Lawyers Weekly Podcast Network

In this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, Jerome Doraisamy is joined by Griffith Hack associate, Dr Stefan Paterson. Intellectual property and patenting in space is a litigious space that will soon be getting far more attention. But what is also clear, when one examines space law more closely, is that questions around who owns what extends much further into cross-border disputes, mining rights and even military concerns. With so much international legislation in this area still to be determined, it is very much a "watch this space" issue.

In this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, Jerome Doraisamy is joined by Marque Lawyers managing partner, Michael Bradley. Australia's defamation laws are an ongoing source of debate in professional and political circles, particularly in light of our lack of constitutionally-enshrined protections for free speech. The recent emergence of the #MeToo and #TimesUp movements have done more than bring allegations of sexual harassment, assault and bullying into the public fore - they have also painted a new picture of defamation law in this country, and highlighted the need for law reform in relation to such misconduct and criminal behaviour, in order to better level the playing field for victims.

In this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, Jerome Doraisamy is joined by Auckland-based legal researcher and #MeToo activist, Zoe Lawton. In recent years, Zoe has been a leading voice in calling out sexual harassment in New Zealand's legal profession and has helped facilitate other victims of such misconduct come forward. This conversation touches on what the Australian legal profession can learn from our neighbours across the ditch, navigating concerns about career progression, evaluating our progress with cultural change, and ensuring that lawyers never again have to deal with such harassment and misconduct.

In this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, Jerome welcomes back Swaab partner, Michael Byrnes. Jerome and Michael discuss the WHS issues that law firms across the board need to be aware of when it comes to idiosyncratic issues affecting younger lawyers in the workplace, particularly the impacts of fatigue, sustained stress, bullying and exploitative interactions with clients.

In this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, Jerome Doraisamy is joined by Herbert Smith Freehills partner, Jason Betts. Earlier this year, the Australian Law Reform Commission submitted its report on class action proceedings to federal parliament. Titled, "Integrity, Fairness and Efficiency - Class Action Proceedings and Third-Party Litigation Funders", the report considered whether and to what extent class actions and litigation funders should be subject to regulation, and how adequate current regulation is. Jerome and Jason discuss the report's findings and recommendations from the perspective of defendants, with Jason leaning on his and his firm's experience representing defendants in such proceedings.

In this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, Jerome Doraisamy welcomes back Australian Bar Association president Jennifer Batrouney QC. Despite impressions that legal counsel can't or shouldn't brief barristers on any given matters, there are significant benefits to doing so, argues Ms Batrouney, as she outlines the strategies those in-house can employ when it comes to collaboration with those from the bar.

In this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, Grace Ormsby is joined by Human Rights Commissioner at the Australian Human Rights Commission, Edward Santow, and the executive director of emerging markets at LexisNexis Pacific, Myfanwy Wallwork, about the landmark inquiry looking into the status of rights and freedoms in a new technological world. With artificial intelligence, social media and big data all presenting challenges and opportunities for the protection of human rights, this inquiry is well on its way to considering possible solutions to some of the biggest problems facing society in the technological age.

In this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, Jerome Doraisamy speaks with Smarter Drafter CEO Adam Long about the advent of legal technology and its influence over the modern legal environment. Technology has evolved – and continues to evolve – at such a breakneck speed, that the question is no longer how tech advancements can fit into methods of legal practice. Instead, the question for law firms and practitioners has to be: how can one's legal skills best adapt to the overarching and influential presence of tech? Modern businesses have to be tech companies now, Mr Long argues, and legal practice must adapt with it.

In this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, Jerome Doraisamy speaks with Swaab senior associate Monique Robb about how family courts will respond when religious disagreements get in the way of determining parental arrangements. Family law legislation dictates that a Court's paramount consideration should be the best interests of a child, and there are numerous factors that a court will take into account in making such determinations. But, in parenting disptues, what happens if the parents cannot agree on the religious upbringing of a child? Can a court determine which parent's faith should be prioritised, and what religion should be seen as offering a better environmental, cultural or lifestyle pathway for a child?

In this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, Jerome Doraisamy speaks with Piper Alderman partners Michael Bacina and Andrea Beatty about the place of cryptocurrency in anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing. The advent of new technologies and a myriad social media platforms have made our social, cultural and professional lives exponentially easier, but such products and services have also made life for money launderers and terrorism financiers easier too. Those looking to counter such crimes have had their work cut out for them in recent years to figure out how best to stay ahead of the game and prevent criminal activity.