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Overview
With Australia having weathered the economic downturn better than many countries, 2010 and 2011 brought renewed vigour to the corporate transactional space, largely being driven by Asian investment, most notably from India and China. Australian states with strong energy or natural resources sectors have been particularly busy, and related legal work has burgeoned.
The major players nationally - Allens Arthur Robinson, Freehills, Clayton Utz, Blake Dawson, Mallesons Stephen Jaques and Minter Ellison - continue to attract top-end corporate deals, such as AXA SA and AMP’s joint bid to acquire AXA Asia Pacific Holdings, or the Singapore Exchange’s proposed takeover of the ASX.
The maturity of Australia’s legal market has seen a number of very strong mid-tier firms fighting for market share, providing ‘City-quality work at competitive prices’. This has seen major instructions going to high-quality regional firms such as Brisbane-based McCullough Robertson. Another recent trend has been “the rise of the boutiques”, and it was interesting to note Clifford Chance’s decision to absorb two reputable boutique firms (Chang Pistilli & Simmons, and Cochrane Lishman Carson Luscombe) rather than attempt a tie-up with one of the full-service national players. Another notable move was Gilbert + Tobin’s absorption of Perth-based Blakiston & Crabb, which brought to the fold its strong focus on energy.
Search News and Articles
Press releases
Legal Developments worldwide
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Trade marks enforceable in relation to the goods for which they are registered
Legal Update No. 325 Goltsblat BLP advises of the publication of Resolution of the Presidium of the Russian Supreme Court No. 8817/11 of 29 November 2011 upholding decisions of three lower courts in relation to a case on early termination of legal protection for the VECHERNIE trade mark with respect to goods under ICGS class 05 "pharmaceuticals" and "dietary substances for medical purposes" because the trade mark has been used during production and sale of biologically active supplements that are not on the registered list of goods. -
Supreme Arbitration Court supports recovery of input VAT on general production costs
Legal Update No. 317 Goltsblat BLP advises of publication of Supreme Arbitration Court Resolution No. 3844/11 dated 25 October 2011 on the case of OOO Tulatsement . The Resolution confirms the possibility to recover input VAT on repairs to another person’s property, even if the taxpayer has no right to such property and other people or entities may also use such repair results. -
Contemplating your future?
by Samantha Grimes- ISOLAS -
Alcohol brand owners might be allowed to advertise on Norwegian TV
Norway is on the verge of involuntarily allowing the advertising of alcoholic beverages on television, contrary to the country’s strict alcohol policy. This change, which may take place as a result of pressure from the EU Commission, would have a significant impact for owners of alcohol brands. -
New EU Stability Mechanism Treaty on strengthening fiscal discipline and convergence
by Christos Floridis -
New Leniency Program for Suspected Concerted Actions
A leniency program for potential unlawful actions constituting “concerted action” under the ROC Fair Trade Act of 2011 (the “FTA”) was recently instituted towards the end of 2011, due in part to discussions between the Taiwan Fair Trade Commission (“TFTC”) and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). -
Response to Consultation on the Draft Overseas Pension Schemes Regulations 2012
We are a firm of advocates practising in Guernsey and regularly advise on issues arising from pension arrangements established or administered from Guernsey. Based on our experience and interaction with our clients, we are writing to you in response to HMRC’s invitation to consult on the Draft Overseas Pension Schemes (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2012 (the “Draft Regulations”) issued by HMRC on 6 December 2011. -
Update of fund legislation brings UCITS IV to Gibraltar
Anthony Jimenez, fund lawyer at Hassans Law Firm, reports on behalf of GFIA to review the recently enacted Financial Services (Collective Investment Schemes) Act 2011 (CIS Act 2011) and its key provisions with regards to the UCITS IV regime.- Hassans -
Changes to list of approved English language tests are made by the UKBA
It has been announced by the UKBA that the list of approved English language tests for those individuals applying under tiers 1,2 and 4 of the points based system has been amended. One of the main changes is the lowering of the TOEFL points score against the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR). TOEFL now includes scores for spouse and partner applications. -
Important information about London 2012 released by the UKBA
Important information about the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games has been published online by the UKBA. With the UKBA expecting to carry out security checks on more than 380,000 workers and participants, it has set out detailed information for those individuals who will be travelling to the UK for the event. The information is divided into the following categories:
Press Releases worldwide
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Sixth AP Fund divests Xelerated to Marvell
The Sixth Swedish National Pension Fund (Sixth AP Fund) and the other shareholders have sold their holding in Xelerated to Marvell. -
Joost Fanoy strengthens the antitrust & public procurement practice at BarentsKrans
The Hague, February 2012 – As of February 1, 2012 Joost Fanoy has joined BarentsKrans' Antitrust & Public Procurement Practice Group as a senior associate. -
Delphi Östergötland gets new managing partner
From 1 January this year, Delphi gets a new managing partner for Linköping and Norrköping. Oscar Brandin has been with Delphi since 1999 and succeeds Christopher Bona who is stepping down after six years as managing partner.- Delphi -
High Court to rule on Bindmans “locked-in syndrome” case – an issue of interest worldwide!
The case of a severely-disabled 57-year-old man who wants a judge to allow a doctor to “lawfully” end his life reached the High Court on Monday. -
Bindmans immigration lawyer Liz Barratt backs film about Aboriginal Elder
Bindmans client Francis Firebrace is one of Australia’s most original indigenous storytellers and an Aboriginal Elder. -
Carey Olsen delivers an insolvency master class to trust practitioners
More than 90 trust and insolvency practitioners received a master class in various insolvency scenarios relating to Guernsey trusts at a breakfast seminar run by Carey Olsen on Wednesday 18 January at St Pierre Park Hotel. -
The French Competition Authority authorized the merger between the two cooperative...
agri-food groups Agrial and Elle & Vire on October 10, 2011 -
Hengeler Mueller advises bank syndicate on refinancing of Schaeffler Group
Schaeffler AG, a renowned supplier of the automotive industry and the world's leading supplier of mounting rolling bearings and linear products, has concluded a new loan agreement of € 8 billion with a bank syndicate comprising BNP Paribas, Commerzbank, Deutsche Bank, HSBC, JP Morgan, LBBW, Royal Bank of Scotland and UniCredit. -
NYC Marathon raises 18,000pounds for charity
Having completed the New York Marathon Chris Pitaluga and Yvonne Chu-Feetham raised £18,000 for charity - he has donated to RICC £10,000, to Pathway Through Pain £5,000 and to Cancer Relief £3,000. He presented the cheques to the representatives from the various charities (all in the picture).- Hassans -
Penningtons boosts healthcare practice with key partner hire
London and South East law firm Penningtons Solicitors LLP is pleased to announce that it has recruited John Hargreaves to head its healthcare team. John joins Penningtons as a partner from Stephenson Harwood, where he had led the health and care group for the past five years. He will be based at Penningtons' City office.