Australia’s and NZ’s top legal service providers revealed for 2026

Awardees show the importance of being ready, rather than merely reactive

Administrative Review Tribunal welcomes 11 senior members

Appointees include Christian Carney, Robyn Curnow, Stewart Fenwick, Maria Gagliardi, Khanh Hoang

Law Council commends Australia’s revised strategy for global abolition of death penalty

President-elect Elizabeth Shearer notes updates to policy goals, international advocacy methods

Legal appointments roundup: 5 November 2026

Law firms with moves include Ashurst Perkins Coie, Carter Newell, HopgoodGanim Lawyers, HWLE Lawyers

Victoria adds 15 new senior counsel for 2026

Victoria Chief Justice Richard Niall announces appointments following consultation with legal profession

NSW Court of Appeal quashes Judicial Commission decision over apprehended bias

Court finds communication between excluded chief judge and commission member raised apprehended bias

Federal Court dismisses application to restore disability support funding

Court finds no arguable basis for relief despite recognising risk of informal care breakdown

Federal Court approves $12m funder commission in franchisee settlement

Deductions leave group members with about 44 percent of the payout

Federal Court bans funeral fund founder, finds CEO breached good-faith duty

Vanuatu insurer arrangement draws $250k penalty for founder; executive who failed to act also found in breach

PROFILES

What members prioritise informs the organisation’s focus, the org’s Australian group co-lead says

The Baker McKenzie senior lawyer explains how people can better protect data in this day and age

The senior lawyer talks her work on data centres and how she’s constantly learning on the job

She also shares why it’s important for her to be in the classroom as a leader

INTERNATIONAL

UK Law Commission to study offences against dead bodies, human remains

Review may cover dismemberment, situation where killer withholds location of victim’s body

UK Law Commission to study offences against dead bodies, human remains
Report addresses AI use to prepare documents in UK civil proceedings

Recommendations touched on litigants-in-person, witness statements, expert evidence

Report addresses AI use to prepare documents in UK civil proceedings
Weil, Gotshal & Manges to wind down after unsuccessful merger talks

New York-headquartered firm, founded in 1931, planned to join forces with Willkie Farr & Gallagher

Weil, Gotshal & Manges to wind down after unsuccessful merger talks
Succession law spurs showdown between manga artist, Japan’s government

Yoshinori Kobayashi accused the government of discriminating against commoners

Succession law spurs showdown between manga artist, Japan’s government
UK law firms challenge interest on lawyers’ client accounts scheme

The UK government would seize a significant chunk of interest generated on pooled client accounts

UK law firms challenge interest on lawyers’ client accounts scheme

FEATURES

Final week of Dealmakers of the Year nominations

Don't forget to submit nominations for exceptional dealmakers in Australia and New Zealand

The leading organisations supporting the legal profession in Australia and NZ for 2023

35 legal service providers were named as the best support partners the profession could have

Don't miss the chance to be a top service provider

Legal vendors across Australia and New Zealand only have until Friday to put themselves forward

What are the best ways to combat employee exhaustion?

Why unlimited time off is a 'giant pain in the neck'