Laurel Henning

Sydney

Legal and Regulatory Affairs Correspondent at Capital Brief

Legal & regulatory affairs correspondent @CapitalBrief. [email protected] Former MLex (LexisNexis)

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Articles

How Ashurst's advisory arm is driving the firm's growth

1 month ago | capitalbrief.com | Laurel Henning

Ashurst’s expanded advisory service marks the latest evolution in law firms positioning themselves as one-stop shops for clients. In 2015, accounting firms surged into the legal services space — but now, the pendulum has swung back. Speaking to Capital Brief for The Firm, Ashurst partner and regional head for Australia Lea Constantine said the firm's expanded advisory service is permanent, because it's not just a bolt-on service.
Thomson Geer hires ex-Hogan Lovells life sciences team

1 month ago | capitalbrief.com | Laurel Henning

The news: Thomson Geer has bolstered its more than 150-strong partnership with the addition of ex-Hogan Lovells partner Mandi Jacobson. Jacobson joins with her life sciences team: special counsel Danielle Kuti and associate Bonnie Liu, who work on the registration of pharmaceuticals and medical devices, clinical trials, recalls and product liability. The context: The Thomson Geer announcement comes just over six months after Hogan Lovells announced it would be shuttering its Australian office.
Australia’s DEI waiting game

1 month ago | capitalbrief.com | Laurel Henning

Law firms across the US haven't been spared from the Trump administration's broad push for businesses to ditch their diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs. But for a handful of firms, the scrutiny has been more personal. To date, Donald Trump has signed individual executive orders targeting five law firms, including investigations of their hiring practices.
'Deliberate fraud': EVP's allegations against StrongRoom AI revealed

1 month ago | capitalbrief.com | Daniel Van Boom |Bronwen Clune |Laurel Henning

Newly released court documents for the first time detail why EVP made the extraordinary decision to call the police on its own portfolio company. Sydney VC firm EVP has accused StrongRoom AI of understating its debts and overstating its revenue and profitability before it invested in the startup.
Sleeping Duck's trade secrets dispute heads to mediation

1 month ago | capitalbrief.com | Laurel Henning

Sean Curry was called as a witness in the Shiffman case, during which his involvement with another online furniture retailer, Eva, came to light. Earlier discovery orders saw Sleeping Duck demand access to emails, documents and records of oral statements between Curry and Eva between February 2022 and April 2024 covering matters such as "trade secrets," budgeting and performance statistics.
Super board directors in firing line as ASIC uncovers systemic issues with death benefit claims

1 month ago | capitalbrief.com | Jassmyn Goh |Laurel Henning

The corporate watchdog has found incorrect, incomplete or inappropriate data has left directors unable to identify, address and remediate serious issues. The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) has doubled down on its scrutiny of boards through its latest report on superannuation death benefits.
ASIC finds systemic failings in superannuation death benefit claims handling

1 month ago | capitalbrief.com | Laurel Henning

BriefingSuperannuation scrutiny12:01am on 31 March 2025The news: The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) has hit superannuation trustees with a raft of 34 recommendations linked to their handling of death benefit claims, after the regulator found excessive delays, poor customer service, and ineffective claims handling procedures at 10 major funds, including Australian Retirement Trust, Hostplus and UniSuper.
Meta denies market power in digital advertising amid Treasury competition push

1 month ago | capitalbrief.com | Laurel Henning |John Buckley

Meta has pushed back against a Treasury request for feedback on whether social media should be prioritised under proposed digital competition rules. Meta has sharply criticised a Treasury request for feedback on whether social media services should be prioritised in the development of new digital competition rules, claiming it does not hold market power in digital advertising.
AUSTRAC, Entain flag mediation talks in money laundering case

1 month ago | capitalbrief.com | Laurel Henning

The news: Lawyers in the Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre's (AUSTRAC's) anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing lawsuit against Ladbrokes and Neds owner Entain Group plan to hold mediation talks in the case, the Federal Court of Australia has heard.
TikTok takes second shot at YouTube's exemption from teen social media ban

1 month ago | capitalbrief.com | John Buckley |Laurel Henning

TikTok has used its response to consultation over Treasury's 'ex-ante' digital competition regime to take a swipe at YouTube and Google. TikTok has for a second time taken aim at Labor’s decision to offer YouTube an exemption from its new social media age restrictions and claimed the move would further entrench Google’s market power.