Gender pay gap continues in Australian law firms
It seems that Australia’s law firms have some way to go to achieve wage equality. A new report from the government’s Workplace Gender Equality Agency shows that women are paid more than a third less than male counterparts across the profession and more than a quarter less in private firms. The report says that there are few set policies and targets for wage equality so even firms that aim to achieve it are often failing to do so. Four of the biggest firms are highlighted for making gender issues part of the KPI metric for management; King & Wood Mallesons,
Ashurst, Norton Rose Fulbright and
Herbert Smith Freehills.
Another partner exits Edwards Wildman Palmer
With a merger almost certain between Edwards Wildman Palmer and Lord Locke, probably in the first half of next year, there have already been some partner departures. The latest to announce a move is London-based litigation partner Antonio Suarez-Martinez who will leave for GlaxoSmithKline.
Aussie lawyer is a festive record breaker
A Canberra lawyer has been officially confirmed as a record breaker by the Guinness Book of World Records. David Richards smashed the record for the largest LED light display for his Christmas lights extravaganza in Petrie Plaza. With a team of helpers he constructed the display measuring 41,000 square feet and using 1.2 million LED bulbs. Last year he was also a Guinness World Record breaker having festooned his house with over 500,000 lights but the traffic jams in his neighbourhood meant a change of venue for this year. Richards’ display will once again raise money for charity through donations.
How many lawyers does it take to give a movie the go-ahead?
Hollywood will often bring in lawyers to check through a forthcoming release but a new documentary about the Church of Scientology must surely be setting a record. The film called
Going Clear looks into the life of Scientology founder Ron J Hubbard and is based on a book by Lawrence Wright, which attracted attention from the organisation’s lawyers. Keen to avoid any legal pitfalls, film makers HBO has a team of around 160 lawyers checking it.
