By: Mathew Francis, Rebecca Scott, James Dymock and Alison Cupples Perpetual Trust Ltd v Cooke [2026] NZCA 349 Background Mrs Cooke died in March 2017. Her two adult children (Mr Cooke and Mrs Panhuis) were the original executors of the estate and trustees of the testamentary trusts established by her will. The estate’s main assets […]
We recently caught up with Lucille Stewart, Wotton Kearney’s newest Special Counsel in Adelaide, about her move to the firm, her South Australian insurance experience, and what she is looking forward to in her new role. The strategic appointment of Lucille as Special Counsel in WK’s General Liability group builds on the strength of the […]
By: Filip Nikolic, Mathew Francis, Emily Whiteside and Alison Cupples Introduction On 9 July 2026, the Regulatory Systems (Occupational Regulation) Amendment Bill received Royal Assent, introducing a series of targeted amendments to New Zealand’s Lawyers and Conveyancers Act 2006 (LCA). The changes are primarily designed to improve the efficiency of the complaints process and strengthen the […]
By: Leah Mooney, Georgie Austin and Isabelle Ferrali Introduction Bondi Icebergs founder Maurice Terzini has commenced proceedings in the NSW Supreme Court against Nine Entertainment and his former wife, Emma Addams, in what could be the first substantial case invoking the newly legislated tort of serious invasion of privacy. According to the statement of claim, Terzini […]
By: Antony Holden, Caroline Laband, Michael Cavanaugh and Sophia Lynch We’re excited to share our first update for 2026 in the D&O, Financial Institutions and Regulatory environment. The aim of these regular updates is to help you stay ahead of fast-moving changes. This snapshot distils the decisions, enforcement action and reform momentum that we think […]
By: Yen Seah and Bella Marazita ASIC v Bekier (Liability Judgment) [2026] FCA 196 If you read nothing else, read this: The Federal Court’s 500-page liability judgment in ASIC v Bekier delivers a clear message for directors and officers: passive oversight is not enough. Executives must escalate serious risks – failing to act on red flags can breach […]
By: Amanda Beattie, Jonathon Ferraro and Madeleine Wright Byrnes v Origin Energy (No 2) 2026 VSC 97 Another first for the Victorian GCO regime In a judgment delivered by Justice Waller on 11 March 2026, the Supreme Court of Victoria determined the first application to amend a Group Costs Order (GCO) pursuant to s 33ZDA(1) […]
By: Misha Heneghan, Richie Flinn, Neil Beadle, Matt Hutcheson and the WK Statutory Liability team. RH and JY Trust v WorkSafe New Zealand [2026] NZCA 12 The Court of Appeal has, by majority found that a trust, distinct from the individual trustees, can be prosecuted under the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015. The […]
By: Georgie Austin, Clare McNamara and Zoe Jones At a glance On 8 January 2026, the Governor-General issued draft Letters Patent establishing a Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion. The Commission has been tasked with addressing issues set out in its Terms of Reference, which are wide-ranging and encompass not only the terror event itself, […]
By: Rosemary Marando and Caitilin Watson Roohizadegan v Technology One Ltd (No 6) [2025] FCA 1619 At a glance The Federal Court has overturned a previous $5.2M ruling, dismissing Mr Roohizadegan’s General Protections claim after a six‑year litigation battle. The Court found the dismissal was due to performance, not disability, alleged workplace rights, or incentive entitlements. […]
