A recent United Nations Conference on Trade and Development report identifies recent trends in international investment agreements and investor-state dispute settlement - among them a rise in the integration of sustainable development objectives including via more careful regulation by states of ...

As many in the superannuation and managed investments industries are well aware there has been a number of significant changes to the manner in which indirect costs will need to be calculated and disclosed in PDSs that are on issue after 1 January 2016 While parts of the industry are continuing to ...

Since a landmark decision has narrowed available claims against defendants under the Alien Tort Claims Act for alleged violations of customary international law US courts have sought to clarify exactly what geographical connection is required to justify a claim against corporate defendants Partner ...

The Federal Government has released its Green Paper on the design of the Emissions Reduction Fund Partner Grant Anderson reports on this proposed centrepiece of the Governments Direct Action Plan ...

With the end of the transitional period under the personal property securities legislation fast approaching those entities that rely upon having interests in property held by others must act now to ensure those interests are properly registered even where they are transitional so there is no loss of ...

Major changes to the merits review regime applying to regulated revenue and price determinations that the Australian Energy Regulator makes for electricity and gas networks have now come into operation Partner Grant Anderson reports ...

At the recent APEC conference in Bali the finance ministers of Australia New Zealand Singapore and South Korea signed a formal Statement of Intent on the establishment of the Asia Region Funds Passport which will allow fund managers based in participating countries to market and sell certain managed ...

The Joint Select Committee on Constitutional Recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples has released its interim report The report indicates that there is likely to be bipartisan support for constitutional amendments giving specific recognition to Aboriginal and Torres Strait ...

Australia continues to expand its network of investment treaties In light of this Australian investors should consider a review of the treaty protections that apply to their foreign investments If a treaty includes an investor-State dispute settlement mechanism the investor may be able to resolve ...

The Queensland Supreme Court has held that mining leases did not constitute an interest in land for the purposes of the former land rich duty regime While subsequent amendments to the Duties Act 2001 Qld mean that mining tenements are now treated as an interest in land the decision provides much ...