Insights

The Stanwell Decision

The Federal Court recently released its decision in respect of the AER's action against Stanwell Corporation for breach of the rebidding provisions of the National Electricity...

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The Centro decision - ASIC v Healey & Ors [2011] FCA 717

While there has been much press that the Centro decision has lifted the bar in relation to directors actively examining and questioning information contained in financial statements rather than...

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New UK Bribery Act 2010 and its impact for Australian business

As of 1 July 2011, the UK Bribery Act 2010 (the Bribery Act) comes into effect. It dramatically rewrites the UK...s bribery and anti-corruption laws, creates an extra territorial operation for...

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Australia's carbon pricing mechanism

Australia's carbon pricing mechanism Australia's carbon pricing mechanism Australia's carbon pricing mechanism Australia's carbon pricing mechanism Australia's carbon pricing mechanism Australia's...

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Directors take note: penalty notices to cover more company debts

On 5 July 2011, the Federal Government released the Tax Laws Amendment (2011 Measures No. 7) Bill 2011: companies' non-compliance with PAYG withholding and superannuation guarantee obligations (the

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South Australia security of payment legislation

In the August 2010 edition of Acumen, we outlined the key features of the new Building and Construction Industry Security of Payment Act 2009 (SA). It was anticipated that the Act would come into...

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ICANN to launch land grab in cyberspace

Are you aware of the new generic Top Level Domains launch by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN)? It has been claimed that this launch will revolutionise and change the...

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Exposure Draft - Corporations Amendment Bill 2011

In our December 2010 issue of Acumen, we published an article summarising the Exposure Draft - Corporations Amendment (Improving Accountability on Director and Executive Remuneration) Bill 2011 and...

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Consultation Paper 155: ASIC'S proposed new guidance on prospectuses

On 12 April ASIC issued a Consultation Paper and draft Regulatory Guide concerning new proposals to give guidance on the ...clear, concise and effective... requirement for prospectuses, as well as...

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Are you prepared for new laws set to affect executive remuneration practices?

The Corporations Amendment (Improving Accountability on Director and Executive Remuneration) Bill 2011 was introduced before Parliament on 23 February 2011. As the debate on the Bill was adjourned...

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Carbon markets update May 2011

This update gives an overview of two major developments in Australian carbon markets. The Carbon Price Mechanism, or carbon tax, is expected to be the foundation for emissions trading in three to...

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Improving the taxation of trust income - release of discussion paper

On 4 March 2011, the Australian Government released a discussion paper on Improving the taxation of trust income (Discussion Paper). This followed the announcement by the Assistant Treasurer on...

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Legal professional privilege: the risks with intra-corporate group legal advice

A recent Federal Court judgment in the long running Lehman Bros cdo battle royale, Wingecarribee Shire Council & Ors v Lehman Bros Aus Limited (in liq) 1, looked at, in part, the risks that arise...

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NSW Security of Payment Legislation Developments

Subcontractors now have direct rights against Principal...

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Price disclosure laws - coming to an industry near you...

On 24 March 2011, the Federal Government introduced the much-debated anti-competitive price disclosure Bill into Parliament....While the law is intended to apply to the banking sector only, there...

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Proposed Amendments to UK Takeover Code - April 2011

As foreshadowed in the December 2010 edition of Acumen, on 21 March 2011 the UK Takeover Panel Code Committee issued a Consultation Paper on a number of proposed amendments to The Takeover Code...

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Revised ASIC guidance on related party transactions and experts

On 30 March 2011, the Australian Securities and Investments Commission issued updated Regulatory Guides on Related party transactions (RG 76), Content of expert reports (RG 111) and Independence of...

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What is a 'real risk of forfeiture' or a 'genuine restriction on disposal' under the new employee sh

The new employee share scheme (ESS) provisions, contained in Division 83A of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 (Cth) (1997 Act), apply from...

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The Fortescue decision in the Full Federal Court

ASIC's victory in the Full Federal Court in ASIC v Fortescue1 fell short of being resounding. Two of the judges (Keane CJ and Emmett J) queried whether it was worth ASIC's effort given there was no

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The Personal Property Securities Act (PPSA) - key implications for manufacturers and wholesalers

The PPSA is a fundamental overhaul of the existing regime for taking and granting security over personal property (excluding land). The changes will affect nearly all businesses, particularly...

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Goodridge appeal - legal principles governing assignment and novation of contracts

The recent decision of the full bench of the Federal Court in Leveraged Equities Ltd v Goodridge1 has unanimously overturned the contentious first instance decision of Rares J2 and, in doing so...

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Goodridge v Leveraged Equities Limited: application for special leave to appeal

Mr Goodridge has lodged an application for special leave to appeal to the High Court in respect of the Full Federal Court's decision in Leveraged Equities Limited v

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Goodridge v Leveraged Equities Limited: Full Federal Court decision

The recent decision of the full bench of the Federal Court in Leveraged Equities Ltd v Goodridge1 has unanimously overturned the contentious first instance decision of Rares J2 and, in doing so...

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Nominating an independent expert - is your dispute resolution clause still effective?

Many commercial contracts provide for an independent expert to resolve disputes of a financial nature. In drafting these dispute resolution clauses it is common to provide that if the parties...

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