Insights & news

The 2021-22 Victorian budget unveiled a suite of tax hikes.

In an interview with Accountants Daily, Tax partners Jonathan Ortner and Shaun Cartoon spoke about the ATO’s Top 500 and Next 5,000 Programs and explained why a soft hug can quickly turn into a tight squeeze.

In a comment article published in today’s Australian Financial Review, partner Jonathan Wenig compares the tactics of “two species of disruptive investors” and explores whether and how activity that can “smell a lot like market manipulation” might be regulated.

In the April edition of the Law Institute Journal partner Peter Seidel and lawyer Karri Walker give their insights into what commercial law firms can do to attract increasing numbers of Aboriginal lawyers.

Writing in today’s Australian newspaper, corporate and M&A partner Jonathan Wenig reflects on what the pandemic has uncovered about the best channels of communication for closing out transactions.

Partner Jeremy Leibler has been on the receiving end of AFR columnist Joe Aston’s pen but in an article in today’s paper, Jeremy argues the federal court finding that Aston had defamed former Blue Sky director Elaine Stead had concerning implications.

In an opinion article published in The Australian, senior partner Mark Leibler writes that he is confident Prime Minister Scott Morrison remains open-minded on whether to take the question of a constitutionally enshrined Voice for Indigenous Australians to a referendum.

In yesterday's episode of The Briefing, Southern Cross Austereo's daily news podcast, partner Scott Phillips explains that while shareholder activists are increasingly calling for additional reporting by companies around environmental issues, whether they're prepared to accept lower returns to achieve their goals is not yet clear.

Tax Partner Shaun Cartoon began his career in the firm's tax practice before travelling and working abroad. We spoke with Shaun following his recent return to the firm and what it's like to be back.

Arnold Bloch Leibler recently provided an important virtual briefing for clients on NSW stamp duty and land tax changes that will require trust deeds to be reviewed before the end of the year.

Senior associate Peter Scott has written an article for the Australian Tax Forum journal, where he highlights key areas of uncertainty in Australia’s tax consolidation regime.

Arnold Bloch Leibler tax team members recently presented recent changes to the NSW and Victorian foreign duty surcharges, a summary of Victorian COVID-19 initiatives and a discussion of the changing FIRB landscape.

New taxation special counsel Rosalie Cattermole offers an insight into her background and what experience she brings to ABL's tax team.

Arnold Bloch Leibler has advised Charter Hall Group on its most recent transaction, a leasehold interest in 35 hectares of master planned approved industrial land known as Light Horse Business Hub in Eastern Creek, NSW.

In an opinion article published in The Australian newspaper, partner Jeremy Lanzer describes a new Information Statement issued by ASIC as "a welcome first foray for ASIC and a likely precursor to a changed attitude to regulating activist short sellers.”

Arnold Bloch Leibler has acted for Australian property developer, Metro Property, in the acquisition of the prominent ‘Bingara Gorge’ site from Lendlease, one of Australia’s largest residential subdivisions. The sale agreement for the 900 lot site in Sydney’s southwest is due to be completed mid 2021.

In today’s AFR, partner Jeremy Leibler explains why Arnold Bloch Leibler has been arguing for years that Australia needs to regulate the proxy adviser industry.

The Australian Financial Review reports today that while newly appointed partner (effective 1 July), Rebecca Zwier, is the daughter of one of Australia’s busiest lawyers, “’Mr Fix-it’ Leon Zwier, she’s been able to carve her own path working in the firm’s corporate and M&A practice.

An article in the Saturday Paper exploring community reaction to proposed changes to laws affecting charities highlights a submission to the government by Arnold Bloch Leibler’s public interest practice.

Arnold Bloch Leibler has acted for ASX listed Zip Co Limited (ZIP: ASX), on its latest global acquisitions, agreeing to acquire European “Buy Now Pay Later” provider Twisto Payments and UAE-based Spotii Holdings.

Australia appears to have weathered the pandemic as well as anywhere in the world (so far), but that’s not to say it hasn’t had a huge impact. Some aspects of life and work may return to the way they were but others may have changed permanently.

In an opinion article published in today’s AFR, tax partner Shaun Cartoon explains the good sense of the government’s long-awaited enhancements to the operation of employee share schemes.

Arnold Bloch Leibler has advised ASX-listed online automotive classifieds business carsales.com on its acquisition of a 49 percent stake in US-based digital marketplace business, Trader Interactive.

Speaking at a pre-Budget AICC luncheon in Melbourne yesterday, co-sponsored by Century Plaza Group and Arnold Bloch Leibler, PM Scott Morrison opened his address to a room of 650 guests recounting a conversation he had just had with senior partner Mark Leibler in which the PM had assured Mark that Australia would not be attending the Durban Declaration meeting in September. “We will not associate Australia with one-sided and contentious language that singles out Israel,” he said.