Law Report

Should an employer be able to restrict your future work options?When you are fighting with your neighbour over things like fences, cameras or cars, whose side is the law on? 

Justice Joe Willams, the first Māori member of NZ's Supreme Court, speaks to Damien Carrick about how courts in his country are adopting First Nations concepts in the common law. 

Donald Trump's high profile criminal trial gets underway in New York. And meet the tough former prosecutor who became responsible for monitoring the reintegration of Victoria's most dangerous criminals. 

In a high-profile defamation case, justice Michael Lee found that former political staffer Bruce Lehrmann, on the balance of probabilities, raped his then colleague Brittany Higgins inside Parliament House in 2019.

If someone is charged with a violent crime like murder or assault, what defences can they argue? That depends on what part of Australia you live in.The Queensland Law Reform Commission is conducting a review of the criminal defences which operate in that state – some of them very controversial. Warning: this episode contains descriptions of violence, including murder, assault and domestic violence.

Andrew Bell, NSW Chief Justice, discusses significant trials in the history of the NSW Supreme Court, from convict days to Indigenous justice challenges. He reflects on a murder trial with lack of direct evidence, evolution of judicial oversight, and the court's vital role in society as it marks its 200th anniversary.

The Law Report makes the law accessible.

Ben Kane, an intellectual property expert from James and Wells, and Naomi Pierce Patton, a trademark attorney specializing in patent law, delve into the intricate world of IP rights, particularly during divorces and disputes among inventors. They discuss a captivating case involving a mining equipment company unable to protect its invention. The conversation also highlights the complexities of copyright disputes in family law, emphasizing the importance of a solid IP strategy for inventors, and the daunting challenges faced in patent enforcement.

The global campaign to end the misuse of non-disclosure agreements. And record damages awarded in a sexual harassment case make it clear courts won't tolerate employers who intimidate complainants.

How are non-disclosure agreements used in the settlement of sexual harassment claims? Damien Carrick speaks to the co-authors of a new study, "Let's talk about confidentiality".