G+T, HSF, Minters lead in grad rankings

Only 61% of SAs say they’re happy

ABA scraps diversity committee

Prosple’s 2026 rankings put G+T, HSF Kramer and MinterEllison on top for law grads, but the surprise is who’s close behind. Hall & Wilcox, Sparke Helmore and Macpherson Kelley crack the top 10 despite slimmer pay packets, showing culture and balance are cutting through. More here: Point Blank

New Chambers research shows senior associates are now the unhappiest lawyers in UK firms, with only 61% calling themselves happy. Stress and hours are biting hard, especially at international firms, where satisfaction falls to 52%. 2 in 5 associates expect to leave within five years, as pay, balance and partner support become the key battlegrounds for retention: NB

Legal-tech unicorn Legora is supercharging its APAC expansion with a new Sydney office and three senior legal-engineer hires from Allens, HSF Kramer and McKinsey. With Allens and Minters already onboard, Legora says its Aussie team may need to double every three months to keep up with demand: Lawyers Weekly

The Australian Bar Association has scrapped its Diversity & Inclusion Committee after nearly a decade of work under long-time chair Fiona McLeod SC. Members say the decision risks stalling progress at a time when the Bar’s diversity issues are far from solved: Kate Eastman AM SC

Employment/AI: NSW has introduced the Work Health and Safety Amendment (Digital Work Systems) Bill 2025, making it Australia’s first state to explicitly regulate WHS risks from AI and digital work systems. The Bill expands the primary duty of care to cover digital tools, creates a new duty to manage risks from algorithm-driven workloads, surveillance and decision-making, and gives WHS entry permit holders new rights to inspect digital systems (with regulator guidelines to come). Business groups warn that the access powers could expose sensitive data and AI models. A harmonisation review will follow if model WHS laws adopt similar reforms. Expect greater scrutiny of how AI allocates and monitors work: KWM

Digital Assets: The Albanese Government has introduced the Digital Assets Framework Bill, forcing digital asset and tokenised custody platforms to hold an AFSL. Platforms will face obligations around fair conduct, clear disclosures, governance, risk controls and dispute resolution, with exemptions for small platforms. Treasury says the regime will modernise financial regulation and boost confidence in digital markets: Capital Brief

Private Equity: PE is finishing 2025 with real momentum, according to Corrs. After a slow start, sale processes picked up, and PE funds piled into technology, business services and financial services, pushing EBITDA multiples higher. Mid-market deals (A$50–250m) proved resilient, with buyers favouring platform plays and operational uplift over leverage. Funds are holding assets longer, prompting continuation vehicles, secondaries and even GP stake sale discussions as LP pressure builds. While the IPO window has cracked open, long escrows mean trade sales remain the preferred exit. Expect a rush to sign before the new merger clearance regime and a stronger 2025 deal count, with 2026 shaped by carve-outs, more take-privates (especially offshore buyers) and sustained demand for tech, services and defence-aligned manufacturing assets: Corrs

Two 15-year-olds and the Digital Freedom Project have taken the under-16s social media ban to the High Court, arguing it tramples the implied freedom of political communication. They say the blanket ban is “lazy”, “excessive” and hands parenting to bureaucrats. The Gov says it won’t blink at the challenge, vowing it “won’t be intimidated”. The challenge lands just as YouTube is pulled back into the ban: ABC News

Albo says we’re on track to meet the 2030 climate target post-latest figures. New data shows a 2.2% annual drop in emissions, driven by electricity, industry and agriculture. A preliminary 2.8% drop is expected for September. But diesel utes and SUVs are blowing out transport emissions, up 7.8% as the diesel fleet has doubled since 2014. Emissions are now 28.5% below 2005 levels, putting Australia halfway through its 2030 carbon budget: AFR

Brookfield and GIC: have lobbed a $4bn all-cash bid for National Storage REIT, offering $2.86 per security. It’s a 26% premium to last trade. Exclusive DD runs to 7 December. If inked, it’d be Australia’s biggest real-estate take-private this year. Clayton Utz is advising National Storage Reit: AFR

Laser Clinics: is back on the block, with KKR and minority holder The Growth Fund hiring Macquarie Capital to field offers for the ANZ arm — the jewel that drives nearly 80% of group revenue. PE and trade buyers (including Wesfarmers’ API) are circling as KKR attempts a full exit: AFR

Beach Energy says it’s keen to back Santos’ $3.6bn Narrabri gas project, arguing it’s the supply boost the east coast needs. CEO Brett Woods says Beach would invest on the right terms, as the venture awaits Native Title clearance and pipeline approvals: AFR

Fortescue has settled its bruising legal battle with green-iron start-up Element Zero, ending a two-year stoush over alleged IP theft and controversial surveillance of former execs. The case, which appeared in court more than 30 times, was dismissed with each side covering its own costs, allowing Element Zero to resume its low-emissions iron push in WA and the US: AFR

APRA is imposing Australia’s first debt-to-income cap, limiting banks from 1 February to write only 20% of new mortgages at six times income or more. The guardrail applies separately to owner-occupier and investor lending, as high-debt to income loans climb with easing rates and rising prices: Capital Brief

NAB and Westpac are reviewing their lending to property investors using trusts. They join CBA and Macquarie in pulling back from one of the market’s riskiest, most leveraged segments. With Macquarie exiting and brokers claiming it wrote up to 60% of these loans, second-tier lenders may fill the gap: Capital Brief

Conquest has unveiled a $1.5bn plan for one of Australia’s tallest build-to-rent towers. It’s a 250m, 78-storey project delivering up to 1000 apartments on a long-stalled site in Parramatta. The ARTE-branded scheme needs approval to exceed the current 180m height cap and includes 10% affordable housing: The Australian

Fashion brand Meshki founders Shadi Kord and Natalie Khoei have taken a $22m dividend, a 4x jump on last year, after profits climbed 44% to $28m. The duo have built a $182m global fashion business, with 90% of revenue offshore. Accounts show inventories and refund liabilities ballooning, as the label ramps up for its next phase of growth: The Australian

The Big Short’s Michael Burry says Nvidia’s private memo attacking his analysis was “one straw man after another” — and revealed he now holds bearish puts on both Nvidia and Palantir. Burry argues AI giants are overstating how long cutting-edge chips will stay useful, warning that hyperscalers are stretching depreciation timelines to prop up short-term profits: Business Insider

Eucalyptus is set to join Australia’s unicorn club. It’s closing in on a $1.37b valuation as it finalises a $190m funding round fuelled by the boom in Ozempic-style weight-loss drugs. The Pilot and Juniper owner has seen revenue jump 130%, doubled its 2023 valuation, and is eyeing offshore acquisitions: AFR