91-100 of 129 results
A success for successor fund transfers – court finds that secret commission offence provisions do not apply
A recent decision in the Queensland Supreme Court should provide confidence to superannuation funds seeking to engage in successor fund transfers (SFTs) that they will not need to obtain the prior assent of the court or members before proceeding with the transaction, at least where Queensland and Victorian laws apply. ...
The resurrection of rise and fall mechanisms in infrastructure contracts
Against the backdrop of the war in Ukraine, ongoing supply chain challenges associated with COVID-19 and a red-hot infrastructure market, 2022 was the year that Australian contractors firmly rejected the traditional approach to input cost risk allocation. ...
Shell Energy Holdings v Commissioner of Taxation: the end of the 'exploration' journey
On Friday 9 September 2022, the High Court rejected the Commissioner's application for special leave to appeal against the decision of the Full Federal Court in FCT v Shell. So ends the long journey that was the Commissioner's attempt to confine the meaning of 'exploration' to the mere discovery of a resource. ...
Aged care reform: back on the agenda
In this Insight, we focus in on the key regulatory enforcement and provider governance reforms to be implemented under the Royal Commission Response Bill and the implications for approved providers. ...
Corporate criminal liability: a guide for boards and senior management
The risk for an organisation of being held liable for criminal activity is high on the agenda for directors, company officers and shareholders alike. Below is a handy overview of where it currently stands in Australia. ...
New Aim Pty Ltd v Leung: assisting expert witnesses – how much is too much?
In New Aim Pty Ltd v Leung the Federal Court of Australia rejected an expert report and oral evidence from a purportedly independent expert witness, on the basis that the solicitors who retained the expert had written her report. The case is a timely reminder of best (and worst) practices in the engagement of independent expert witnesses and the importance of preserving an expert's independence. ...
Global ESG themes shaping the Australian legal outlook
2022 will provide a practical demonstration of the appetite for ESG-led change that governments, major corporates and financial institutions all have, and how far this will feed into smaller businesses and everyday life. We explore key ESG themes shaping the legal outlook for businesses in 2022. ...
High Court ruling that 'backpacker tax' is discriminatory invites consideration of other potentially disapplied discriminatory tax provisions
In the recent decision of Addy v Commissioner of Taxation, the High Court ruled that the so-called 'backpacker tax' contravened the non-discrimination article contained in the double tax agreement between Australia and the United Kingdom (UK). ...
Government response to class action inquiries
Last week, the Federal Government published its long-awaited response to the ALRC and Parliamentary Joint Committee on Corporations and Financial Services Report's inquiries into class actions. ...
The first word on group costs orders in class actions
The Supreme Court of Victoria has provided significant first guidance on the operation of its new group costs order regime for class actions. ...