy consultation in August, targeting 5% of the firm’s workforce.

The redundancies are being characterized as voluntary, and will affect 100 lawyers and staff. Some lawyers will be offered more than one year’s pay.

The offers are to include a payment based on years of service, an additional stipend, and outplacement.

Founded in 1832, Mallesons Stephen Jaques is a commercial law firm that operates in the Asia-Pacific region. In Australia, and throughout the Asia-Pacific region generally, it is considered one of the top commercial law firms. It has offices in Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Brisbane, Canberra, Hong Kong, Beijing, London, Shanghai and Papua New Guinea.

Keddies Lays Off 40 Lawyers & Staff

Erik Even — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 00:17:40 +0000

Keddies Lawyers has been conducting stealth layoffs, with some 40 firm employees, both lawyers and staff, shown the door.

The latest redundancies went into effect last week.

If you have any details about layoffs at Keddies Lawyers, such as layoff dates and the number of lawyers affected, please send us a confidential tip!

Keddies Lawyers is a workers compensation boutique with offices across Australia, including Wollongong, Brisbane, Sydney, Ashfield, Liverpool and Redfern.

Allens Arthur Robinson Sees 114 Voluntary Redundancies

Erik Even — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 16:11:04 +0000

Allens Arthur Robinson, which in April offered up to one year’s pay to lawyers who take voluntary redundancies, has seen 114 employees take up the offer and leave the firm.

The redundancies included lawyers, corporate services staff, and secretaries. Twelve people who asked for voluntary redundancies were refused.As

By offering the voluntary redundancies, Allens Arthur says it has avoided involuntary layoffs; and it plans to keep all of its incoming trainees. The firm is now undergoing a restructuring.

Founded in 1822, Allens Arthur Robinson is a commercial law firm in the Asia-Pacific region. In Australia, and throughout the Asia-Pacific region generally, it is considered to be one of the top commercial law firms.

The firm has staff based in 14 cities and eight countries, including Bangkok, Beijing, Brisbane, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Hong Kong, Jakarta, Melbourne, Perth, Phnom Penh, Port Moresby, Shanghai, Singapore and Sydney. It is one of the largest law firms in the Asia Pacific region, with almost 200 partners and more than 1500 personnel.

Deacons Australia to Merge with Norton Rose

Erik Even — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 19:05:51 +0000

Deacons Australia will join the Norton Rose Group.

The decision follows successful votes by the respective partnerships yesterday. The new international legal practice will be called Norton Rose Group, and will take effect from January 1st, 2010.

The new Norton Rose Group will have more than 1,800 fee earners in 29 offices worldwide.

Norton Rose will be led by Group Chief Executive Peter Martyr, the current Norton Rose LLP Chief Executive, and Deputy Group Chief Executive Don Boyd, the current Deacons Australia Chief Executive Partner.

Deacons Australia is one of the fastest growing large law firms in that country since 2000, and is now eighth largest by revenue and partner numbers. It brings over 500 fee earners with offices in Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Canberra and Brisbane, and teams in Singapore and Jakarta.

The Norton Rose Group is a leading international law firm. It offers business law services from 21 offices across Europe, the Middle East and Asia. With around 1000 lawyers, its practice specializes in five key areas: corporate finance, financial institutions, energy and infrastructure, transport and technology.

Hall & Wilcox Hiring, May Increase Pay

Erik Even — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 16:00:56 +0000

Melbourne, Australia’s Hall & Wilcox apparently has not heard that major law firms are shedding lawyers and freezing or cutting pay.

The full-service commercial firm, which had its annual meeting this week, will not be implementing pay freezes this year, and in fact is promising pay increases for certain staff by the end of this month.

It is also seeking lateral hires for certain practices.

Compensation is currently under review for lawyers in the firm’s Melbourne office.

Hall & Wilcox says it has only laid off one person since the global economic meltdown began.

Hall & Wilcox is a full-service commercial firm that is widely recognized as one of Melbourne, Australia’s leading law firms. The firm was named Best Law Firm (revenue under $50 million) nationally, at the BRW Client Choice Awards 2009, as well as Melbourne Law Firm of the Year 2007 and a Finalist in the same category in 2008 by Australasian Legal Business magazine.

Aussie AG Boosts Funds for Pro Bono Jobs

Erik Even — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 19:34:58 +0000

Australian Attorney-General Robert McClelland will provide AUD $40,000 ($32,500) to the National Pro Bono Resource Centre, to create paying work for unemployed lawyers, and for employed lawyers who need pro bono hours.

The project helps provide pro bono assistance in regional and rural areas of Australia.

Located at the Law School of the University of New South Wales, the National Pro Bono Resource Centre was established in 2002, by recommendation of the National Pro Bono Task Force to the Commonwealth Attorney-General. The Centre is incorporated as a company limited by guarantee with a Board and Advisory Council.

It is an independent, non profit organization that aims to encourage pro bono legal services, support lawyers and law firms to make it easier for them to provide high quality pro bono legal services, and work with the profession and the community sector to match services with the clients and groups most in need of assistance.

Corrs Defers Recruits, Freezes Salaries

Erik Even — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 20:34:23 +0000

Corrs has delayed the start dates for its 2009 recruits, paying stipends of US$1,740 each.

In March, the firm implemented a firm-wide salary freeze. There may be individual exceptions, and the firm stressed that the pay freeze is not performance related.

Corrs Chambers Westgarth is an Australian commercial law firm founded in 1841. It has offices in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, and Perth. The firm acts for clients internationally, and has links with law firms throughout Asia, the Americas, Middle East and Europe.

Corrs employs over 950 attorneys.

Thomson Playford Cuts 19 Lawyers, 5 Staff

Erik Even — Fri, 15 May 2009 23:00:45 +0000

Thomson Playford has laid off 19 lawyers and five staff in its Sydney and Adelaide, Australia offices.

Thomson Playford Cutlers is a full service commercial law firm with offices in Sydney, Adelaide and Melbourne, with 200 lawyers and 350 staff.

In August 2008, the firm was ranked as one of the top 25 law firms in Australia by Australasian Legal Business. In 2008, they won the “Adelaide Law Firm of the Year” Award at the Mettle ALB Australasian Law Awards, the Asia Pacific’s premium law awards event.

DLA Phillips Fox Lays Off 12 Lawyers; CEO Steps Down [Update]

Erik Even — Fri, 15 May 2009 17:04:48 +0000

DLA Phillips Fox, an affiliate of DLA Piper, has cut 12 lawyers from its offices in Australia and New Zealand.

In addition, CEO Tony Crawford will step down after 10 years as chief executive at DLA Phillips Fox, and almost 30 years at the firm.

DLA Phillips Fox has over 800 fee earners and 1,400 staff in eight offices in New Zealand and Australia. It is, by number of attorneys, the 37th largest firm in the world and the fourth largest in Australasia.

Its offices are located in Adelaide, Auckland, Brisbane, Canberra, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney, and Wellington.

DLA Phillips Fox is a member of the DLA Piper Group, an alliance of independent legal practices with exclusive agreements with DLA Piper. As part of the alliance, DLA Phillips Fox refers and receives legal work on an exclusive basis across the DLA Piper network.

UPDATE

Clarification: DLA Phillips Fox laid off the 12 lawyers last November, and has not laid anyone off since then.

Blake Dawson Lays Off 23 Lawyers, 66 Staff

Erik Even — Fri, 15 May 2009 16:56:08 +0000

Blake Dawson has eliminated 23 lawyers and 66 support staff in the wake of its March review of business.

Details have not been released. If you know anything about the situation at Blake Dawson, please send us a confidential tip!

Founded in Melbourne in 1841, Blake Dawson is a commercial law firm that operates in the Asia-Pacific region. In Australia it is considered one of the top commercial law firms.

Minter Ellison Lays Off 11 Lawyers, 35 Staff

Erik Even — Thu, 14 May 2009 22:08:36 +0000

Australia’s Minter Ellison has laid off 11 lawyers and 24 support staff from its Adelaide, Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane offices.

The redundancies targeted senior and junior associates in the firm’s property, construction and finance practices.

There are no current plans for further redundancies.

Minter Ellison is one of the largest full-service law firms in the Asia-Pacific region. It has over 280 partners, 1000 lawyers and 1,000 support staff. In Australia it is considered one of the top commercial law firms.

Allens Arthur Robinson Freezes Pay, Offers Voluntary Redundancies

Erik Even — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 17:41:06 +0000

Allens Arthur Robinson will institute pay freezes July 1st, and is offering up to one year’s pay to lawyers who take voluntary redundancies.

The amount paid out for those who choose to leave will depend on seniority and years with the firm.

Allens also plans to shuffle remaining lawyers between practices.

The firm has no plans for involuntary layoffs, and will not cut its incoming associate class. It will, however, cut partners’ profit shares.

Allens Arthur Robinson is a commercial law firm in the Asia-Pacific region. In Australia, and throughout the Asia-Pacific region generally, it is considered to be one of the top commercial law firms.

Allens has staff based in 14 cities and eight countries across the region, including Bangkok, Beijing, Brisbane, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Hong Kong, Jakarta, Melbourne, Perth, Phnom Penh, Port Moresby, Shanghai, Singapore and Sydney. It is one of the largest law firms in the Asia Pacific region, with almost 200 partners and more than 1500 personnel.

Christensen Vaughan to Merge with Gadens Lawyers

Erik Even — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 19:00:51 +0000

Perth, Australia law firm Christensen Vaughan will merge with national firm Gadens Lawyers, to form an expanded commercial legal practice in Western Australia.

The combined practice will have six partners and 45 staff.

The merger will extend Gadens’ practices in banking and finance, insolvency, property, financial services recovery, commercial litigation, aged care, resources and infrastructure.

Gadens Lawyers is a top-ten national law firm with 112 partners, 1,030 staff and offices in every mainland state and Papua New Guinea.

Blake Dawson Layoffs Tomorrow

Erik Even — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 16:40:30 +0000

Blake Dawson will announce redundancies tomorrow, Friday the 13th, with “less than 100″ people affected.

The firm says the cuts are all related to the global economic meltdown.

This will be the second round of redundancies at the Melbourne, Australia-based firm, as at least four property and finance lawyers have been laid off since the beginning of the year.

If you know anything about impending layoffs at Blake Dawson, please send us a confidential tip!

Blake Dawson is a commercial law firm that operates in the Asia-Pacific region. In Australia it is considered one of the top commercial law firms.

Blake Dawson was previously known as Blake Dawson Waldron or BDW. The firm shortened its name to ‘Blake Dawson’ in November 2007.

Texas Lawyer and Bush Ally Considering Democratic Run for Governor

Erik Even — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 03:13:56 +0000

Fort Worth-based lawyer Tom Schieffer said on Monday he is exploring whether the Texas Democratic Party would back him in a 2010 run for governor of the Lone Star State.
Schieffer has formed a gubernatorial campaign committee to raise money, but he said in a news conference he would not make the final decision to run or not for several months.
Schieffer has had a long history with former President George W. Bush. He was the president of the Texas Rangers baseball club when George W. Bush was general managing partner. While president, Bush named Schieffer as ambassador to Australia, and then to Japan.
Schieffer supported Bush in his 1994 gubernatorial campaign, and backed him in the 2000 and 2004 presidential elections. That said, filled out his application to become an ambassador by listing his political affiliation as Democrat.

“I’m not new to the Democratic Party,” Schieffer said.

He served Fort Worth as a Democratic legislator from 1973-78.

Slater & Gordon Sees Double-Digit Net Profit Increase

Erik Even — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 19:42:32 +0000

Australia’s Slater & Gordon, the world’s first publicly traded law firm, reported a 22.4% increase in net profit for the six months leading up to December 31st 2008.

The 160-lawyer firm reported profits of $8.46 million, up from $6.9 million for the previous six-month period. S&G’s revenue increased 35% to $50.5 million over the same time frame.

The firm is looking at acquisition opportunities, and expects earnings to rise into the second half of 2009.

S&G went public in Australia in May 2007. The IPO was the first for a law firm, after new legislation went into effect Down Under permitting the investment of non-lawyers. With a similar law to be enacted in the UK in 2011, S&G’s listing drew the interest of many British firms.

It’s highly unlikely that the US legal industry, governed by a hodgepodge of state laws and federal regulations, will adopt anything similar involving public ownership.

Slater & Gordon has acquired nine other firms within the past year, most recently scooping up the personal injury practice of Brisbane firm Carter Capner.

Slater & Gordon, founded in Melbourne in 1935 by William Slater & Hugh Gordon, is an Australian plaintiff law firm employing over 600 people across Australia.

Report: Legal Industry Woes Good for Small Firms

Erik Even — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 22:31:00 +0000

The meltdown of the legal services industry, in the wake of the financial meltdown, is hurting biglaw firms as they shed lawyers and clients.

But small firms are grabbing up both those clients and laid off lawyers, according to Australian legal recruitment firm Mahlab.

Smaller practices are using their lower overheads and cheaper hourly rates to win more work from corporate clients, according to the report.

“Some firms with lower overheads and lower charge-out rates report an increase in new client activity as clients vote with their feet (and their wallets) and move to cheaper firms,” Mahlab says.

“Changes in the legal market offer opportunities to many firms, often in the second and third tier, to ‘cherry pick’ outstanding lawyers who may not otherwise be on the market or open to a call.”

Mahlab’s analysis comes soon after last week’s study of the US legal market that predicted a decline of up to 15% in profits per partner at US firms. That study, by law firm consultant Hildebrandt and Citi Private Bank, predicted more firings at US firms this year as the legal services industry struggles to adjust to falling demand.