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."  

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."

Thomson Geer has hired top Queensland based technology and cyber lawyer Hayden Delaney and his team of eight, bolstering the firm's national Intellectual Property and Technology team and providing greater depth to the needs of clients. Hayden and the team will join Thomson Geer in the new year, with Hayden joining as a Partner. He and his team are highly regarded and considered one of Queensland's best technology law practices. Thomson Geer Chief Executive Partner Adrian Tembel said: "The technology sector is rapidly evolving, with themes around digitisation, artificial intelligence and cyber security of keen interest for clients. With Hayden and his team on board, we will be able to better serve our clients on such critical issues." Hayden advises on complex technology transactions, privacy, cyber security and data protection, intellectual property strategy and enforcement. He has been recognised in a number of legal directories including Best Lawyers in Australia for IP Law, Information Technology Law and Privacy and Data Security Law; Doyles Guide as a Leading Technology, Media and Telecommunications Lawyer in Brisbane and Queensland; and World Trademark Review's WTR 1000 as one of the world's leading trade mark professionals. World Trademark Review describes Hayden as: "One of Australia’s leading IP and technology lawyers, whose breadth of skill and experience is top notch"..."He – along with the team he supervises – is responsive, pragmatic, creative and professional; they know their stuff and deliver it in a way that suits their clients.” The team joining Thomson Geer consists of Hayden, Partner Steven Hunwicks, Special Counsel Briar Francis, Senior Associate Hannah Fas, Associates Sarah Buchanan, Thomas Copley and Monica Nery, Lawyer Jacob Currie and Paralegal Sarah Lucas. This is the second group Thomson Geer has taken out of HopgoodGanim. In 2022 Thomson Geer strengthened its Perth corporate practice by appointing resources sector specialists Paul Harley and Sarah O'Brien-Smith and their team of eight, including a mining tenement management team. Paul and Sarah joined as Partners, adding deep resources knowledge to the firm and complementing the extensive transactional experience of Thomson Geer's Perth corporate team.