When the photocopier turned up, there was no Procedural Direction requiring disclosure that a brief had been duplicated rather than transcribed by hand. The fax machine, the word processor, email, electronic filing: each one quietly revolutionised legal practice, and each time the profession absorbed the change without requiring an entirely new regulatory apparatus. The use …
An early inheritance advancement in Australia has become an increasingly popular concept, particularly due to high cost of living in Australia. Parents, grandparents and extended family members may be more willing to help their loved ones by allowing an advance on accessing their inheritance. Although it sounds ideal and complication free, it introduces different concerns …
Early Inheritance Advancement Australia: The Hidden Trigger Behind Estate Battles Read More »
Your parent has died. A few days later, a will surfaces. You are not in it. The family home, the savings, the investments, all of it has gone to a spouse your parent married a few years ago. You receive nothing. Is that legal? And if it is, what can you actually do? In New …
Disinherited by a New Spouse? Family Provision Claims in NSW Read More »
When clients come to us for estate planning, one of the most common sources of confusion is the Binding Death Benefit Nomination, or BDBN. Many people assume that their superannuation works just like their Will. They think they can leave their super to whoever they choose, only to discover that the law imposes strict limits on …
Binding Death Benefit Nomination: Who Can Actually Receive Your Superannuation Read More »
What Shinohara Changes Everything A landmark appellate ruling reshapes how courts treat dissipated and disposed-of assets in Australian family property proceedings Glance Every generation or so, an appellate court delivers a judgment that does not merely resolve the dispute before it: it changes the law for every dispute that follows. Shinohara & Shinohara [2025] FedCFamC1A …
Addbacks Family Law Shinohara: What the Case Changes Read More »
A falling branch, an unguarded drop zone and a $70,000 fine – what this sentencing decision tells arborists, tree surgeons and WHS practitioners about the cost of a missing spotter SafeWork NSW v General Forest Tree Surgeon WHS case – the case at a glance On a November morning in Elderslie, NSW, a falling branch …
SafeWork NSW v General Forest Tree Surgeon WHS case: $70,000 fine over missing spotter Read More »
When getting judgment doesn’t mean you won the case The Star Entertainment Sydney Properties Pty Ltd v Buildcorp Group Pty Ltd trading as Buildcorp Interiors (No 2) (Costs) [2026] NSWSC 190 In what Justice Rees described as “fairly disastrous proceedings”, The Star Casino learned an expensive lesson about litigation strategy, the importance of suing the right …
Star Casino Costs Case: When Your Damages Win Doesn’t Cover the Costs Read More »
You’ve bought a faulty car, a caravan that leaks, or an appliance that stops working after a few months. You know your rights under the Australian Consumer Law. You ask for a refund. And then the pushback starts. In our experience, most manufacturers and suppliers don’t simply say no. They give you a reason, often …
ACL Refund Rights Australia: What Manufacturers Say And Why They Are Wrong Read More »
The trade mark dispute between Katy Perry and Katie Perry has become one of Australia’s most closely watched intellectual property cases. The case has drawn strong public attention because it involves a celebrity. It also offers important lessons about brand protection, reputation, and trade mark strategy. In Taylor v Killer Queen LLC [2026] HCA 5, …
Hot N Cold: When Celebrity Brands Collide with Trade Marks Read More »
How to reduce the risk of contested wills in NSW is an issue more families are facing as wealth passes between generations and estate disputes become more common. While no estate plan can completely eliminate the risk of a legal challenge, careful planning and clear communication can greatly reduce the chances of a will being …
How to Reduce the Risk of Contested Wills in NSW Read More »