Mallesons is acting for Woolworths in its Federal Court fight this week, defending its "Prices Dropped" program, with the ACCC alleging discounts on Tim Tams, Oreos and Lucky Dog bones were never real. Eleven managers face the witness stand, Robert Yezerski SC leads the defence, and the "baby-faced assassin" Michael Hodge QC is swinging for the other side: The Age
The traditional suit and tie is so back. Over half of law firm clients still expect formal attire, per new research, suggesting the post-pandemic casual drift has its limits. The same clients want direct contact details (88%), same-day responses (83%) and weekly updates (85%), with two-thirds expecting 24/7 access. Turns out your outfit, availability, and lightning-fast replies matter as much as the legal advice: Legal Cheek
Promotions season's here. Allens and HSF Kramer have both had a bumper year. Allens doubled its intake to 16 new partners from 8 last year. While HSFK made up 10, its first round post-merger and its biggest Aussie round in 3 years. Both firms are loading up on disputes and energy specialists: Point Blank
Twenty-seven barristers across seven parties, burning $250k a day in legal costs. Gina Rinehart keeps the Hope Downs tenements but must share royalties with Wright Prospecting and DFD Rhodes, after a 1,655-page WA Supreme Court judgment. Corrs led Hancock Prospecting, with Noel Hutley SC and Peter Brereton SC commanding $35k a day. Clayton Utz steered Wright Prospecting, led by Julie Taylor SC. Allens had Rio Tinto. Each side's costs are tipped to crack $100m: Point Blank
The legal industry's latest brainwave, using AI to replace junior grunt work, is quietly hollowing out how young lawyers actually learn. Shock. New research interviewing leaders at A&O Shearman, HSFK and Baker McKenzie warns that pushing juniors prematurely into higher-level work risks leaving critical skills underdeveloped. One participant flagged that AI outputs increasingly get waved through unscrutinised. Then how do you train junior lawyers in an AI-enabled environment? According to the report, nobody knows yet: Legal Cheek