Maddocks

A huge welcome to our 35 clerks who joined the Maddocks clerkship program across Canberra, Melbourne and Sydney on 17 November. Our clerkship program provides these talented law students with the opportunity to grow professionally in a supportive and collaborative environment led by our seasoned partners – gaining experience through rotations across our practice groups. Our teams play such an important role in helping clerks learn and build confidence, and we’re grateful for the mentorship and guidance they provide each year. We’re excited to support our clerks as they begin their career journey with us and also show them what makes Maddocks a great place to #DoWhatMatters. #Maddocks #DoWhatMattersAtMaddocks #Clerks #Clerkship #LawCareers #LegalProfession #ClerkshipProgram #SydneyLaw #MelbourneLaw #CanberraLaw #LegalExcellence

We are seeking a lawyer with expertise in Administrative Law to join our well regarded Sydney Public Law team. The team is renowned for its exceptional mentorship and positive culture, supported by encouraging partners. Working alongside Partner Michael Winram, this unique role will focus on providing merits review for a Commonwealth Government agency. This offers an exceptional career opportunity for advancement and growth, working alongside professionals who share similar goals in a collaborative team environment. Apply now and make your move to #Maddocks: https://loom.ly/ZwrtgQQ #Sydney #PublicLaw #AdministrativeLaw #CommonwealthGovernment #Government

Join our Melbourne Employment, Safety & People team at our renowned, annual end of year event on Thursday 27 November, to learn about the key developments that shaped the employment, industrial and safety landscape in 2025 – and what they might mean for you and your workplace in 2026. Featuring speakers Catherine Dunlop, Dale McQualter, Meaghan Bare, Michael Nicolazzo, Ross Jackson and Meredith Kennedy, we will explore how the key developments of 2025 will impact on both public and private sector with learnings for your workplace. including: • the perennial issue of flexible work requests and working from home • the Government’s foreshadowed changes on restraints of trade, parental leave developments • the imminent introduction of psychosocial regulations in Victoria • looking at some recent key cases including the Federal Court’s decision regarding annualised salaries Register now via maddocks.events@maddocks.com.au #EmploymentLaw #2025InReview #2026Forecast #BusinessInMelbourne #EmployerInsights #EmploymentInsights #Maddocks #ESP

The Planning Amendment (Better Decisions Made Faster) Bill was introduced to the Victorian Parliament for second reading on 29 October, 2025. The Bill makes a large number of changes to the Planning & Environment Act 1987, which Maria Marshall, John Rantino and Jess Critchley-Roy have summarised here: https://loom.ly/sQpyWbc The team will continue to share detailed commentary on the anticipated changes in the coming weeks, as the Bill progresses through Parliament. #Maddocks #Planning #PlanningAndEnvironment #VictorianPlanning

With new sustainability reporting obligations now in effect for Group 1 entities, and commencing for Group 2 entities next financial year, board members and legal and operational teams must be ready to meet the new requirements under Chapter 2M of the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth). Partners Alanna Mitchell and Ron Smooker and Senior Associate Samantha Murphy recently unpacked the topic in a webinar for clients, providing practical direction on the regime’s key obligations. Maddocks’ ESG and Climate Change specialists are helping organisations navigate these complex responsibilities, ensuring compliance in a fast-moving regulatory environment. Find out more here: https://loom.ly/jBXrcfA #Maddocks #Sustainability #SustainabilityReporting #ClimateChange #ESG #ASIC

The New South Wales Government’s 2025 planning reforms in the Environmental Planning and Assessment (Planning System Reforms) Bill 2025 (NSW) propose significant amendments to the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979. These reforms mark a decisive shift in how development is assessed, approved and coordinated across the State. The Bill has now passed both houses of Parliament. Partners Breellen Warry and Joshua Same, Lawyers Amelia Caldwell and Stephanie M. and Graduate Kate Morel analyse the amendments in further detail in our insight article: https://loom.ly/JLRzGtk #Maddocks #NSWPlanning #PlanningAndEnvironment

2025 saw numerous, significant changes to employment law at a federal and state level. We’ve summarised the key developments across the year that employers, particularly those in Victoria and New South Wales, need to be aware of across Work Health & Safety, Industrial Relations, Restraints of Trade Flexible Work Arrangements, and AI, as well as Major Cases. Read more: https://lnkd.in/gCW4JwQv For any guidance on these changes, get in touch with our Employment, Safety & People team: Bruce Heddle, Catherine Dunlop, Dale McQualter, Lindy Richardson, Maree Skinner, Meaghan Bare, Michael Nicolazzo, Olivia Hillier, Ross Jackson. #2025inReview #Employmentlaw #Maddocks

Artificial intelligence has already revolutionised the life sciences and healthcare sectors, and its potential applications seem to continue to grow exponentially. Across industries, recent surveys have found that around 51% of people are using Large Language Models (LLMs), like ChatGPT, for informal learning and between 24 - 33% use LLMs for their work (double the number who did so only two years ago). Ben Miller, Alexandra de Zwart and Fiona Deng explore the question around whether LLMs could form part of the “common general knowledge” (or “CGK”) in patent proceedings, which would have significant impacts on the consideration of validity both during patent prosecution and in patent litigation, here: https://loom.ly/voSuBNg #Maddocks #ThePrescription #AI #Patents #Healthcare #LifeSciences #LLM #CGK

Maddocks was proud to sponsor the Victorian Women Lawyers's annual Warren Moot competition, now in its 11th year. Congratulations to the finalists, 'How to Get Away with Mooting' and 'Corrs of Action' (winning team). It was great to see their preparation and advocacy in front of Professor the Honourable Marilyn Warren AC KC, former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, and the Honourable Justice James Dudley Elliott, current judge of the Supreme Court. Not only is the Warren Moot a showcase of advocacy skills, it’s a competition that plays a vital role in breaking down barriers and creating opportunities for women in law. It’s also a valuable opportunity for participants to build confidence, sharpen skills, and ensure that the next generation of lawyers reflects the diversity of the community we serve. Michelle Dixon, Shannon Lyndon-Lugg, Danielle Strain, Marita Pascoe #Maddocks #WarrenMoot #WomenInLaw #VictorianWomenLawyers

Last week we hosted an exclusive boardroom lunch for clients featuring guest speaker Hayley Channer, Director for Economic Security at the United States Studies Centre (USSC). Hayley shared her insights on the current geopolitical climate and how global shifts are shaping the landscape for Australian businesses. Fresh from high-level discussions in Washington D.C. with government and industry leaders, Hayley delivered timely perspectives to our general counsel guests on emerging international trends, their local implications, and future legal and strategic influences. Thank you to our attendees for the thought-provoking conversations around the table and for making the event a success. Brendan Tomlinson, Arlene Colquhoun #Maddocks #USSC #Geopolitics #Leadership #Strategy #GlobalTrends