The gender leadership gap in law is slowly but surely closing. Female partners have hit record highs across top-tier firms. Ashurst leads at 46.3%, with Allens and HSF Kramer also clearing 40%. Lagging firms are moving fastest, Clayton Utz promoted six women from seven, while Corrs logged one of the biggest three-year jumps: Point Blank

⚖️ Employment: The Victorian Government has backed sweeping workplace surveillance reforms, throwing support behind 15 of 18 recommendations from Parliament’s inquiry into modern monitoring practices. Employers will likely need to justify surveillance as reasonable and proportionate, consult workers in advance, maintain dedicated surveillance policies, tighten data security, and rein in covert and AI-driven monitoring. Tools like keystroke tracking, biometrics and remote monitoring are firmly in the firing line. While the detail, timing and legislative vehicle are still up in the air, this isn’t a wait-and-see moment. Employers with a Victorian footprint should audit current surveillance practices, stress-test justifications, and brace for higher compliance costs, greater IR friction, and tougher scrutiny of tech vendors and data handling arrangements: Corrs

⚖️ Inquiries: In case anyone asks, Royal Commissions sit at the pinnacle of inquiries in Australia. Armed with coercive powers under the Royal Commissions Act, the Commission can compel witnesses, force document production, override self-incrimination claims (with use immunity), and pierce privilege unless it’s properly established. While it can’t determine guilt, it can refer evidence to police and prosecutors, run public hearings, and make findings that carry serious reputational and regulatory consequences. Overlap with criminal proceedings is manageable but fraught, with fairness safeguards and private hearings likely where needed. The key takeaway is early preparation matters. Anyone receiving a notice should assume full compliance is expected, privilege will be scrutinised, and missteps can quickly escalate into criminal, civil or regulatory exposure: Landers & Rogers

⚖️ Interloctury / Caveat: The Federal Court has hit pause on a forced caveat withdrawal, granting an urgent stay pending appeal in a dispute over a mining lease and the reach of a DOCA. The fight turns on whether royalty payment obligations, and protections tied to a caveat, were extinguished by the DOCA or survived it. The respondents conceded the appeal raised arguable grounds, which was enough to get SCL over the line on interlocutory relief. The Court applied the orthodox test, asking whether there were serious issues to be tried and where the balance of convenience lay, and stayed the withdrawal order until May 2026. The practical takeaway is strategic leverage, caveats can remain powerful bargaining chips during insolvency appeals if there’s a credible argument they outlive the DOCA.

Aussie CEOs are more ruthless than global peers. 32% plan to cut mid-career roles versus 25% globally, and 50%+ expect junior jobs to shrink over the next three years (vs 49% offshore), per PwC. The pain’s already here: Big Four grad intakes are half their 2022 peak, and Accenture Australia axed 10% last year. Will law firms move the same way?

The NSW Government wants to criminalise leaving dogs in hot cars or on the back of utes, with penalties of up to $44k fines or one year in jail. The bill would also ban prong collars and tighten animal fighting laws. With 500+ reports of dogs locked in cars over six years, ministers say it’s about closing cruelty loopholes: TDA

💊 Mayne Pharma is weighing a sale of its US business to unlock value after its $600m-plus Cosette takeover was blocked by Jim Chalmers. The US arm pulls $300m-plus in revenue and could juice a battered share price now below $2.90. The board’s been slimmed, and a $6.72m break-fee fight with Cosette is looming: Capital Brief

💾 Aware Super is doubling down on AI infrastructure, tipping US$300m into Vantage Data Centers’ Asia-Pacific arm for a minority stake. The platform runs 10 data centres across Australia and Asia, serving hyperscalers like Amazon Web Services, Microsoft and Google: AFR