Insights & news

Insights Media mention

Under the microscope: COVID-19 and the class action landscape

In an article published in the latest edition of Company Director, the monthly magazine published by the Australian Institute of Company Directors, Partner Teresa Ward asks whether the COVID-19 pandemic will be as influential on the class action landscape as Ken Hayne’s Royal Commission and what that means for company directors in the post-pandemic world.

2 June 2020

Insights Article

David Rosenbloom in conversation with the IFA Australian Branch

Last week, Arnold Bloch Leibler Partner Paul Sokolowski hosted the IFA Australian Branch's virtual breakfast briefing on the topic of 'International Tax, Post Pandemic'.

21 May 2020

Insights Publication

COVID-19 update: A return to the workplace

The COVID-19 pandemic is far from over, but Australia’s federal, state and territory governments are beginning to scale back restrictions. Many businesses are now turning their attention to managing the safe return of their staff to the workplace in the coming weeks and months. Our Workplace Advisory team is here to assist employers to understand their rights and obligations in formulating and implementing a return-to-work strategy.

20 May 2020

Insights Publication

Philanthropy in the time of COVID-19

On 6 May 2020, the responsible minister for Charities, Senator Zed Seselja, announced a number of welcome changes regarding philanthropy in the time of COVID-19. These changes will encourage Public and Private Ancillary Funds to exceed annual distribution requirements and stimulate giving to disaster relief funds established for the relief of Australians in distress as a result of COVID-19.

15 May 2020

Insights Publication

Another brick in the wall – the Greensill decision and Australia's international tax policy settings

As Tax Partner Clint Harding writes in the Weekly Tax Bulletin, a recent Federal Court decision regarding the taxation of non-taxable Australian property distributions made by the trustee of an Australian discretionary trust to a non-resident beneficiary provides welcome clarification around an issue that has been the cause of much friction between taxpayers and the Commissioner.

13 May 2020

Insights Publication

JobKeeper update for charities - Cautious optimism in unsettling times

Following effective advocacy by the charities sector, the Government has passed amendments to the JobKeeper Rules that further extend the eligibility of charities. The cooperation and collaboration between the sector and Treasury has been extensive, effective and impressive and is a testament to the willingness of everyone involved to work hard together to meet the challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

8 May 2020

Insights Publication

Changes to FIRB requirements

On 29 March 2020, the Federal Treasurer announced that due to the impacts of COVID-19, all monetary screening thresholds for foreign investments in Australian land will be temporarily reduced to nil. This change was given effect through the Foreign Acquisitions and Takeovers Amendment (Threshold Test) Regulations 2020 (Cth) (“FATA Regulations”).

8 May 2020

Insights Publication

COVID–19: Code of Conduct for Commercial and Retail Tenancies

The Code of Conduct for Commercial and Retail Tenancies, released by the National Cabinet on 7 April, will be given effect in the coming weeks through State and Territory government legislation or regulation. There is still a range of issues yet to be clarified about how the Code will take effect, and we will provide a further update once legislation has been passed.

14 April 2020

Insights Publication

COVID-19 Payroll Tax Concessions Snapshot

The States and Territories have announced a variety of measures to alleviate the strain that COVID-19 has placed on businesses. One area that many businesses have an interest in, is measures that relate to pay roll tax. However, as is often the case for State based measures, whilst there may be similar themes, each jurisdiction has chosen different eligibility criteria and measures.

9 April 2020

Insights Publication

Navigating COVID-19: An update for the charity sector

The COVID-19 pandemic has created new challenges for charities and not-for-profits (NFPs) who already contributed so much in response to the bushfires last summer. The Federal and State governments have put in place various measures that will help charities and NFPs, over the next 6 months, to stay in operation and to continue to provide their crucial services.

8 April 2020

Insights Publication

COVID-19 Update: Employer responses

The global response to the COVID-19 pandemic is changing daily and we recognise the enormous pressure on our clients during this time. Our Workplace Advisory team is here to assist employers to understand and utilise a range of strategies to manage their workforce sensibly and safely.

13 March 2020

Insights Publication

Superannuation amnesty passed by parliament!

The Federal parliament has now passed legislation providing a once-off amnesty to employers who have failed to comply with their superannuation obligations.

28 February 2020

News Media mention

ABL to act in ACCC’s first misuse of market power case under new law

The hearing of allegations brought by the ACCC against the Tasmanian Ports Corporation (TasPorts) has been scheduled to commence in the Federal Court in April next year. As reported in the Launceston Examiner, the ACCC instigated court proceedings against TasPorts in late 2019 for alleged misconduct under the amended misuse of market power provision.

28 May 2020

News Media release

Welcome changes around continuous disclosure

Lead Commercial Partner Jonathan Wenig has welcomed the Treasurer’s announcement of temporary changes to continuous disclosure provisions for companies and officers to enable them to more confidently provide guidance to the market during the coronavirus crisis.

26 May 2020

News Media mention

Employers facing “new reality” as staff return to the workplace

As workers around Australia slowly start to return to their workplaces, Workplace Advisory partner Bridget Little tells the AFR that “we won’t be returning to the workplace as it was before, with employers having to manage a split workforce”.

20 May 2020

News Media release

ABL acts for Kogan.com on Matt Blatt acquisition

Arnold Bloch Leibler has acted for Kogan.com Limited on its acquisition of leading Australian furniture and homewares retailer, Matt Blatt.

18 May 2020

News Media mention

Risk must be front and centre for all companies

In an opinion article published in today's Australian newspaper, partner Jonathan Wenig argues that the need for companies to establish and maintain a heightened focus on risk "involves a whole lot more than getting ready for the next pandemic".

14 May 2020

News Media mention

ACCC ‘prolonging RFG investigation’

As reported in The Australian newspaper today, Arnold Bloch Leibler competition partner Zaven Mardirossian has written to the ACCC, criticising the regulator for its protracted and vague investigation of the Retail Food Group.

14 May 2020

News Media release

Charter Hall secures Coles distribution centres

Arnold Bloch Leibler has advised Charter Hall Group on the development and long-term lease of two new high-tech Coles Customer Fulfilment Centres to be built in Melbourne (MidWest Logistics Hub in Truganina) and Sydney (Horsley Drive Business Park in Wetherill Park), with a combined lettable area of 60,000 square metres.

12 May 2020

News Media mention

Ronald, McDonald’s and the case of pre-paid rent

In an article published in today’s AFR, Tax Partner Jonathan Ortner explains how a ruling in the Federal Court last week could see McDonald’s restaurant franchisees facing bigger tax bills.

8 May 2020

News Publication

Client update: COVID-19 Code of Conduct for Commercial and Retail Tenancies

Following our recent article regarding the National Cabinet’s Code of Conduct for Commercial and Retail Tenancies, the Victorian and New South Wales governments have released regulations that may impact commercial leases.

7 May 2020

News Media release

Accent Group’s debt capital raising

Arnold Bloch Leibler has advised ASX listed client Accent Group Limited on securing additional revolving cash facilities, taking its total senior debt commitments to circa $207 million (of which a significant amount remains undrawn).

4 May 2020

News Media mention

Forward-looking disclosure better than none at all

In the Weekend Australian, business columnist John Durie cites Partner Jonathan Wenig’s view that, while US regulators have encouraged forward-looking disclosures, the ASX and ASIC have taken the opposite approach.

4 May 2020

News Media mention

COVID-19 and the two-speed retail sector

In an article exploring the impact of the pandemic on a sector already experiencing major disruption, partner Jeremy Leibler tells the West Australian newspaper that “the pandemic has accelerated what was inevitable in terms of a two-speed retail sector”.

30 April 2020