5 ways to make better contracts

A contractor agreement determines who pays when work goes wrong. Independent contractors carry their own commercial risk, unlike employees, so the agreement allocates that risk in detail. Liability commonly arises from breach of contract, intellectual property infringement, and breaches of confidentiality. Indemnities, liability caps and insurance requirements are the three tools that allocate it. Australian law puts limits on that allocation. Consumer guarantees under the Australian Consumer Law apply automatically, and no contract can exclude them.

In her 2026 Bathurst Lecture at the Supreme Court of NSW, Honey, I Shrunk the Director Pool, Rebecca Maslen-Stannage, Chair and Senior Partner at HSF Kramer, explores a critical question for Australia's public markets...

Senior leaders from Australia's not-for-profit sector gathered to discuss the evolving challenges and opportunities facing their organisations in 2026. The boardroom lunch explored critical issues including governance frameworks, regulatory compliance, workforce sustainability, NDIS reform, and the strategic implications of artificial intelligence and data management for charitable organisations navigating an increasingly complex operating environment.

FY26 saw a steady stream of successful control transactions despite geopolitical tensions and shifting monetary policy settings. Mega deals returned to levels in line with the five-year average, private equity bidding increased, and total deal value rose.

Australia’s public M&A market proved its ability to adapt to uneasy market conditions in FY26, seeing $42.1 billion in deal activity across 57 transactions, according to a new report from leading global law firm...

Bartier Perry's leadership reflects on the firm's approach to balancing professional legal practice with strategic business management, highlighting recent partner appointments, regulatory changes in AML/CTF compliance, and housing reform initiatives. How does dedicated executive leadership alongside practising partners create a platform for sustainable growth while maintaining focus on exceptional client service?

Unfortunately, this is not always the case. However, with the introduction of Payday Super on 1 July 2026, understanding ongoing director liability has become even more important.

As artificial intelligence becomes deeply embedded in organisational operations and decision-making, boards face a critical governance challenge: could they explain and defend their AI use if called before a regulator or Royal Commission tomorrow? This article examines why AI governance has become a board-level issue and what evidence organisations would need to produce under regulatory scrutiny.

The Dexus v APAC decision provides important guidance on nominee directors, conflicts of duty and governance in consortium-owned entities, offering practical lessons for infrastructure, private capital and investment structures.

Last year, we wrote an article about how scheme booklets are becoming increasingly lengthy and potentially difficult for many shareholders to easily digest.