HWLE Lawyers

Over the past few days, our people have shown up in force at Walk for Justice events across the country to mark National Pro Bono Day. The day recognises the important role lawyers play in improving access to justice, particularly for the most vulnerable members of our community. Events like Walk for Justice are a powerful reminder of the collective effort behind this work, bringing the profession together in support of a shared goal. It was fantastic to see so many of our people taking part across the country. Your time, energy and commitment are what make this work possible. Thank you to everyone involved and to those who support our pro bono practice year-round.

Compliance in the Franchising landscape has shifted - again. With the introduction of the Competition and Consumer (Industry Codes — Franchising) Regulations 2024, the move from 'marketing funds' to broader 'specific purpose funds' is more than a terminology change, it’s a fundamental expansion of obligations. Greater scope. Greater scrutiny. Greater expectation of transparency. In their latest article, Matthew Rowe and Emily Lucas break down what these changes really mean in practice, and why franchisors need to rethink how they structure, manage and report on funds contributed by franchisees. Click here to read more: https://lnkd.in/gYhv2Ezi

HWLE Lawyers is pleased to announce our selection of Legora as our firmwide AI platform. From July, Legora will be made available to all staff across our nine offices, marking one of the most significant AI deployments in the Australian legal market to date. As we enter a new phase backed by a strong period of growth, this investment marks an exciting step forward in realising the full potential of our firm. Read the full announcement on our website: https://lnkd.in/gYSF6aXD Kris Hopkins Simon Hill

You’ve signed the SPA. Completion is days away. Then the target’s biggest customer sends a termination notice because, in their view, control has already changed hands to the purchaser. It’s one of the most overlooked risks in M&A: pre-completion covenants and consent CPs that are meant to protect the buyer can quietly do the opposite. Tom Morgan, Stella Lee and Jacca Chang unpack the trap and how to draft your way out of it in part 1 of the three-part series on change of control risks. Click here to read more: https://lnkd.in/gV9P7uHX

The High Court of Australia’s decision in The Goliath confirms that shipowners cannot limit liability for wreck removal claims where a State has exercised its Article 18(1) reservation under the Limitation Convention, consistent with the earlier Hong Kong Star Centurion decision. In doing so, the High Court adopts a more text-focused and structured approach, departing from generalia specialibus and relying on the official records of a negotiation of the convention (travaux) to confirm ordinary meaning. Joe Hurley and Jesper Martens explore the decision and its practical implications for practitioners operating in jurisdictions with Article 18(1) reservations. Click here to read more: https://lnkd.in/g9_bWPK4

HWLE's Canberra team were pleased to attend last night’s Future Women Budget Dinner at Parliament House, joining leaders across government and industry to discuss the budget outlook and its implications for women and the broader economy.   It was a valuable opportunity to engage in thoughtful discussion on policy priorities and future‑focused reform in a unique setting.   Thank you to Future Women for convening such an important conversation.

HWLE advised the State of South Australia on its agreement with IOR to establish the Port Bonython Strategic Diesel Reserve. The project will strengthen the State's fuel security by adding Singapore sourced diesel supply and complements the Australian Government’s Fuel Security and Resilience package. The team was led by Nick Karagiannis, with support from Aleina Dearden, Chelsea V. and Finley Hyde. Click here to read more: https://lnkd.in/gzgUczwA

In this General Insurance Insights newsletter, Ashley Harding, Madeleine Dashiell and Claudia Albert bring you the latest case notes on key judgments from April 2026 affecting general insurers in Australia. Click here to read more: https://lnkd.in/gR-dAvFg

Last night the Australian Government delivered the 2026-27 Federal Budget. Vincent Licciardi, Eric Lay and Sancho Fernandes provide a high level overview below to explore what’s changing and how it may affect you and your business. If you would like further information or advice, contact a member of our Tax team by clicking the link here: https://lnkd.in/gASRpXFi

NSW’s new landlord offence laws are a significant development for commercial lessors, introducing criminal liability where illicit tobacco or illegal vapes are sold from leased premises with the lessor's knowledge. The changes also expand closure order powers and termination rights, making it important for landlords and lessors to review risk management and response protocols now. Martin Downing, Matthew Powell, Gary Newton and Helena Tryphon explore what the Bill means in practice. Click here to read more: https://lnkd.in/gtxsbSuQ