04 March

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Workplace Investigations and Responding to Allegations of Misconduct

At face value, responding to allegations of misconduct may seem simple; you put forward your version of events and that’s it, right? Not exactly. This article will provide three general reasons about why responding to allegations of misconduct may not be as simple as one might think. Reason 1 - Procedural Fairness A crucial requirement of any workplace investigation is generally that the subject of alleged misconduct must be afforded procedural fairness. Put simply, this means that sufficient and appropriate opportunities must be provided to the subject to respond, and all evidence which is being relied upon by the decision-maker ought to...

04 March

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To Show Cause or not Show Cause – Is that Really A Question?

Posted by Chris Korbel

in Litigation

By Chris Korbel The title of this article might be familiar to some or might be a vague memory of something that you have heard someone say once before in a Year 5 English class. If you can’t recall why the title seems familiar, the title of this article is a reference to William Shakespeare’s Hamlet. “To be or not to be, that is the question” is the first line of Prince Hamlet’s soliloquy in which the prince contemplates some very serious matters concerning life. Another way of putting those words is “to exist or not to exist, that is the...

12 February

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Responding to Show Cause Letters

Posted by Jason Papoutsis

in Litigation

If you have received a show cause letter, it is important that you obtain legal advice and assistance with responding to the allegations against you. This applies to people who are both guilty and innocent of the conduct alleged. This article discusses the purpose of show cause letters, the common forms of show cause letters, and why legal advice is so important to ensuring you attain a successful outcome. What is a Show Cause Letter? A show cause letter (also known as a show cause notice), is a letter sent to a person which provides them with an opportunity to respond to an allegation mounted against...

02 February

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From Collaboration to Conflict: When Business Disputes Arise

Posted by Jason Papoutsis

in Litigation, Uncategorised

By Jason Papoutsis What Happens When Your Joint Venture, Business Partnership, or Informal Collaboration With Another Business Turns Sour? An increasing amount of businesses across the world, and here in Queensland, are collaborating with other businesses. These types of collaborative relationships are very common these days, whether it’s GoPro & Redbull, a social media influencer who has entered into an agreement to promote a business and attend events, or your local coffee shop teaming up with a surf shop down the street. This recent trend should come as no surprise, as there are many benefits to businesses collaborating. Some of these benefits include: Collaborative relationships...

15 January

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Weapons Licensing Matters in Queensland

Posted by Jason Papoutsis

in Litigation

Australian attitudes towards gun laws are arguably much more sensible than those in the United States, where mass shootings and gun related violence are a common occurrence. The rest of the world sees Australia, and the lessons learned from the Port Arthur massacre, as a leading example of why gun laws should be strengthened. It is evident that the strengthening of gun laws in Australia has generally led to a downturn in gun related homicides and crimes, and since Australian gun laws were strengthened, no mass murders similar to Port Arthur have occurred since. Despite this, gun laws and gun safety...

01 September

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Ashleigh DoRozario: Founding Member of the Queensland Law Society’s Diverse Abilities Network

Posted by Ashleigh DoRozario

in Litigation

At the beginning of this year, I became a founding member of the Queensland Law Society’s Diverse Abilities Network. As a solicitor with disability, being legally blind with low vision, I represent persons with disability in the Queensland legal profession. In this position, I also work collaboratively with the Queensland Law Society’s Equity and Diversity Committee. The aim of the network is to: address accessibility issues within the legal industry; seek greater diversity and inclusion within the profession; advocate equal opportunity and provide a support network for practitioners with disability accessibility, discrimination or human rights issues. With a view to destigmatising disability...

01 September

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Blue card “No Card, No Start”: New Changes To the Blue Card System

Posted by Jason Papoutsis

in Litigation, Uncategorised

Blue Card “No Card, No Start” in Queensland On 31 August 2020, changes were made to the Blue Card system which all Blue Card applicants and Blue Card holders should be aware of. The “No Card, No Start” law The Blue Card system now states that applicants will be unable to work or volunteer in a position which requires a blue card until their application is approved. Previously, applicants were permitted to begin work which requires a Blue Card whilst their application was being processed. New Rules for Blue Card Expiring The new rules also state that if you do not renew your blue card...

21 July

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Ashleigh DoRozario Discusses ‘The Language of Ability’ in the Queensland Law Society’s Proctor

Posted by Ashleigh DoRozario

in Litigation

Potts Lawyers’ litigation lawyer, Ashleigh DoRozario, has authored an article discussing ‘The Language of Ability’. Her article is this month’s spotlight feature of the Queensland Law Society’s online publication, Proctor. Ashleigh DoRozario is legally blind as a result of an autoimmune condition. However, she was not always blind. Ashleigh has been a valued member of our Potts Lawyers litigation team for over a decade, and we have been with her throughout the diagnostic journey to legal blindness; supporting her wellbeing, learning her remarkable capabilities despite adversity, and encouraging her professional development. Over the years Ashleigh has learnt to adapt to her disability,...

21 January

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Part I – The Requirements of Unfair Dismissal

Posted by Chris Korbel

in Litigation

When an employee is dismissed from their employment, an important consideration for the parties is determining whether the dismissal was unfair. Failing to consider this factor can lead to issues for an employer and may entitle the employee to compensation. There are particular circumstances where an employer is well within their right to dismiss a person from their employment, which is usually based on justified and well-established grounds for dismissal. In some cases, an employee is might have been dismissed on the basis of unsubstantiated allegations or inappropriate personal reasons. Whatever the circumstance, it is important to note that time limits apply to...

14 January

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Domain Name Disputes – An easy option?

Posted by Chris Korbel

in Litigation

The internet has provided a platform for businesses and individuals to gain greater access to a wider audience and market share by registering a domain name. Some of these businesses and individuals rely on their hard-earned and well-established goodwill to continue to operate. Often domain name disputes arise because someone recognises another business or individual’s goodwill and decides to exploit the goodwill of another in order to obtain a commercial benefit. Other times, domain name disputes arise because a competitor has registered a domain name to disrupt another individual or business and is not necessarily seeking to obtain any commercial benefit...

Workplace Investigations and Responding to Allegations of Misconduct

To Show Cause or not Show Cause – Is that Really A Question?

Responding to Show Cause Letters

From Collaboration to Conflict: When Business Disputes Arise

Weapons Licensing Matters in Queensland

Ashleigh DoRozario: Founding Member of the Queensland Law Society’s Diverse Abilities Network

Blue card “No Card, No Start”: New Changes To the Blue Card System

Ashleigh DoRozario Discusses ‘The Language of Ability’ in the Queensland Law Society’s Proctor

Part I – The Requirements of Unfair Dismissal

Domain Name Disputes – An easy option?

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