Latest publications
Can I disinherit my wayward child from my will?… You may be surprised!
In Brief Who can make a claim against your estate? What needs to be established by the applicant? What will the court consider? Read on as we answer these important questions along with proactive strategies to help protect your estate. Who can make a claim? Chapter 3 of the Succession Act 2006 (Act) empowers certain…
Swimming pool compliance legislation delay: A sensible outcome
In Brief Legislative changes were to come into effect from 29 April 2014 requiring swimming pool compliance certificates to be annexed to contracts for the sale or lease of land. The Office of Local Government announced on 28 March 2014 that the implementation of these changes would be postponed for a further 1…
How to avoid paying for employee non-work related injuries
In Brief Employers are increasingly becoming aware that allowing an employee to return to work after suffering an injury, especially a non-work related one, can be risky business. If an employee returns to work before they are fit to do so and consequently aggravates his or her condition, the employer may find…
e‑Conveyancing — The “e” stands for “exciting”!
In Brief Anyone who has discovered the highs and lows of dealing with exchange and settlement in relation to real property knows how delicate and unreliable the process can be. Enter e‑conveyancing. Wendy Conceicao, Associate and manager of our Conveyancing portfolio, and Euge Power, solicitor, look at the reliability and other…
Germany bans employers from contacting employees outside of work hours
In Brief It has been reported that in July 2013, German born Chief Executive of Swisscom, Carsten Schloter, sadly committed suicide just weeks after providing a candid interview to the Swiss media which provided an insight into the increased pressures and stress he felt caused by modern communication systems. In one media…
$105,000 awarded for defamatory tweets
In Brief The District Court of NSW has ordered a Defendant who posted defamatory statements on Twitter and Facebook about a local school teacher, to pay $105,000 in compensatory damages .This decision, the first of its kind in Australia, sends a clear message that personal attacks using social media will not be tolerated. The Facts…
Selling a property with a pool? Dive right into compliance
In Brief Just because summer has come to an end doesn’t mean it’s time to forget about your swimming pool for the year. As at 29 April 2014 all properties listed for sale or for lease with a swimming pool (including strata properties if there is a pool in the common property) must…
Can a Change in Required Skills and Competencies Make an Existent Role Redundant?
IN BRIEF The Full Bench of the Fair Work Commission has recently concluded that where an employer wants to increase the skill level of a particular role for operational based reasons, it may do so by making the existing position redundant and replacing it with a new position that meets the businesses operational…
Strange Bedfellows — Minimising risks in Post Merger Integration
In Brief Recent studies have shown that close to 50% of post merger integrations fare poorly. While there are no hard and fast rules that will guarantee a successful merger, in this article we look at the risks involved and some of the ways to minimise those risks and ensure a greater likelihood…
What is the role of the support person in a disciplinary meeting?
Employers usually know that they have to allow an employee to have a support person accompany them whilst they are being counselled. However, what is less clear is the role of that support person in the meeting. Last week, the Full Bench handed down a decision that clarified what the role of the…