Firm Spy http://firmspy.com Your fly on the wall Wed, 10 Mar 2010 21:50:17 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7.1 en hourly 1 Lack of MOMENTUM; Clayton Utz Stripped of Employer Credentials http://firmspy.com/clayton-utz/2732/lack-of-momentum-clayton-utz-stripped-of-employer-credentials http://firmspy.com/clayton-utz/2732/lack-of-momentum-clayton-utz-stripped-of-employer-credentials#comments Wed, 10 Mar 2010 21:50:17 +0000 The Spy http://firmspy.com/?p=2732
Earlier this week, the federal governement, through its Equal Opportunity for Women in the Workplace Agency (EOWA), named 12 Australian law firms that support women in the workplace. Those named were: Corrs Chambers Wegarth, Baker & McKenzie, AAR, Blakes, Cooper Grace Ward, Freehills, Holding Redlich, G+T, Maddocks, Mallesons, McCullough Robertson and Sparke Helmore. One firm was conspicuous [...]
]]> http://firmspy.com/clayton-utz/2732/lack-of-momentum-clayton-utz-stripped-of-employer-credentials/feed Lara Bingle is ‘Coming Off a Low Base’ in Her Defamation Claims http://firmspy.com/firm-gossip/2729/lara-bingle-is-coming-off-a-low-base-in-her-defamation-claims http://firmspy.com/firm-gossip/2729/lara-bingle-is-coming-off-a-low-base-in-her-defamation-claims#comments Mon, 08 Mar 2010 22:00:25 +0000 The Spy http://firmspy.com/?p=2729
Last week Lara Bingle announced an intention to sue AFL footballer Brendon Fevola over the dissemination of of a revealing photograph taken of the model as she showered, allegedly by Fevola. In relation to her prospects of success, our favourite Tresscox partner Nic Pullen, who is currently retained by former wine-o Derryn Hinch, had the following to say: Nicholas Pullen [...]
]]> http://firmspy.com/firm-gossip/2729/lara-bingle-is-coming-off-a-low-base-in-her-defamation-claims/feed Deloitte Loses Audit Seniors While Non-Equity Partners Score Bonuses http://firmspy.com/firm-gossip/2727/deloitte-loses-audit-seniors-while-non-equity-partners-score-bonuses http://firmspy.com/firm-gossip/2727/deloitte-loses-audit-seniors-while-non-equity-partners-score-bonuses#comments Mon, 08 Mar 2010 10:21:56 +0000 The Spy http://firmspy.com/?p=2727
Thanks to the Deloitte spy who sent us the following comments over the weekend: Deloitte Private in Sydney has lost another 2 audit seniors. The rate at which Deloitte Private loses audit seniors is phenominal and partners, including cluster lead, Michael Kaplan, are living in a sense of denial in which they state that ”nothing is wrong”. Could it be [...]
]]> http://firmspy.com/firm-gossip/2727/deloitte-loses-audit-seniors-while-non-equity-partners-score-bonuses/feed Update; New Claims in Clayton Utz v Michael “Trench” Mitchell Saga http://firmspy.com/clayton-utz/2711/update-new-claims-in-clayton-utz-v-michael-trench-mitchell-saga http://firmspy.com/clayton-utz/2711/update-new-claims-in-clayton-utz-v-michael-trench-mitchell-saga#comments Thu, 04 Mar 2010 22:00:46 +0000 The Spy http://firmspy.com/?p=2711
Short of an earthquake shredding razing its offices, things could probably not get much worse for Clayton Utz right now. A few weeks ago we heard the scandalous details of the defections of over a dozen of the firm’s most respected, most employable partners to A&O. Then yesterday we reported that Clayton Utz sacked in excess of [...]
]]> http://firmspy.com/clayton-utz/2711/update-new-claims-in-clayton-utz-v-michael-trench-mitchell-saga/feed Pants Down! Freehills Lawyer Photographed By Perverted Cleaner http://firmspy.com/firm-gossip/2721/pants-down-freehills-lawyer-photographed-by-perverted-cleaner http://firmspy.com/firm-gossip/2721/pants-down-freehills-lawyer-photographed-by-perverted-cleaner#comments Thu, 04 Mar 2010 01:13:11 +0000 The Spy http://firmspy.com/?p=2721
We were dismayed to find out this morning that a rumour, heard several months ago by a Firm Spy team member but later dismissed because it appeared too farcical, is in fact legitimate. Yes, a perverted former Freehills cleaner with voyeuristic urges took it upon himself one evening late last year, on his nightly dunny-scrub, to photograph an unsuspecting Freehills [...]
]]> http://firmspy.com/firm-gossip/2721/pants-down-freehills-lawyer-photographed-by-perverted-cleaner/feed Utzed and AbUtzed; 30% of Clayton Utz 2009 Melbourne Grads Kicked Out The Door http://firmspy.com/clayton-utz/2705/utzed-and-abutzed-over-30-of-clayton-utz-2009-graduates-shown-the-door http://firmspy.com/clayton-utz/2705/utzed-and-abutzed-over-30-of-clayton-utz-2009-graduates-shown-the-door#comments Wed, 03 Mar 2010 13:01:07 +0000 The Spy http://firmspy.com/?p=2705
With a heap of fanfare, Clayton Utz announced on Monday that 6 new partners had been appointed to the firm. The firm said that the appointments reflected the emergency situation where several lawyers were rumoured to be readying themselves to give the partnership an ultimatum “calibre and depth of talent at the firm”. You’ll recall [...]
]]> http://firmspy.com/clayton-utz/2705/utzed-and-abutzed-over-30-of-clayton-utz-2009-graduates-shown-the-door/feed Allegation; Freehills Partner Chris Jose ‘Aggressive’ to Former Lawyer Nicole Stransky http://firmspy.com/firm-gossip/2699/allegation-freehills-partner-chris-jose-aggressive-to-former-lawyer-nicole-stransky http://firmspy.com/firm-gossip/2699/allegation-freehills-partner-chris-jose-aggressive-to-former-lawyer-nicole-stransky#comments Wed, 03 Mar 2010 00:50:39 +0000 The Spy http://firmspy.com/?p=2699
After a fantastic year in 2009 in which the firm won the inaugural Firm Spy Corporate Firm of the Year Award, Freehills has descended into damage control today with a former lawyer alleging the firm discriminated against her. According to The Age, the case highlights the poor working conditions at law firms. The lawyer in question is Nicole Stransky, [...]
]]> http://firmspy.com/firm-gossip/2699/allegation-freehills-partner-chris-jose-aggressive-to-former-lawyer-nicole-stransky/feed Blake Dawson Wages to Remain on Ice Until July 1 2010 http://firmspy.com/firm-gossip/2695/blake-dawson-wages-to-remain-on-ice-until-july-1-2010 http://firmspy.com/firm-gossip/2695/blake-dawson-wages-to-remain-on-ice-until-july-1-2010#comments Mon, 01 Mar 2010 21:47:17 +0000 The Spy http://firmspy.com/?p=2695
Some long overdue gossip from a Blake Dawson spy! In early December last year we reported the rumour that Blake Dawson was tracking at a remarkable 20% over its budget. At that time we queried when the firm would unfreeze the pay of the 70% of staff (approx) whose wages have been steady for well over [...]
]]> http://firmspy.com/firm-gossip/2695/blake-dawson-wages-to-remain-on-ice-until-july-1-2010/feed A Female Wasteland; Alarming Big4 Accounting Firm Partnership Statistics http://firmspy.com/firm-gossip/2686/a-female-wasteland-alarming-big4-accounting-firm-partnership-statistics http://firmspy.com/firm-gossip/2686/a-female-wasteland-alarming-big4-accounting-firm-partnership-statistics#comments Sun, 28 Feb 2010 23:26:52 +0000 The Spy http://firmspy.com/?p=2686
We often hear how among corporate law firms, there is a glass ceiling that women, for all their sacrifices, seem largely unable to penetrate. But is this the case in respect of major accounting firms? In late December last year the AFR published an excellent article profiling accounting firm partnership statistics among females. The statistics show [...]
]]> http://firmspy.com/firm-gossip/2686/a-female-wasteland-alarming-big4-accounting-firm-partnership-statistics/feed Firm Spy Partner-Bashing, in Association With The New Lawyer http://firmspy.com/law-disorder/2682/firm-spy-partner-bashing-in-association-with-the-new-lawyer http://firmspy.com/law-disorder/2682/firm-spy-partner-bashing-in-association-with-the-new-lawyer#comments Thu, 25 Feb 2010 21:59:34 +0000 The Spy http://firmspy.com/?p=2682
Here at the Firm Spy we make an effort not to just hijack the content published on other websites, in particular those operating in the same space as us (namely ALB, Lawyers Weekly, and The New Lawyer). However, in the last week we have read two articles published by our good friends at The New [...]
]]> http://firmspy.com/law-disorder/2682/firm-spy-partner-bashing-in-association-with-the-new-lawyer/feed Clayton Utz Equity Value to Shrink With New Office, Partners & ‘Eligible’ Pay Rises http://firmspy.com/clayton-utz/2676/clayton-utz-equity-value-to-shrink-as-new-office-partners-pay-announced http://firmspy.com/clayton-utz/2676/clayton-utz-equity-value-to-shrink-as-new-office-partners-pay-announced#comments Wed, 24 Feb 2010 22:00:57 +0000 The Spy http://firmspy.com/?p=2676
Last Friday, the AFR reported in an excellent article profiling the Clayton Utz/A&O partnership defections that Clutz would, as part of its response to the shocking departures, open an office in Hong Kong. Although it was reported that the decision to open the office was made months prior to the A&O defections, the Clutz partnership [...]
]]> http://firmspy.com/clayton-utz/2676/clayton-utz-equity-value-to-shrink-as-new-office-partners-pay-announced/feed ‘Lock-Down’; Minter Ellison Lawyer Eren Myers Sparks Paparazzi Frenzy http://firmspy.com/firm-gossip/2673/lock-down-minter-ellison-lawyer-eren-myers-sparks-paparazzi-frenzy http://firmspy.com/firm-gossip/2673/lock-down-minter-ellison-lawyer-eren-myers-sparks-paparazzi-frenzy#comments Tue, 23 Feb 2010 21:57:03 +0000 The Spy http://firmspy.com/?p=2673
Last week we reported the news that in between his duties as a Minter Ellison lawyer, Eren Myers has apparently carved out a niche’ in after-hours personal training. Not only that, but he also apparently finds time to offer advice to high-profile alleged rapists We sought some clarity from Minters on whether Mr Myers was acting on behalf of the firm when he [...]
]]> http://firmspy.com/firm-gossip/2673/lock-down-minter-ellison-lawyer-eren-myers-sparks-paparazzi-frenzy/feed Tresscox Partner Nic Pullen, ‘Run of the Mill Pedophiles’ & Derryn Hinch http://firmspy.com/firm-gossip/2669/tresscox-partner-nic-pullen-run-of-the-mill-pedophiles-derryn-hinch http://firmspy.com/firm-gossip/2669/tresscox-partner-nic-pullen-run-of-the-mill-pedophiles-derryn-hinch#comments Tue, 23 Feb 2010 01:05:17 +0000 The Spy http://firmspy.com/?p=2669
Fresh from apparently going into bat for Black Saturday icon Sam The Koala, Tresscox A-List partner Nic Pullen is ‘pullen’ on the gloves again, but this time for the man dubbed “The Human Headline” Derryn Hinch. As reported by our good friends at Lawyers Weekly: Hinch faces five charges for breach of suppression orders under Victoria’s Serious Sex Offenders [...]
]]> http://firmspy.com/firm-gossip/2669/tresscox-partner-nic-pullen-run-of-the-mill-pedophiles-derryn-hinch/feed Middletons Straight Talker Boss Nick Nichola Misspeaks on Pay Freeze http://firmspy.com/firm-gossip/2666/middletons-straight-talker-boss-nick-nichola-misspeaks-on-pay-freeze http://firmspy.com/firm-gossip/2666/middletons-straight-talker-boss-nick-nichola-misspeaks-on-pay-freeze#comments Sun, 21 Feb 2010 21:57:06 +0000 The Spy http://firmspy.com/?p=2666
After a very long hiatus, we received some welcome comments from an anonymous Middletons spy over the weekend: Managing Partner at Middletons must have misspoke in a recent ALB article: Nick said that, despite a downturn in business over the past 12-18 months, the firm did not institute any measures such as salary or hiring freezes  Nick seems to think that the [...]
]]> http://firmspy.com/firm-gossip/2666/middletons-straight-talker-boss-nick-nichola-misspeaks-on-pay-freeze/feed Pied Piper Alderman Criticized For Rumoured Strongarm Tactics http://firmspy.com/firm-gossip/2664/pied-piper-alderman-criticized-for-rumoured-strongarm-tactics http://firmspy.com/firm-gossip/2664/pied-piper-alderman-criticized-for-rumoured-strongarm-tactics#comments Sun, 21 Feb 2010 21:45:34 +0000 The Spy http://firmspy.com/?p=2664
Following our first swipe at the allegation of Pied Piper Alderman departures of juniour lawyers last week, came the following scathing comments from an anonymous PA spy over the weekend: The recent story on Piper Alderman is nothing but the truth. To add insult to injury, those who leave the firm within 2 years of starting are required [...]
]]> http://firmspy.com/firm-gossip/2664/pied-piper-alderman-criticized-for-rumoured-strongarm-tactics/feed The Nightmare of Pipe Dreams; Our First Swipe @ Piper Alderman http://firmspy.com/firm-gossip/2658/the-nightmare-of-pipe-dreams-our-first-swipe-piper-alderman http://firmspy.com/firm-gossip/2658/the-nightmare-of-pipe-dreams-our-first-swipe-piper-alderman#comments Wed, 17 Feb 2010 22:05:09 +0000 The Spy http://firmspy.com/?p=2658
A couple of weeks ago, law firm Piper Alderman received the welcome news that a former partner, John O’Callaghan, had been appointed as a Magistrate in Victoria. Magistrate O’Callaghan, who was appointed partner at Piper Alderman in late 2008, will now hear civil cases. Less welcome was the news, syndicated by nearly every major Australian news website, that O’Callaghan [...]
]]> http://firmspy.com/firm-gossip/2658/the-nightmare-of-pipe-dreams-our-first-swipe-piper-alderman/feed Eren Myers; Minter Ellison Lawyer, Personal Trainer, Counsel to Alleged Rapist Andrew Lovett http://firmspy.com/firm-gossip/2653/eren-myers-minter-ellison-lawyer-personal-trainer-counsel-to-alleged-rapist-andrew-lovett http://firmspy.com/firm-gossip/2653/eren-myers-minter-ellison-lawyer-personal-trainer-counsel-to-alleged-rapist-andrew-lovett#comments Tue, 16 Feb 2010 21:58:03 +0000 The Spy http://firmspy.com/?p=2653
[ED - No less than five, yes FIVE, anonymous Minter Ellison spies alerted us to this masterpiece, appearing yesterday in Melbourne newspaper Herald Sun. Thanks in particular to the spy who scanned and emailed us the article.] It is unclear how Minter Ellison lawyer Eren Myers finds time juggle his work at Minters with the heavy burden [...]
]]> http://firmspy.com/firm-gossip/2653/eren-myers-minter-ellison-lawyer-personal-trainer-counsel-to-alleged-rapist-andrew-lovett/feed If You Fuz You Lose; Masterminding The Clayton Utz/A&O Partnership Defections http://firmspy.com/clayton-utz/2650/if-you-fuz-you-lose-masterminding-the-clayton-utzao-partnership-defections http://firmspy.com/clayton-utz/2650/if-you-fuz-you-lose-masterminding-the-clayton-utzao-partnership-defections#comments Mon, 15 Feb 2010 22:00:52 +0000 The Spy http://firmspy.com/?p=2650
We understand that you’re probably sick of reading about it - we’re certainly sick of writing about it - so unless something explosive happens, we’ll make this our final post about the Clayton Utz partnership defections to Allen & Overy. This post clarifies further the Clayton Utz machinations giving rise to the defections. We have extracted some [...]
]]> http://firmspy.com/clayton-utz/2650/if-you-fuz-you-lose-masterminding-the-clayton-utzao-partnership-defections/feed Deacons/Norton Rose Thaws Pay Freeze For “Most” Lawyers http://firmspy.com/firm-gossip/2644/deaconsnorton-rose-thaws-pay-freeze-for-most-lawyers http://firmspy.com/firm-gossip/2644/deaconsnorton-rose-thaws-pay-freeze-for-most-lawyers#comments Thu, 11 Feb 2010 21:57:40 +0000 The Spy http://firmspy.com/?p=2644
Thanks to the anonymous Deacons/Norton Rose spy who sent us the following tip last night: After freezing our salaries last year, Norton Rose has decided to thaw them. We all got an email from Don Boyd this afternoon saying there had been a review and the outcome “will result in salary increases for most of our lawyers.” [...]
]]> http://firmspy.com/firm-gossip/2644/deaconsnorton-rose-thaws-pay-freeze-for-most-lawyers/feed Double-Dilution Dismay; Major Developments in Clayton Utz/Allen & Overy Defection Debacle http://firmspy.com/clayton-utz/2641/double-dilution-dismay-major-developments-in-clayton-utzallen-overy-defection-debacle http://firmspy.com/clayton-utz/2641/double-dilution-dismay-major-developments-in-clayton-utzallen-overy-defection-debacle#comments Wed, 10 Feb 2010 22:13:53 +0000 The Spy http://firmspy.com/?p=2641
We reported yesterday on the astute comments from an anonymous spy that the A&O foray into Australian soil might do no more than dilute its healthy equity pool. It is, of course, a huge risk. And while A&O risks the dilution of its equity, it appears that the defection may also soon result in a major additional [...]
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