09 March

Sticky

Potts Podium March 2021

The office of the Federal Attorney General has recently approved an extradition request with India for a person of interest in relation to the ongoing murder investigation of Cairns woman, Toyah Cordingley. While this is certainly a step toward finding the killer, caution is urged to temper expectations on how this order will progress the investigation. Former President of the Queensland Law Society and criminal lawyer, Bill Potts, has warned that the extradition process is a lengthy and uncertain one. Mr Potts refers to the hit and run incident which tragically killed Dean Hofstee in Melbourne over a decade ago. That...

04 March

0 Comments

Sticky

Workplace Investigations and Responding to Allegations of Misconduct

Posted by Chris Korbel

in Litigation

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

0 Comments

Sticky

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...

18 February

0 Comments

Sticky

What is a QP9?

Posted by Erin Mitchell

in General Law News, Uncategorised

By Erin Mitchell What is a QP9, where do I get it from and what do I do if it contains incorrect information? What is a QP9? A QP9 (also known as a Court Brief) is a document prepared by the Queensland Police Prosecutions when a person is charged with an offence. It outlines the exact charge/s against you and a summary of the alleged facts of the offence. It is also usually accompanied by a copy of your criminal and/or traffic history. It can contain other important information such as a summary of what other evidence might exist (eg. CCTV footage);...

16 February

0 Comments

Sticky

Legal Costs: How much will my matter cost?

Posted by Potts Lawyers

in Firm news

Legal Costs We are regularly asked by clients for an estimate of what their case will likely cost before the client is engaged. This video with managing director Rob Franklin answers how we deal with the costs involved with your legal matter. https://youtu.be/HN0aSV_256A We'll Provide Costs Upfront Each case is individual, and costs will be discussed in our free initial consultation before the client is engaged. When it comes to costs, we are committed to being absolutely upfront with clients about what their matter is going to cost. In some cases, we're able to provide a fixed fee. In most cases, though, given the uncertainty of what...

12 February

0 Comments

Sticky

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...

12 February

0 Comments

Sticky

Enhanced Enforcement & Deterrence Regulations for Queensland Engineers

Posted by Jason Papoutsis

in Uncategorised

The New Regulatory Regime Comes Into Effect on 1 March 2021 The Board of Professional Engineers Queensland (BPEQ) has been protecting the public and setting the standards for engineers in Queensland for almost a century. But soon, the BPEQ will have enhanced investigative and enforcement powers, bringing it up to speed with many other regulatory bodies in Queensland and Australia. It is anticipated that the strengthening of the regulatory regime will lead to audits, investigations, and possibly also disciplinary action and criminal charges against engineers and the firms who employ them. Who is affected by the changes? Approximately 16,000 engineers registered in Queensland will be...

02 February

0 Comments

Sticky

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...

02 February

0 Comments

Sticky

15 November 2020 Australian Citizenship Test Changes

Posted by Tom Foran

in Immigration

By Tom Foran The Australian government has announced changes to the Australian Citizenship Test. The new testing regime will come into effect from 15 November 2020. This article explains who needs to take the Australian Citizenship Test. If you have recently applied for Australian Citizenship, then depending upon whether you have applied under Citizenship by Conferral or Citizenship by Descent, you may be impacted. We will look at the exceptions. Some applicants that would normally be required to take the test are exempt. There is going to be an overlap between the existing system and the new system. If you are going to...

02 February

0 Comments

Sticky

Mandatory Visa Cancellation for Child Exploitation Materials in Queensland

Posted by Tom Foran

in Immigration

By Tom Foran On 15 September 2020, the Queensland government made amendments to the Penalties and Sentences Act 1992. The changes to subsection 9(4)[1] to that Act are relevant to this post. That subsection provides the requirements for a Court when determining the appropriate sentence for a person that has committed any offence of a sexual nature in relation to a child under 16 years of age, or in relation to a child exploitation material offence. The first requirement for the Court is to have regard to sentencing practices, principles, and guidelines that apply when the sentence is being imposed, and not when...

Potts Podium March 2021

Workplace Investigations and Responding to Allegations of Misconduct

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

What is a QP9?

Legal Costs: How much will my matter cost?

Responding to Show Cause Letters

Enhanced Enforcement & Deterrence Regulations for Queensland Engineers

From Collaboration to Conflict: When Business Disputes Arise

15 November 2020 Australian Citizenship Test Changes

Mandatory Visa Cancellation for Child Exploitation Materials in Queensland

Quick Links

Quick Contact

Contact Details

Blog

Quick Links

Quick Contact

Contact Details