Morning Briefing: Expansion for HSF project management arm

Herbert Smith Freehills has announced the expansion of its global Legal Project Management division. LPM is based around two centres of excellence, one in Melbourne and the other in London. The service has been available to clients for three years and is now expanding with the hire of four new members of the London team. It takes the team’s headcount across Australia and the UK to 10 and there is further expansion planned.
 
Litigation team boosted at Corrs
Corrs Chambers Westgarth has boosted its litigation practice in Perth with the appointment of Michelle Dean as special counsel. She was previously with King & Wood Mallesons in Melbourne and Perth and DLA Piper in London.
 
Lawyers support gay Melbourne couple over pride flag
An elderly gay couple in Melbourne have been given support from lawyers following a row over a gay pride flag. Maurice Sheldrick, 78, and his partner James Bellia, 72, have been ordered to remove the flag from their apartment balcony at Port Melbourne by the building’s body corporate. The Age reports that the couple have been offered pro bono support from Daniel Creasey of law firm Colin Biggers & Paisley. The litigation lawyer has questioned the approach taken by The Melbourne Inner City Management Property Owners Corporation in enforcing its rules about displaying advertising or signage. The couple have so far decided not to take court action over the matter.
 
Slater & Gordon’s rival goes into administration
One of Slater & Gordon’s major rivals in the UK personal injury space has gone into administration. GT Law was referred to the Solicitors Regulation Authority two months ago for a conduct matter. The firm’s debts have been mounting as profit before tax declined despite increased revenues. On its website GT Law says it went into administration on Oct. 9 and files have been transferred to other law firms who will be contacting clients.