Colin Biggers & Paisley

At Colin Biggers & Paisley, we’re proud to support our major charity partner, the Harding Miller Education Foundation - Scholarships for girls that change lives (HMEF) and their Future Success program, which helps scholars explore post-school pathways and broaden their career horizons. Partner Simone Whetton recently spoke at a Career in Focus session, sharing her journey in law, what a typical day looks like and practical tips for success. She highlighted the variety of roles in law, the value of networking and the importance of supporting each other as emerging leaders. These sessions give scholars the chance to hear from inspiring women across industries and see how diverse experiences lead to meaningful careers. A big thank you to Simone for leading an open and lively conversation! #CareerInFocus #FutureSuccess #EmpoweringEducation

At Colin Biggers & Paisley, we are proud to support Redfern Legal Centre (RLC), a community legal centre making a real difference, providing free legal assistance to increase access to justice for people experiencing vulnerability. Last week, we hosted the Colin Biggers & Paisley Foundation and Redfern Legal Centre Lunch & Learn in our Sydney office. It was an inspiring afternoon hearing from speakers about Redfern Legal Centre’s incredible community impact and the vital role that the Foundation's pro bono engagement and resources play, from volunteering on Redfern Legal Centre's advice clinics to providing essential client casework support. A big thank you to everyone who joined us, and especially to our speakers from Redfern Legal Centre's Police Powers and Administrative Law team, Supervising Solicitor Samantha Lee and Solicitor Grace Cameron-Lee, and our own Employment & Safety Solicitor Victoria Lekkas for making the session so insightful and memorable. #ProBono #AccessToJustice #CommunityImpact

Facial recognition technology and the law: Lessons from the Kmart privacy breach.   Technology & Data Partners Katherine Jones, Morgan Lane and Solicitor Samyuktha Rajagopalan unpack the Privacy Commissioner’s ruling and its implications for businesses using biometric tech.   Key insights:   1. Consent is critical: biometric data requires explicit, informed consent. 2. Transparency matters: clear notices and robust privacy policies are essential. 3. Proportionality counts: weigh privacy impacts against security benefits. The Privacy Act is technology-neutral, but compliance obligations remain strict. Businesses should review privacy frameworks before deploying facial recognition. Read the full article: https://lnkd.in/gaf-mgNj #PrivacyLaw #FacialRecognition #LegalUpdate

Yesterday, Employment & Safety Partner Adam Foster hosted our HR Breakfast Briefing in Melbourne, where we explored the evolving workplace landscape and strategies for managing psychosocial hazards.   With sweeping legislative reforms and regulatory updates reshaping employment law, staying ahead has never been more critical.   A big thank you to everyone who joined us and to our expert panel for sharing their valuable insights: Natasha Facci GAICD, PCC, FIML, Courtney D. and James Ritchie FGIA. Together, they provided practical guidance on managing risk, implementing best practices, and preparing for what’s ahead as we move towards 2026.   #HRLeadership #WorkplaceSafety #EmploymentLaw  

AI ate my novel: Copyright in the age of large language models. Digital Commerce & AI Partner Timothy Seton and Solicitor Clare Ashley unpack recent U.S. decisions and consider how Australian copyright law operates in the context of AI training. Key insights:   1. U.S. courts have decided that using books to train AI may be “fair use”, but Australia’s stricter regime means unlicensed copying could amount to infringement. 2. There is no broad “fair use” defence in Australia, only narrow “fair dealing” exceptions apply. 3. Authors in Australia retain strong rights where substantial parts of their works are reproduced.   AI developers in Australia should consider their licensing strategies, and authors should understand their rights under Australian law.   Read the full article: https://lnkd.in/gsKbg5Hb   #CopyrightLaw #ArtificialIntelligence #LegalUpdate #DigitalCommerce

Last night, we hosted our Insurance Welcome to Summer rooftop evening at The Bristol Rooftop in Sydney. It was a fantastic evening shared with colleagues, clients and friends filled with connection, conversation and celebration as we wrapped up another great year together. Thank you to all who attended and made the event a success. We value every chance to connect and deepen relationships within the insurance sector. #InsuranceIndustry #NetworkingEvent #ClientEngagement

In a candid conversation with Jerome Doraisamy, Managing Editor of Lawyers Weekly, our Managing Partner, Andrew Murray shares insights into his career journey, our unique place in the market and our ambition for the future. He highlights why our clients and culture remain at the heart of everything we do and why, in an age of technological innovation, our profession needs great lawyers more than ever. It’s worth a listen. Tune in here and be part of the conversation: https://lnkd.in/gRUeXyqn #LegalLeadership #FutureOfLaw #LawPodcast

Apportionment under the DBPA: Court points to the limits in the wake of Pafburn. Insurance Partners Jonathan Newby, Laura Reisz, and Senior Associate John Georgas unpack the Supreme Court of NSW’s latest decision in Kapila v Monument Building Group Pty Ltd [2025] NSWSC 1306, clarifying how first instance courts may seek to apply Pafburn to apportionment under the Design and Building Practitioners Act 2020 (NSW). Key insights: 1. No apportionment for breaches under section 37 of the DBPA, even without delegation. 2. Cross-claims remain the only way to recover contributions. 3. Continuing uncertainty on the interpretation of Pafburn. With these developments, builders, designers and other practitioners should review their risk strategies and contractual protections. Read the full article: https://lnkd.in/gq5whn8H #ConstructionLaw #DBPA #LegalUpdate #RiskManagement

Lawyers and funders acting for shareholders in the BHP Samarco Fundeo dam class action have proposed increasing their share of a $110 million settlement to as much as 50%, placing class action cost models under scrutiny. Head of Class Actions, Michael Russell, shared his insights with The Australian Financial Review:   “A commission fee of 27.5% is on the higher end compared to the sorts of rates approved over the last five years. At the moment, you would be seeing approvals of commissions between 20 and 25 per cent. When you apply that to settlements of $110 million, the difference can be quite significant.” Michael also noted that while courts are taking a closer look at revised costs, it’s “not implausible that 50% will go to funders and lawyers.” Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/gk-zw3Sr #ClassActions #LegalInsights #LitigationFunding

Join us on Tuesday 18 November for the final HR Highlights webinar of 2025, our end of year wrap-up! Employment & Safety Partners Megan Kavanagh and Kristen Lopes will unpack the biggest developments in employment and safety law from the past 12 months. Expect insights on: - Major legislative reforms - Landmark decisions - Emerging compliance trends Plus, they’ll share practical implications for Australian workplaces to help you prepare for 2026. Register now: https://lnkd.in/gupBYzvr #HRHighlights #EmploymentSafety #HRStrategies #Webinar