Latest news with #MinterEllison
The Guardian
2 days ago
- Business
- The Guardian
Victorian Liberals question funding unfair dismissal claim defence while refusing to bail out John Pesutto
Several Victorian Liberals have accused the party of 'hypocrisy' after it paid lawyers to represent its administrative wing in an unfair dismissal claim, while so far declining to save former party leader John Pesutto from bankruptcy. On Monday, lawyers for Victorian Liberal MP Moira Deeming initiated bankruptcy proceedings against Pesutto after he failed to meet a deadline to pay her $2.3m in legal costs. Pesutto has less than 21 days to pay, enter into a payment agreement or face bankruptcy, which would lead to a byelection in his seat of Hawthorn. Pesutto's supporters have written to the administrative committee urging them to help him pay Deeming's legal costs. So far, no meeting has been called to discuss these requests. Any deal would require the authorisation of the 19-person committee. But sources close to Pesutto are increasingly optimistic a loan deal may be struck in coming days, partially funded by the party and its associated entities. They say more than $1m has been pledged by private donors so far, which would reduce the size of the loan. Sign up for Guardian Australia's breaking news email On the same day as the bankruptcy proceedings were initiated, members of the committee discussed the engagement of law firm MinterEllison to represent them in response to the unfair dismissal claim lodged by Nadine Jones, the former director of the party's fundraising arm, Enterprise Victoria. The engagement of MinterEllison has frustrated some Liberal sources who believe the party should be doing more to help Pesutto. They argue it is 'unfair' and 'hypocritical' for the party to pay the legal costs of administration officials, but not its former parliamentary leader. Under the Victorian Liberal party's constitution, members of the administrative committee are indemnified for actions taken on behalf of the party. But the same protection is not afforded to senior MPs in the parliamentary wing, including when the opposition leader is performing their duties in the party room. 'It's hard to understand how those most opposed to party funds being used for John Pesutto's legal defence can now argue that the same funds should be used to fund two or more separate legal teams to defend themselves,' said one Liberal source. 'Those administrative members insisting on being separately represented should apply a consistent standard, or explain to members why they believe they're more deserving of party funds.' One Liberal source, who declined to be named so they could speak freely, said there was a push for the parliamentary leadership team to be indemnified as early as 2023. They said those efforts went nowhere. Sign up to Breaking News Australia Get the most important news as it breaks after newsletter promotion They questioned why anyone would want to take on a leadership position in the party and carry out their responsibilities, including making difficult party room decisions, without the legal protection in the current political climate. The committee includes the Victorian opposition leader, Brad Battin, and the federal shadow minister for energy and emissions, Dan Tehan. Both were contacted for comment. Some members of the administrative wing, who declined to be named, said the engagement of MinterEllison was not hypocritical. They said the matter before the Fair Work Commission was a dispute over alleged workplace misconduct, while the Pesutto matter stemmed from multiple defamatory statements. The complaint before the Fair Work Commission was submitted by Nadine Jones, who alleges she was stood down a day after a fundraising dinner featuring Gina Rinehart. Jones alleges the party's president wrongly introduced Rinehart as the sponsor of Netball Australia and that she was unfairly punished by the party for the 'embarrassing gaffe'. Liberal party sources reject any suggestion that Jones was fired for anything other than alleged misconduct.
News.com.au
08-05-2025
- Business
- News.com.au
South Yarra: Member of mega-wealthy Smorgon family, high-flying lawyer Amanda Smorgon, lists period house
Prolific lawyer and a member of the wealthy Smorgon family, Amanda Smorgon, has listed a Victorian-era South Yarra house with a $5m-$5.5m asking range. The Melbourne-based Smorgon clan was previously headed by the late Victor Smorgon who took over his father's and uncle's butchery businesses in the 1930s before diversifying into areas including paper, plastics and steel. Today, the family is one of Australia's richest with an estimated combined wealth of more than $2.7bn. Ms Smorgon, the daughter of former Carlton president Graham Smorgon and his wife Annette, was formerly employed at law firm Minter Ellison including as a media lawyer where she worked on several high-profile cases. She's also a member of multiple philanthropic organisation's leadership teams and started the networking group Young Carlton Professionals, which aims to get up-and-coming business leaders engaged with the Bombers, in 2012. Marshall White Stonnington director Nicholas Brooks declined to comment on the four-bedroom home's owner but public records show it belongs to Ms Smorgon. 'The first thing you notice is the stunning cul-de-sac location,' Mr Brooks said. He said the street's dozen or so residences are thought to have previously served as homes for workers from the circa-1847 Como House in South Yarra, originally owned by Supreme Court judge Sir Edward Eyre Williams and now held in the National Trust of Australia's custodianship. Period features such as an original fireplace in the main bedroom suite, the arched hallway and decorative ceilings feature in Ms Smorgon's home. The kitchen showcases Miele and Smeg appliances, a skylight, casual meals' area and breakfast bar. There's also a formal dining room with a marble fireplace and an open-plan living and dining area. French doors open to a backyard solar-heated pool, timber deck, outdoor kitchen, built-in barbecue and banquette seating. 'There's not only the pool but you've got the really large deck and grassed area at the rear, it's really good for families and a great retreat,' Mr Brooks said. Buyers would likely include families wanting a leafy destination close to Melbourne's CBD and downsizers, due to the abode being mostly single-level apart from the upstairs fifth bedroom and retreat, he added. Expressions of interest close at 3pm on June 3.
Herald Sun
01-05-2025
- Business
- Herald Sun
NSW Southern Highlands holding hits the market
Former tech entrepreneur-turned-farmer Peter Crown hopes to cash in on the popularity of the NSW southern highlands by listing Newbury Farm, a 407ha estate which it's hoped will fetch $55m – almost $20m more than he paid for it little more than a year ago. Marketing agent McGrath Rural's Stuart Davies defended the enormous price increase, saying improvements had been made to the holding in the past 12 months, and the true value of the historic property has never been fully tested. 'It has never gone to the open market,' Mr Davies said. Billed as one of the largest single estates in the southern highlands southwest of Sydney, the sought-after property was originally granted in 1822 by then governor Lachlan Macquarie and is still intact 200 years later. Fronting 7300 Illawarra Road, Sutton Forrest, Newbury Farm includes an 1850 convict-built, four-bedroom homestead as well as two workers' cottages – one of which needs renovation – set across major road frontages. Newbury Farm maintains herds of black angus and Wagyu cattle. 'With its enviable scale, location and history, there is expansive potential for a transition from farming to lifestyle, heritage tourism or investment holdings, subject to regulatory approvals,' said Mr Davies, who with co-agent Adam Ross is about to launch a campaign to sell the estate. Mr Davies theorised a prospective buyer might be a family wanting to renovate the homestead and pass on the property to the next generation for a future land subdivision, subject to council approval. 'The buyer could be a wealthy family, and the children and grandchildren will benefit from most likely a development play, given it's less than five minutes from Moss Vale; it has three road frontages,' he said. The other type of buyer could be a developer who will sit on it.' He said the homestead would need renovation in order for it to be befitting of such a property. Mr Davies said that Kenmore Cottage, the original slab cottage which was rented until the end of last year, needed full renovation, while the other cottage, known as Aunty's Cottage, currently has a lease in place at $600 a week and was in good condition. The eventual buyer of the estate, which is zoned C3 Environmental Management, will count notable owners such as actor Nicole Kidman as neighbours. Previous owners of Newbury Farm have included Sydney's first harbour master, Captain John Nicholson, as well as Edward Simpson Snr of law firm Minter Ellison and later his son, Edward Simpson Jnr and his wife, Caroline Simpson, the daughter of newspaper proprietor Sir Warwick Fairfax. It is unknown why Burradoo-based Mr Crown, who started his career as a tech entrepreneur, has decided to sell Newbury Farm, but he has form buying and selling southern highlands real estate and netting good financial results within a short period. He reportedly purchased horse stud Manx Park at Sutton Forest with property investor Robert Whyte for $11.54m, before selling it within a month to billionaire Kie Chie Wong and Ann Lim for nearly $15m. Core Logic records reveal a company known as Newbury Hall Pty Ltd, which is directed by Peter Crown, paid $38.5m for the Newbury Hall holding just one year ago.
Business Upturn
24-04-2025
- Business
- Business Upturn
iManage Receives IRAP Assessment within Australian Market
CHICAGO, April 23, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — iManage, the company dedicated to Making Knowledge Work™, today announced that the iManage Cloud knowledge work platform has been IRAP assessed, giving Australian governmental agencies and the law firms that do business with them a secure and fully compliant choice for managing their sensitive documents and emails. IRAP, or the Infosec Registered Assessors Program, is a framework established by the Australian Cyber Security Centre to assess and certify the security practices of organizations, particularly those handling sensitive government information. Endorsed IRAP Assessors assist organizations to secure their systems and data by independently assessing their cybersecurity posture, identifying security risks and suggesting mitigation measures. iManage was assessed by CyberCX—a leading provider of professional cyber security and cloud services across Australia and New Zealand—and achieved 'Protected' status. Achieving this status means that an organization's systems, services, or solutions have been assessed as capable of handling sensitive Australian government information, making them eligible for high-security government projects. 'In an era where the security of sensitive data is paramount, partnering with an IRAP-assessed vendor reflects our commitment to the highest standards of cybersecurity,' said Gary Adler, Chief Digital Officer at MinterEllison. 'This collaboration ensures our clients' information is safeguarded with robust security measures, aligning with our dedication to trust and integrity in all our legal services.' In addition to clearing the way for usage by Federal Australian governmental bodies and the law firms who work with them, the IRAP assessment also aligns with Australian state-specific security requirements, making iManage Cloud a compelling option for state government agencies as well. 'We are proud to have iManage Cloud officially tick the box on being IRAP assessed,' said Jim Krev, Head of Security, iManage. 'As a company, iManage has always been focused on empowering knowledge workers to collaborate and be productive from anywhere, on any device, while delivering comprehensive security to protect an organization's vital assets. Our robust ongoing investment in security—including undergoing the IRAP assessment—positions us as an ideal document and email management vendor for Australian governmental agencies and the firms who work with them that are looking to move from on-premises systems to an IRAP assessed, cloud-based vendor that meets their rigorous security requirements.' If you would like to learn more, join us for our upcoming Webinar on Thursday, April 29 at 11:00 a.m. AEST on 'Mastering IRAP: Enhancing Security, Compliance, and Assurance for Government Data' where we are joined by Krev, CyberCX who undertook our assessment and our customer MinterEllison. Register here. About iManage iManage is dedicated to Making Knowledge Work™. Our cloud-native platform is at the center of the knowledge economy, enabling every organization to work more productively, collaboratively, and securely. Built on more than 20 years of industry experience, iManage helps leading organizations manage documents and emails more efficiently, protect vital information assets, and leverage knowledge to drive better business outcomes. As your strategic business partner, we employ our award-winning AI-enabled technology, an extensive partner ecosystem, and a customer-centric approach to provide support and guidance you can trust to make knowledge work for you. iManage is relied on by more than one million professionals at 4,000 organizations around the world. Visit to learn more. Follow iManage via: LinkedIn: X: YouTube: Press contact:Alicia Saragosa, iManage [email protected]
