Limited liability provisions under the Trade Practices Act

The incorporation on 12 June 2008 of 13 new prescribed schemes under the limited liability provisions of the Trade Practices Act highlights the potential benefits of section 87AB of the TPA. Michael Russell looks at the benefits and advantages of s87AB, the new prescribed schemes and how they can be applied to reduce risk and exposure.

Harrison v Melhem [2008]

The New South Wales Court of Appeal handed down the decision of Harrison v Melhem [2008] NSWCA 67 on 29 May 2008. Amongst other things it overrules previous authority in relation to the threshold test for the award of damages for gratuitous attendant care under section 15(3) of the Civil Liability Act 2002. This paper will deal with this component only of the judgment. The effect of this judgment will be that many quantum and reserve estimates will need to be reviewed.

CBP honoured at Mettle ALB Awards

The annual Mettle ALB Australasian Law Awards were held in Sydney on 22 May 2008.

Colin Biggers & Paisley (CBP) was honoured to be chosen as this year's Insurance Specialist Law Firm of the Year.

CBP would like to thank Mettle ALB (the event partner) for that honour. CBP would also like to congratulate those of its fellow firms who were also chosen as finalists.

Particular thanks are owed to our clients without whose support the conferring of this award would not have been possible.

CBP's insurance division, led by senior partner Greg Skehan with fellow partners Peter Moran, Paul Bannon, Stuart Hetherington, Gavin Creighton and Gopi Krishnan, look forward to continuing to provide excellent service to clients and the insurance industry.

CBP now in Dubai

CBP has recently expanded its law practice to Dubai. The UAE, and Dubai in particular, has for a number of years had enormous growth in property and infrastructure development. CBP has identified opportunities for the firm and for clients wishing to establish operations in the UAE.
Senior construction partner, Alex Ostermayer is now permanently based in Dubai, working out of the office of Lutfi & Co, a well established commercial law firm in the UAE and a long standing associated firm of CBP.

Read our Dubai newsletter

Read an interview Managing Partner Dunstan de Souza had with Lawyers Weekly magazine about CBP's Dubai venture