Disputes

July 11, 2016

Myer Under Fire: A Lesson in Compliance and Why Cost Should Never Be Your Only Consideration in Choosing a Supplier

Myer’s Corporate Practice The Fair Work Ombudsman (FWO) has criticised department store Myer’s corporate practice. This is in relation to a cleaning contractor that it alleges underpaid workers. The rebuke serves as a warning to all corporates. There is a need to ensure all business dealings are compliant to reduce the risk of formal redress […]

June 27, 2016

Directors Risk Personal Liability for Staffing Oversight

November 12, 2014

Disorganisation Leads to $47,000 Fine

Sometimes it really doesn’t pay to be disorganised in business, particularly when you are dealing with our courts or regulatory authorities. A Melbourne gym and its former director learnt this the hard way* when the business and the former director together suffered total fines of $47,000 from the Fair Work Commission – acting as a [...]

September 14, 2014

“Workplace” Clarified by Sexual Harassment Case

In a recent decision, the Federal Court held that the term “a workplace” is broad and may include a range of venues and locations, depending upon the surrounding circumstances and the conduct of workplace participants. This case is a reminder to employees and employers of the need to keep professional and personal relationships separate. In [...]

April 25, 2014

Trademarks and Domain Names – Stopping Competitors in Their Tracks

What can you do if a competitor is using your trademark in their domain name? In this article, we focus on a case that looked specifically at this issue to help answer the important question of whether a trademark owner has the right to prevent the use of their trademark in the domain name, website […]

February 24, 2014

A Costly Failure in Record Keeping

How do you manage records of discussions you have had in relation to contracts with suppliers, clients or other business partners? A recent case involving a dispute about the “ownership” of emails of a company’s former employee shed some very interesting light on the risks of failing to have systems that keep a record of [...]