Australia

Thomson Geer has led major Australian media company Nine Entertainment Co to a landmark defamation win that saw Australia's "public interest" defence for journalists successfully applied for the first time. Australian surgeon Dr Munjed Al Muderis sued Nine and three journalists in the Federal Court of Australia over articles in The Age and Sydney Morning Herald newspapers and 60 Minutes television program in 2022 alleging they defamed him. The articles predominantly related to a procedure called osseointegration Dr Al Muderis performs on amputees, with Dr Muderis claiming the publications conveyed imputations that he inappropriately selects patients for surgery, fails to explain risks and complications, fails to provide adequate post-operative care, and is unethical and dangerous. Nine defended the reporting, arguing defences of contextual truth, honest opinion and public interest. Justice Wendy Abraham found Nine had established both contextual truth and the public interest defences and dismissed Dr Muderis's case. She did not consider the honest opinion defence. “I accept the evidence of the journalists that they each held a subjective belief that the publications were in the public interest,” Justice Abraham said. “The positive media coverage his practice had enjoyed needed correcting, and the investigation revealed another side of his practice.” The Thomson Geer team was led by Partner John-Paul Cashen, who said: "The judgment is vindication for the reporting by Nine's journalists and was an important test for Australia's public interest defence. "This decision will have far reaching consequences for investigative media in Australia and may make those who want to sue for defamation consider carefully their position." The team included Partner Marlia Saunders, Senior Associate Samantha McGeoch, and Associates Sophie Meixner and Isabelle Gwinner. They were assisted by Lawyers Natasha Connors, Nina Tierney, Simon Pandoulis, Natasya Currie, Reina Nakamura, and Jonathan Li and Media Team Manager Rachel Stellas. The team briefed barristers Matt Collins, KC, Declan Roche, SC, Claire Roberts, Melissa Marcus and Sandip Mukerjea for the trial, while Renee Enbom, KC, Lyndelle Barnett, Bianca Gallifuoco, Hannah Ryan and John Heard were also engaged at various stages of the case. Nine's internal lawyers were Kiah Officer and Larina Alick. The trial ran for 14 weeks between September 2023 and June 2024 with Nine calling approximately 50 witnesses. Dr Al Muderis has signalled he will appeal the judgment.  

Global law firm Ashurst and major Australian law firm Thomson Geer announce that Ashurst's Canberra office is moving to Thomson Geer. The office, renowned for its Commonwealth Government practice, will officially become part of Thomson Geer in early July, 2025. The team joining Thomson Geer includes seven Partners – Rob Andersen, Mathew Baldwin, Melanie McKean, Steve McKinney, Sarah Ross-Smith, Elissa Speight and Angela Summersby. These partners bring with them decades of experience working for a wide range of Commonwealth clients, which they look forward to continuing with Thomson Geer. Ashurst and Thomson Geer are working closely with their Commonwealth clients to ensure a seamless transition of work for relevant client matters. Lea Constantine, Ashurst's Head of Region for Australia said: "As a consequence of a review of our strategic priorities, Ashurst has decided to wind down its work for the Commonwealth under one of its panel arrangements." "Once we reached this decision, we were pleased to connect with Thomson Geer, a major Australian law firm that has a commitment to high quality and cultural standards. This will ensure the Commonwealth Government will continue to receive the very best legal advice and services, as they have come to expect from our Canberra team. Meanwhile, we are confident that all our people moving to Thomson Geer will continue to have the very best career opportunities." "We thank Thomson Geer for working collaboratively and professionally with us on this transition. We also thank our Canberra colleagues for their many years of hard work and dedication to our firm. They leave with our best wishes and our full support to continue their outstanding work for the Commonwealth Government." Thomson Geer Chief Executive Partner Adrian Tembel said: "Ashurst has built an outstanding Commonwealth Government legal practice. I congratulate them on what they have created. We will build on their success and invest further to ensure that this practice continues to be the 'go to' team for complex Commonwealth Government legal work across all areas of the Whole of Australian Government legal services panel. We look forward to welcoming the excellent lawyers at all levels of the Ashurst Canberra team to Thomson Geer." "This move reflects the next stage of ongoing evolution of the Australian legal services market."  

Ironbridge Legal, a Sydney based elite law firm, recognised as a leader in both disputes and insolvency in Australia, has remarkably strengthened its practice with the appointment of Chief Operations Officer, Julianne Clark, and Partner, Blake Shaw, bringing strategic expertise and momentum to the firm's growth trajectory. Ms Clark joins Ironbridge Legal with over 25 years of experience in law firm administration, operational management and strategy execution. Ms Clark has previously been executive assistant, for eight years, to a former Managing Partner of global law firm, Eversheds, and was more recently Senior Manager, Operations and Administration, Australia for the US equities-backed financing firm, Equities First. Ironbridge Legal headhunted Ms Clark as a strategic hire, with a view to assisting the firm with its plan to become Australia’s first-choice, go-to firm for complex, bet-the-farm disputes and insolvency related matters - serving domestic and global clients. With this goal, the firm is embarking on a significant growth plan which will see a number of key strategic hires over the next four years. Jules said: “I am excited to begin my role as Chief Operating Officer at Ironbridge Legal. I will commit to improving the company's operational effectiveness and making sure that strategic plans are carried out to improve the services we provide. This will aid our ambitious growth plans as well as contribute to improving upon ‘excellence’ in the firm. My history of assisting managing partners in highly-successful global firms such as BCG and Eversheds, as well as being in boardrooms, has equipped me with insights to take Ironbridge Legal from great to even greater. Joining such a vibrant and driven team truly excites me, and I look forward to playing my part in enabling our clients to achieve outstanding outcomes, with the work I contribute to behind the scenes.” As part of Ironbridge Legal’s strategic growth plans, with the assistance of executive search firm, Pacifc Talent Partners, it assessed around 160 insolvency lawyers in the Sydney market. The criteria included proven intellectual and commercial prowess, a highly portable and profitable practice, and cultural ft. The firm’s high approval rating, demonstrated by deep independent research, together with the reputation of its founder, Trevor Withane, winner of Lawyers Weekly Insolvency and Restructuring Partner of the Year, saw partners from global, national and boutique firms aim for prize. Mr Shaw, who grew up at Kemp Strang, rising to the ranks of partner at the law firm, Bridges, saw off the competition. Mr Shaw brings in 20 years of commendable experience in restructuring and insolvency matters, especially with matters having a contentious edge. Blake said: “I am truly delighted to be joining Ironbridge Legal as a Partner. Ironbridge has earned a strong reputation for building lasting client relationships, and I am excited to contribute to that legacy, particularly within the insolvency and restructuring space. I am looking forward to working closely with the talented team at Ironbridge and building on the firm’s reputation by delivering consistently outstanding outcomes for our clients.” Ironbridge Legal was founded in 2019 by globally-renowned lawyer, Trevor Withane, with the vision of building an elite specialist disputes and insolvency only law firm. In just 6 years, Ironbridge Legal has expanded from a small, highly focused team to a multi-office, award-winning practice that has been recognised in the The Legal 500, Doyles, Lawyers Weekly awards and other leading directories, while maintaining its high-powered elite boutique DNA. The firm is regularly instructed to advise on high-stakes matters, and has clients on its roster such as PwC liquidators, Sydney Fish Market, Bosch, Evoke (William Hill), Gaw Capital, and a wholly-owned German government subsidiary. Trevor said that this growth in the team meets rising client demand for our services and reinforces the firm’s assurance to delivering top-tier expertise. The firm is committed to growing in a way that enables it to take the most proactive approach to clients matters and provide real-time advice. Trevor said: “This expansion, driven by the growing demand for superior legal representation, is a positive move for the entire ecosystem, especially for both current and future clients. As a firm known globally for elite performance and speciality in high-stakes disputes and insolvency matters, it signals a stronger commitment to meeting complex challenges with precision, agility and depth. This step makes sure that the firm can keep elevating its levels of service while also becoming ready to meet the changing needs of a market that is increasingly sophisticated.” Trevor’s vision for Ironbridge Legal is to raise the standards in legal representation, and the way law firms defend clients’ priorities. “Our vision is to set new benchmarks for legal representation. We believe clients deserve more than just technical expertise - that is a given at Ironbridge Legal. Clients deserve proactive, strategic and unwavering advocacy. At Ironbridge Legal we ensure that excellence, integrity and innovation remains the foundation of our work, with every matter approached with the highest level of dedication and focus. We seek to reshape expectations of what modern law firms can deliver and the way they protect their clients’ interests.” Trevor’s vision aligns with how the Ironbridge Legal is viewed in the legal market. It is a well-known and rapidly expanding boutique practice that is changing the Australian legal landscape for disputes and insolvency work. Its trophy case of accolades and inclusion in top-tier industry rankings demonstrate that a focused organisation can achieve exceptional status. Peers and clients agree that Ironbridge Legal provides a unique blend of boutique attention and big-firm expertise, producing results that are on par with, and often exceed, the best in the industry. Elliot Long, Managing Partner of Pacific Talent Partners, said that Ironbridge Legal exemplifies the new wave of agile firms delivering top-tier outcomes while drawing leading senior talent. Elliot said: “Our recent support of Ironbridge Legal has revealed that the firm is perfectly placed to take advantage of a growing trend. Clients of law firms are increasingly seeking challenger firms that are more nimble and adaptable. The days of the hands-off Partner are over; clients want top-tier matter delivery combined with direct access to the most senior people in the firm. This is why top talent such as Blake and Julianne can see their future with Ironbridge Legal.” About Ironbridge Legal: Ironbridge Legal is a Sydney and Melbourne-based boutique law firm that focuses on disputes and insolvency matters. Working with clients and referral partners in several jurisdictions, the firm maintains a global presence. The award-winning firm, ranked also in Doyles and The Legal 500, is known for its agility, depth of knowledge, and ability to provide high-impact solutions for complicated disputes, asset tracing, restructuring, and insolvency matters. Trevor Withane, a nationally and globally recognised award-winning partner, leads the firm. For the second consecutive year, Trevor was named Lawyers Weekly's Restructuring and Insolvency Partner of the Year (2025). Ironbridge Legal has also won numerous industry accolades, including the Australasian Law Awards (2022) for Boutique Law Firm of the Year. In some of the most important cases in the nation, Ironbridge Legal has represented directors, corporations, fnanciers, high-net-worth individuals, and insolvency professionals. With a global perspective and a solid track record, the firm keeps establishing itself as a standard for contemporary boutique practice by fusing specialised knowledge with profitable, client-focused results.

Global law firm Ashurst and major Australian law firm Thomson Geer announce that Ashurst's Canberra office is moving to Thomson Geer.  The office, renowned for its Commonwealth Government practice, will officially become part of Thomson Geer in early July, 2025. The team joining Thomson Geer includes seven Partners – Rob Andersen, Mathew Baldwin, Melanie McKean, Steve McKinney, Sarah Ross-Smith, Elissa Speight and Angela Summersby.  These partners bring with them decades of experience working for a wide range of Commonwealth clients, which they look forward to continuing with Thomson Geer.  Ashurst and Thomson Geer are working closely with their Commonwealth clients to ensure a seamless transition of work for relevant client matters. Lea Constantine, Ashurst's Head of Region for Australia said: "As a consequence of a review of our strategic priorities, Ashurst has decided to wind down its work for the Commonwealth under one of its panel arrangements." "Once we reached this decision, we were pleased to connect with Thomson Geer, a major Australian law firm that has a commitment to high quality and cultural standards.  This will ensure the Commonwealth Government will continue to receive the very best legal advice and services, as they have come to expect from our Canberra team.  Meanwhile, we are confident that all our people moving to Thomson Geer will continue to have the very best career opportunities." "We thank Thomson Geer for working collaboratively and professionally with us on this transition.  We also thank our Canberra colleagues for their many years of hard work and dedication to our firm.  They leave with our best wishes and our full support to continue their outstanding work for the Commonwealth Government." Thomson Geer Chief Executive Partner Adrian Tembel said: "Ashurst has built an outstanding Commonwealth Government legal practice.  I congratulate them on what they have created.  We will build on their success and invest further to ensure that this practice continues to be the 'go to' team for complex Commonwealth Government legal work across all areas of the Whole of Australian Government legal services panel.  We look forward to welcoming the excellent lawyers at all levels of the Ashurst Canberra team to Thomson Geer." "This move reflects the next stage of ongoing evolution of the Australian legal services market."