Easing of continuous disclosure obligations made permanent by the Federal Government
On Tuesday 10 August 2021, the Australian Parliament enacted changes to company continuous disclosure laws under Schedule 2 of the Treasury Laws Amendment (2021 Measures No 1) Act 2021 (Amending Act). Schedule 2 to the Amending Act was originally given life by: Treasurer Frydenberg’s introduction of the Corporations (Coronavirus Economic Response) Determination (No. 2) 2020, […]
ReadmoreThe High Court finds privilege against self-incrimination is thinner than most imagined – DCT v Shi [2021] HCA 22 (4 August 2021)
DCT v Shi [2021] HCA 22 (4 August 2021) http://www.austlii.edu.au/cgi-bin/viewdoc/au/cases/cth/HCA//2021/22.html Majority: Kiefel CJ, Gageler, Gordon & Gleeson JJ Minority: Edelman J The High Court has found that the privilege against self-incrimination is thinner than most imagined, ordering disclosure of information claimed to be privileged. A witness can object to giving evidence on the ground […]
ReadmoreGadens Connect | 2021 Edition Three
For the third edition for 2021 of Gadens Connect, our team provides an overview of key performance indicators including the impact of COVID-19 holds across the recoveries portfolio, an update on permanent changes to the Justice Legislation Amendment (System Enhancements and Other Matters) Act 2021 (Vic) and an insight into setting aside default judgment by […]
ReadmoreFull Court gives Epic Games the green light to continue CCA claim against Apple in Australia
In Epic Games, Inc v Apple Inc,[1] the Full Court of the Federal Court of Australia considered whether an exclusive jurisdiction clause in an agreement between Epic Games and Apple required a competition law claim brought by Epic Games against Apple to be stayed to allow the dispute to play out in the United States. […]
ReadmoreImportance of properly formulating offers made in proceedings involving counterclaims
In Wiggins Island Coal Export Terminal Pty Limited v Civil Mining & Construction Pty Ltd[1], the Queensland Court of Appeal considered the costs implications of an ‘all up’ offer made under the Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 1999 (Qld) (the UCPR) and whether it could determine the ‘net result’ of two orders (each order made in […]
ReadmoreCan parties to a mortgage contract out of a statutory limitation period? Yes, according to the High Court
Dismissing an appeal from the Supreme Court of Queensland, the High Court of Australia in Price v Spoor[1] considered three principle questions: Whether parties to a mortgage can agree that the mortgagor will not plead a defence of statutory time limitation, or whether such an agreement is void and unenforceable as contrary to public policy; […]
ReadmoreImpact on mortgagees of a bankruptcy trustee’s disclaimer of mortgaged land
A mortgagee may be faced with a situation where the mortgagor becomes bankrupt and the trustee, in which the property then vests, disclaims the mortgaged property. We outline the process a mortgagee is required to follow when a mortgaged property has been disclaimed and summarise the key issues considered by the Court. Click below to […]
Readmore‘A reasonable and commercial construction?’ Patent time extensions after Ono Pharmaceuticals
The Federal Court of Australia has ordered the Commissioner of Patents to grant Bristol Myer Squibb (BMS) a patent term extension (PTE) for cancer drug Opdivo until 2031, providing certainty to industry around Australia’s intellectual property regime. Background BMS and Ono Pharmaceutical sought judicial review by the Federal Court of Australia after the Australian Patents […]
ReadmoreNew wave of litigation expected to hit Australia’s eroding shoreline
Last week, the Federal Court of Australia embarked on what is predicted to be a landmark decision, in the matter of AGL v Greenpeace Australia Pacific (Greenpeace). The case involves allegations by AGL that Greenpeace infringed its trademark rights and copyright when it featured AGL’s logo in a recent ad campaign, designed to pressure the […]
ReadmorePPSA: extension of time to register
The last 12 months has seen a number of court applications being made for an extension of time to register a PPSA security interest. In the following article, we summarise the key issues considered by the courts and provide practical tips for any secured party who finds themselves out of time to correctly register their […]
ReadmoreTimely reminder for companies to lodge their financial reports
Recent prosecutions and convictions obtained by the corporate regulator serve as a timely reminder for companies of the importance of lodging financial reports. The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) recently prosecuted and obtained convictions against three companies for failing to lodge annual financial reports with ASIC within the specified period after the end of […]
ReadmoreRe Cullen Group: When not contesting an application and agreeing to abide an order of the court can be… costly
In Re Cullen Group,[1] the Supreme Court of Queensland considered the determination of a preliminary question regarding the insolvency of Cullen Group Australia Pty Ltd (Cullen Group), which was placed into liquidation approximately four years prior to the hearing date. The issue of insolvency was relatively uncontroversial and, as noted by Justice Martin, “was not […]
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