From 30 May 2025, ASX will tighten access to its fast-track listing process, per updates to Guidance Note 1. To qualify, companies must now have a minimum $100m market cap and no ASX-imposed escrow. That rules out many early-stage tech, biotech and medtech players, who may hit the $100m mark but list under the assets test, which triggers mandatory escrow. The fast-track path cuts the IPO timeline from 6 weeks to just 2, reducing the window underwriters and investors are exposed to market swings. While the update aligns with current practice, it clashes with ASIC’s push to open up public markets to high-growth, innovative companies: HSF

The Federal Court has awarded $146k in default judgment to a former general manager after she was fired mid-sick leave. The employee took a week-long absence due to a medical condition and had emailed a medical certificate. But received no response before being dismissed. The Court found the employee had sufficiently pleaded a breach of s 352 of the Fair Work Act, which protects against dismissal for temporary illness.

London has once again topped the global rankings for international arbitration, with 34% of lawyers and arbitrators naming it their preferred seat in a survey by White & Case and Queen Mary University. Hong Kong and Singapore follow closely, with Beijing and Paris rounding out the top five. Key factors? Judicial reliability, strong enforcement, and legislative backing. Meanwhile, 90% expect to use AI in arbitration—but most are steering clear of tasks involving judgment, citing accuracy and bias concerns: Legal Cheek

From 1 July, HWL Ebsworth lawyers will see daily billable targets jump—grads by 1.25 hours, solicitors by up to 1.75. CEO Kris Hopkins says it’s all about merit-based rewards and “sustainable high performance”—with promises of above-industry average salary bumps, bigger bonuses, and “support” for junior staff along the way: Lawyers Weekly

HopgoodGanim has poached Matt Wichlinski from Kingston Reid, naming him partner in its Workplace and Employment team. With 12+ years advising on everything from enterprise agreements to workplace investigations, Matt joins a growing crew—HG has already added tech, energy and leasing teams this year as part of its 2025 expansion play.

Dentons drops DAISY, its in-house genAI platform that’s live across Europe and Central Asia. Built to handle everything from doc summaries to translation and policy lookup, it’s a modular, plug-and-play system with a roadmap full of AI extras. It follows Dentons’ backing of Noxtua and JuriAIring—cementing its push beyond the US/UK legal tech bubble: Artificial Lawyer

After 80 years, the Nationals are threatening to walk away from the Coalition if the Libs don’t back their demands: forced supermarket divestiture laws, lifting the nuclear ban, and a $20bn Regional Australia Future Fund. Sussan Ley says it’s too soon for policy ultimatums, but the Nats—riding high after holding their seats—say they won’t “sell out” their constituents: AFR

100km a day, mate. A British runner has upped everyone and their uncle who runs a marathon. William Goodge smashed the record for fastest run across Australia, clocking 3,800km from Perth to Sydney in 35 days, averaging over 100km a day. He shaved 4 days off the previous record, all while raising funds for Cancer Council Australia in memory of his mum: 9news

Trump’s dream of replacing income tax with tariffs is hitting cold reality. He’s pushing an “External Revenue Service” to scrap taxes for earners under $200k, claiming tariffs can cover the shortfall. But experts say the numbers don’t stack up—tariffs might raise US$140bn–$290bn a year, a far cry from the US$737bn needed. Navarro’s $6tn forecast? Economists call it fantasy math, ignoring falling imports, retaliation, and tax-base shrinkage: The Economist

National Stock Exchange of Australia: will be acquired by CNSX Markets, operator of Canada’s CSE, in a board-backed deal at $0.035 a share—a 59% premium. If approved, NSX will delist from the ASX. It’s a lifeline for the embattled bourse, which recently raised $1.3m after a failed capital raise and now bets on a cross-border reboot: Capital Brief

Light & Wonder: is mulling a primary ASX listing as 40% of its stock now trades locally, and US peers go private. The $11bn group just dropped $1.3bn on Grover and G2’s US charitable gaming assets, and is now eyeing more M&A in class II gaming (i.e. games for prizes, like bingo) and iGaming studios to boost its growing portfolio: AFR

23andMe: is offloading its strong genetic database from around 15 million people to Regeneron for $397m (US$256m) after filing for bankruptcy. Once worth US$6bn, the company never turned a profit and cut 40% of staff last year. The deal includes strict privacy safeguards following pressure from US regulators, and a privacy ombudsman: Capital Brief

Webjet: is in the takeover spotlight, with BGH Capital bidding 80c a share and Helloworld quietly building a near-10% stake. The rumour mill says BGH and Helloworld could team up to take Webjet private, despite a recent snub from management. Webjet’s trading at 90.5c, with analysts pricing it closer to $1.20. UBS is advising Webjet: The Australian

Rio Tinto is doubling down on lithium, investing $1.4bn in Chile’s Salar de Maricunga project in partnership with state-owned Codelco. Rio will take a 49.9% stake, building on its broader strategy to become a top-tier lithium supplier while prices are down and competition is thin. Meanwhile, BHP and Glencore remain on the sidelines: AFR

For the first time, a major Aussie energy retailer has faced legal action over its “carbon neutral” claims. EnergyAustralia has quietly settled a greenwashing case brought by Parents for Climate, who argued its Go Neutral program misled 400,000+ customers by suggesting it cut emissions, when it mostly relied on shaky offshore carbon credits: The Australian

The Big Four’s markets arms are quietly raking it in. CBA’s trading desk alone banked $1bn in first-half profits — that’s enough to land it in the ASX 50 if it were a standalone company. NAB’s markets unit propped up margins, ANZ bulked up on bonds, and Westpac saw 5% growth. But with culture reviews and ASIC probes, these billion-dollar units are also major risk magnets: Capital Brief

CBA says just 14% of borrowers lowered their mortgage repayments after the RBA’s February cut, despite the potential $80 monthly saving on a $500k loan. Most left repayments remain unchanged. But with more cuts expected, CBA tips that more borrowers will shift to ease cash flow. RBA's next cash rate decision will be handed down today: 9 News

Vodafone has fired off a formal complaint to the ACCC, accusing Telstra of misleading Australians for 15 years by overstating its mobile coverage by up to 1 million square km—roughly the size of NSW, Vic and the ACT combined. The claim? Telstra didn’t disclose that its coverage claim relied on users having an external antenna and booster — expensive gear that can cost thousands and is rarely used by customers. Telstra’s since tweaked its website... but denies any wrongdoing: ABC News

CorVal has sold the last slice of Gold Coast Corporate Centre for $109m, marking the city’s biggest office deal ever. Bought for $89m in 2017, CorVal turned around high vacancy, locked in tenants like CBA and KPMG, and has now fully exited. Tight supply and rising rents mean Gold Coast offices are still looking hot: COMMO

Nvidia’s now pitching its chips to governments, not just Big Tech. These “sovereign AI” deals — like recent multibillion-dollar tie-ups with Saudi Arabia and the UAE — are key to Nvidia’s push to sell directly to nation states building their own AI infrastructure, as it tries to reduce reliance on Silicon Valley hyperscalers like Microsoft and Amazon: AFR

Ex-OpenAI board member Helen Toner — yep, the one on the Board when Sam Altman was fired — reckons Australia’s got the talent to punch above its weight in AI — if the government steps up. She’s pushing for “moonshot” AI projects in health, energy, and safety, backed by public funding. But insiders say Canberra’s still snoozing on serious AI investment and regulation. No budget, no plan, no urgency: Capital Brief