Laurel Henning

'Deliberate fraud': EVP's allegations against StrongRoom AI revealed Newly released court documents for the first time detail why EVP made the extraordinary decision to call police on its own portfolio company.

Joining my colleagues @bronwenc.bsky.social and Daniel Van Boom in their StrongRoom AI coverage for @capitalbrief.com today with a bit of court action has been a wild ride on my penultimate day before parental leave. www.capitalbrief.com/article/deli...

Former Hells Angels member Pandeli settles News Corp defamation case Angelo Pandeli has settled his case against News Corp's Australian tabloids, wrapping up the first defamation lawsuit of 2025.

It was the first high-profile defamation case filed in 2025... and it's already over. With @johnbuckley.bsky.social for @capitalbrief.com
www.capitalbrief.com/article/form...

Mergers wake-up call The ACCC’s new merger law guidance this week was a warning for companies and lawyers that they need to be working through the changes earlier rather than later.

This week's Prima Facie newsletter for @capitalbrief.com had a mergers focus, with a side of #IWD2025: what are law firms doing? What did WGEA gender pay gap data show for the legal industry and what's changed one year after the publication of key NDA research.
www.capitalbrief.com/newsletter/m...

Holding Redlich’s Troy Lewis on industry shifts and the fight to retain mid-career lawyers National managing partner Troy Lewis speaks to Capital Brief about evolving client expectations, talent retention and why location is no issue when it comes to leadership.

Holding Redlich national managing partner Troy Lewis spoke to @laurelhenning.bsky.social for our interview series 'The Firm'.

Here's what he had to say about evolving client expectations, talent retention and why location is no issue when it comes to leadership👇

A colleague recently loaned me this collection of Patricia Highsmith short stories saying, “awful cover, great book”. They were right.

Dovetail's discrimination test case Sexual harassment and discrimination allegations against Dovetail and its CEO Benjamin Humphrey will be an early test of new cost protections for claimants in similar cases.

Zooming out from the allegations against Dovetail and there's a lot at play in this case as a test for new cost protections for similar cases... as well as an insight into the SafeWork process.

My latest Prima Facie newsletter for @capitalbrief.com

www.capitalbrief.com/newsletter/d...

Lots of fun seeing so many of you come down for a coffee on @capitalbrief.com this morning. We’ll be back at Diggy Doo’s on corner of Pitt St and Martin Place tomorrow and Wednesday. First 100 coffees free. Available 9am-10am

Blackbird examining 'very serious' Dovetail harassment allegations One of Dovetail's most significant investors is "considering" disputed allegations against the co-founder of a portfolio company "with the seriousness they deserve".

The top stories in today's Edition:
- Details of Dovetail's harassment case
- Dealmakers circle KKR's MYOB
- Microsoft breaks silence on Labor's tech levy

Surge in AI-related litigation tipped as regulators, class action firms circle Moves by companies to stay up to date in the AI race will create new litigation threats for corporate Australia in 2025.

Corporate Australia's growing embrace of artificial intelligence could lead to an uptick in litigation against third party technology vendors, and lawsuits from shareholder groups, when things invariably go wrong.

My latest for @capitalbrief.com here
www.capitalbrief.com/article/surg...

News Corp's defamation doozy A Federal Court defamation showdown is already underway at the start of 2025. Here’s what we might expect from Angelo Pandeli’s battle with News Corp.

This week in my Prima Facie newsletter for @capitalbrief.com I take a deep dive into what we might expect from the first high-profile defamation case of the year - Angelo Pandeli's lawsuit against News Corp.
www.capitalbrief.com/newsletter/n...

I'm interested in whether the overseas US stint proves less attractive over the next 4 years as a result of the debate over there.

🔔 This week in Prima Facie for @capitalbrief.com

🔨 What are law firms doing in the face of the growing DEI debate?

“You’d need a majority of people to believe we’re all woke and I can’t see that happening,” Bartier Perry partner James Mattson said.

www.capitalbrief.com/newsletter/l...

LMK what you think!

Ready the charts! A great piece from Jennifer Duke for @capitalbrief.com on "middle Australia" --- politicians' favourite target group. Are you in it?

🎉 First Prima Facie of the year is out.

Great to be back. 👋

📰 This week: I've spoken with Herbert Smith Freehills' Kam Jamshidi and King & Wood Mallesons' Mark McNamara about ASIC's interest in private markets for the year ahead.

www.capitalbrief.com/newsletter/p...

Google 'beauty parade' The Piper Alderman-led class action against Google has set the stage for the filing of three competing group claims and a likely "beauty parade" to decide exactly which matters proceed.

My last Prima Facie newsletter for @capitalbrief.com this year is now with subscribers. We launched this weekly legal newsletter in March at the start of the Epic Games v Apple and Google trial in Australia. Thanks to all who've read and subscribed since!
www.capitalbrief.com/newsletter/g...

Tonight at book club we discussed this recent @thebookerprizes.bsky.social winner. And oh what discussion a tiny book can prompt! I admired it before for its poeticism… post book chat, I think it’s quietly brilliant.

Seer Medical co-founder forced to revise key claims in Breakthrough Victoria dispute The case between the state-based venture capital fund and a struggling portfolio company has become a flashpoint in the debate over government funding for startups.

Seer Medical co-founder Dean Freestone has until Feb. 19 to apply to revise claims against Breakthough Victoria and the fund’s chief asset management officer Sally McCutchan in Freestone's Fair Work lawsuit over his dismissal from Seer.
www.capitalbrief.com/article/seer...

Kraken crypto exchange operator Bit Trade must pay $8 million for its failure to comply with design and distribution obligations, the Federal Court has ordered. Also ASIC legal costs.

Notes and observations from ACCR’s courtroom test of Santos’ climate targets ACCR's greenwashing allegations against Santos could set the stage for future lawsuits. Here's what we know so far.

@accr.bsky.social v Santos wrapped up today in Federal Court. So where do we stand while we wait for Justice Markovic's judgment?
Some notes and observations for your weekend, via @capitalbrief.com

www.capitalbrief.com/article/note...

It's newsletter day for me @capitalbrief.com
This week in Prima Facie - our weekly legal newsletter - I look at the class action and regulatory threat to Google's adtech business in Australia.
Subscribe for next week's edition! Two more for 2024. www.capitalbrief.com/newsletter/a...

From meme coins to digital wallets, new ASIC guidance offers some clarity for crypto industry ASIC's eagerly awaited guidance note on digital assets provides helpful direction but not 100% certainty on what will and won't be regulated.

@ajcornell.bsky.social and I wrote about ASIC's new crypto guidance for @capitalbrief.com from meme coins to digital wallets... there's lots to get into, but don't expect 100% certainty on what digital assets are regulated.
www.capitalbrief.com/article/from...

Book thoughts on this extremely popular debut. It’s fine. Grab it for the beach and enjoy the excruciating takedown of office dynamics.

Labor lists media reforms on cabinet agenda amid chaotic final sitting week Ministers were set to discuss measures this week, including the government's response to Meta and the future of the news media bargaining code, sources said.

NEW: Labor is finalising a package of media reforms which tackles Meta’s decision to end commercial deals with publishers and establishes a new regime to guide journalism-related policy.

Read more in this story from Anthony Galloway and @johnbuckley.bsky.social 👇

Had such a lovely time chatting to @mekongreview.bsky.social's @kixes.bsky.social last night at Better Read than Dead.

We discussed her editorial voice, why pop culture is as important as an academic book on maps in a Lit. Review and an audience question on language that I'm still thinking about!

It's newsletter day for me @capitalbrief.com. This week in Prima Facie, I look at what right to disconnect laws mean for the legal industry at a time of changing workplace cultures and employee expectations.

Subscribe to get it straight to your inbox.

www.capitalbrief.com/newsletter/d...

@capitalbrief.bsky.social has made it to BlueSky and our first post highlights some fab recent reporting from @bronwenc.bsky.social on Employment Hero. It has been a 🍿👀🤯 couple of weeks.

White & Case on being a firm for APAC — not just Australia With the influence of US firms in Australia on the rise, White & Case partners Brendan Quinn and Tim Sackar discuss US capital’s impact and their Asia-Pacific focused strategy.

I sat down recently with White & Case partners Brendan Quinn and Tim Sackar to discuss the lay of the land for the firm and what's ahead for 2025.
- more challenges for ASX-listed companies
- energy transition
- the influence of private capital on transactions
www.capitalbrief.com/article/whit...

Hosting a chat on Thursday evening at Better Read Than Dead book shop. I’ll be speaking with Mekong Review managing editor Kirsten Han. Come chat! And tell me here what you love about literary reviews www.betterreadevents.com/events/kirst...

Some bullet point takeaways from bookclub:
- Women in their 30s written as if 75? Exhibit A: Margaret’s headscarf in the rain… why? 👵🏻
-Love Sylvia’s — I don’t need you to save me speech 💃
- Naomi knows what’s up and sees Peter more clearly than he sees himself 😎