D&O, Financial Institutions and Regulatory Update (to May 2026)

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 […]

From global trends to regulatory reality: regulatory and risk implications of climate change

By: Amanda Beattie, Charu Stevenson and Zoe Jones Overview In the first two articles in this series (here and here), we examined the rapid expansion of climate-related litigation globally and traced how those international developments are reshaping the Australian litigation landscape. Climate litigation is no longer confined to environmental approvals or public law challenges, but […]

Class Actions in Focus: Defining Decisions in 2025 and Trends to Watch

Over 1,000 class actions filed, $1.5 billion in settlements, and a landmark Robodebt settlement that made history. 2025 was a milestone year for class actions in Australia, and 2026 is shaping up to be just as consequential. Our class actions experts unpack some key developments and trend themes in their latest article – Class Actions […]

ASIC’s case against the directors of Star Entertainment: directors’ duties through a modern lens

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 […]

Another first for the Victorian GCO regime: Varying a Group Costs Order

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) […]

ASIC’s FIIG Enforcement Action Through a Privacy and Cyber Governance Lens

By: Kieran Doyle, Nicole Gabryk, Matt O’Keefe, Josh Simonis and Stefanie Constance The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) has secured a Federal Court ruling requiring FIIG Securities Limited (FIIG) to pay $2.5 million in civil penalties for longstanding failures in cyber security and data protection.1 The ruling marks the first time the Federal Court […]

Wotton Kearney boosts Asia Cyber and Financial Lines practice with senior Singapore hire

Wotton Kearney has expanded its presence in Asia with the appointment of cyber and financial lines expert Pippa Austin as Special Counsel in Singapore. Pippa first joined Wotton Kearney as part of the Financial Lines team in Sydney in 2017. She now returns with two team members to advance Wotton Kearney’s offering in the provision of cyber […]

High Court shuts down solicitors’ CFOs in the Federal Court

By: Amanda Beattie and Gavin Davies In a decision that is bound to disappoint plaintiff law firms but delight litigation funders, the High Court has quashed the Full Federal Court’s decision to allow solicitor’s CFOs in the Federal Court in the Blue Sky Class Action (see Kain v R&B Investments Pty Ltd Ernst & Young […]

The new Aged Care Act 2024 (Cth): What do “responsible persons” and their insurers need to know?

By: Yen Seah and Samantha Younane At a glance The Aged Care Act 2024 (Cth) comes into effect on 1 November 2025. The Act imposes a new statutory duty on directors and other persons responsible for the executive decisions of aged care providers. This includes those who have authority or responsibility for (or significant influence […]

Davis v Wilson: The bar for successful shareholder class actions gets higher and higher

By: Amanda Beattie and Zoe Jones At a glance Following its decisions in other shareholder class actions late 2023 and 2024, the Federal Court has handed down yet another unfavourable decision for shareholders (Davis v Wilson [2025] FCA 108). The claim alleged that Quintis’ CEO, Frank Wilson, and its auditor, Ernst & Young, engaged in […]