Record Australian defamation pay-out for Geoffrey Rush

Actor Geoffrey Rush has been awarded the largest ever pay-out for a single person in an Australian defamation case – more than $2.8m.

The star of the global hit The King’s Speech was represented by 153 Phillip Barristers’ Sue Chrysanthou, led by Bruce McClintock SC.

Rush won his case in April when Justice Michael Wigley handed down his judgment against The Daily Telegraph publisher Nationwide News, which had made allegations about inappropriate behaviour.

The judge said that the publishers had not convinced him of the truth of the allegations made by a former co-star of the actor - Eryn Jean Norvill - or that she was a credible witness. Nationwide said at the time that it intended to appeal.

The ABC reports that damages awarded this week include general and aggravated damages of $850,000, more than $1 million for past economic loss, $919,678 for future economic loss, and $42,000 in damages.

Hogan Lovells trademark lawyers get collaboration platform
Trademark lawyers at Hogan Lovells are to benefit from a unified platform across its worldwide offices.

The platform will connect almost 400 lawyers across the firm to drive process standardization and automation. It is able to support multiple languages for easy integration across the firm’s global footprint.

The solution is being provided by Boston-based firm Anaqua through a strategic partnership.

“Transitioning to Anaqua demonstrates our commitment to leverage leading technology to streamline processes and reduce costs for our clients,” said Burkhart Goebel, Global Head of the Intellectual Property,

Media and Technology practice at Hogan Lovells. “It complements our Total Brand Care program; an initiative that leverages leading edge technology by implementing intelligent analytics within our trademark services to speed up the launch of new brands, and create greater efficiency for our clients’ brand protection.”

Indonesia alliance for KPMG law
KPMG law has expanded its capabilities in Asia Pacific through an alliance with local firm Lubis Ganie Surowidjojo (LGS).

The alliance went live on 1st May 2019 and builds on the Big Four services firm’s recent Hong Kong launch along with further expansion planned in the region.

LGS was founded more than 30 years ago and was previously an association firm of Clyde & Co.