The commencement of the First Resort Home Warranty Scheme on 1 July 2026 marks the most significant change to Victorian domestic building regulation in a generation. The reforms are broad and consequential. Much of the detail was provided in guidance and ministerial directions issued in the final days before commencement, and how the Building and Plumbing Commission (BPC) exercises its new powers remains to be seen. At the same time, ongoing economic pressures, rising insolve

In Boensch v Bingham (No 2) [2026] NSWSC 529, the Supreme Court of New South Wales dismissed all six professional negligence claims brought against a defendant solicitor, reaffirming the core principles that govern the scope of a solicitor’s duty of care. The decision confirms that a solicitor who acts within the scope of their retainer, reasonably relies on counsel’s advice and clearly documents the terms of their engagement will be well-placed to defend claims of this kind.

The dangers of PFAS contamination were brought into the public consciousness upon the release of Dark Waters in 2019 starring Mark Ruffalo, which told the story of Robert Bilott’s litigation against the chemical manufacturing giant, DuPont. background PFAS, often dubbed ‘forever chemicals’, are a class of synthetic chemicals that pose serious threats to both public health and the environment. A prominent environmental litigation attorney in the United States named Emily Lamo

In a significant 2024 decision, the Federal Court of Australia considered the collapse of TSK QLD Pty Ltd, a Queensland-based recruitment and labour-hire company servicing the mining and energy sectors. Its business depended heavily on accounts receivable generated from supplying labour to large commercial clients, with those receivables forming the company’s primary asset base. The Court later found that, rather than stabilising the business, a coordinated restructuring arra

United Global Capital Pty Ltd (UGC) was an Australian financial-services firm holding AFSL 496179, controlled solely by director and responsible manager Joel James Hewish. UGC offered financial advice, including SMSF rollovers and investments in property-linked funds. By 2022, ASIC identified systemic concerns in the company’s operations, governance, and internal controls, flagging risks to investors before any verified losses were reported. Post-Royal Commission Environment