Latest publications
COVID-19 | Redundancy payments during the crisis
Michael Byrnes, Partner and Emily Capener, Solicitor provide an overview of two recent cases that considered the payment of redundancy during the COVID-19 crisis. Redundancies are generally driven by factors such as technological advances, company restructuring and business closures. Now, of course, employers and employees alike need to deal with the…
COVID-19 | Making a Will in times of emergency
COVID-19 has significantly changed the way we do ordinary tasks. With the increasing restrictions on travel, leaving the home and gatherings, tasks we used to do everyday with ease have become more difficult. This is even more so when it comes to making your Will. Generally speaking, a Will needs to be…
COVID-19 | A Short Guide to the JobKeeper Payment and JobKeeper Flexibility
On 8 April 2020, Federal Parliament passed the Coronavirus Economic Response Package (Payments and Benefits) Bill 2020 and the Coronavirus Economic Response Package Omnibus (Measures No. 2) Bill 2020. Michael Byrnes, Partner and Emily Capener, Solicitor explains what this means for you and how your business can access these benefits. THE JOBKEEPER PAYMENT …
COVID-19 | The Commercial Tenancies Code | 8 April 2020
In our previous update, we outlined some of the measures the Prime Minister intended to implement to provide support and relief for commercial tenants and landlords in financial distress as a result of the COVID-19 crisis. On 7 April 2020, the National Cabinet announced a mandatory code of conduct (click here) (Commercial Tenancies Code)…
Defining An ‘Officer’ Under the Corporations Act: Case Note — Australian Securities and Investments Commission v King [2020] HCA 4
Defining An ‘Officer’ Under the Corporations Act: Case Note — Australian Securities and Investments Commission v King [2020] HCA 4 Introduction On 11 March 2020 the High Court of Australia handed down judgment in the case of Australian Securities and Investments Commission v King [2020] HCA 4, with the judgment providing a long-awaited clear…
COVID-19 | NSW Parliament Updates Legislation Relating to Long Service Leave Entitlements
In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, NSW parliament has passed a number of bills seeking to alleviate some of the hardships caused by the crisis. One significant implication of COVID-19 in the employment sphere concerns employee access to paid leave entitlements, such as annual leave and long service leave. This becomes particularly…
Parenting arrangements during COVID-19
The phrase ‘unprecedented’ has been used consistently in the recent weeks and this is particularly true for Family Law in the midst of the COVID-19 outbreak. As Australia’s policies continue to evolve each week, many separated parents who have children moving from one household to another are facing increasing confusion. The Court…
COVID-19 | Changes to the Foreign Acquisitions and Takeovers Act 1975 | 31 March 2020
On 29 March 2020, the Hon. Josh Frydenberg MP, Treasurer, announced changes to the way foreign investment is reviewed in Australia.The two key changes are: All monetary screening thresholds in the Foreign Acquisitions and Takeovers Act 1975 (Act) have been reduced to $0 meaning all proposed foreign investment into Australia (unless…
COVID-19 | Property Updates & Alerts
COVID-19 | Changes to the Foreign Acquisitions and Takeovers Act 1975 | 31 March 2020On 29 March 2020, the Hon. Josh Frydenberg MP, Treasurer, announced changes to the way foreign investment is reviewed in Australia. View the key changes here.COVID-19 Advocacy Alert | Loan relief measures for commercial landlords | 3…
COVID-19 | Advocacy Alert | Loan relief measures for commercial landlords | 30 March 2020
Further to our updates on 26 March 2020 and earlier today, the Prime Minister announced last night that the National Cabinet agreed to a moratorium on evictions over the next six months for commercial and residential tenancies in financial distress who are unable to meet their commitments due to the impact…