Maurice Blackburn (law firm) explained
| Firm Name: | Maurice Blackburn |
| Firm Logo: | Maurice Blackburn oilpainting1942 (cropped).jpg |
| Headquarters: | Melbourne, Australia |
| Num Offices: | 30 |
| Num Employees: | 1,000+ |
| Key People: | Steve Bracks (Chairman)[1]
Jacob Varghese (CEO) |
| Date Founded: | 1919 |
| Founder: | Maurice Blackburn |
| Company Type: | Limited liability partnership |
| Firm Slogan: | "We Fight For Fair" --> |
| Homepage: | http://www.mauriceblackburn.com.au |
Maurice Blackburn Lawyers, (formerly Maurice Blackburn & Co and Maurice Blackburn Cashman), was founded in 1919 by Maurice Blackburn.[2] The firm is an Australian plaintiff law firm, having represented clients in a number of high-profile cases since its establishment.
Major cases
Since its establishment Maurice Blackburn Lawyers have acted in a number of cases, including:
- The 40-Hour Working Week Case - in conjunction with the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) Maurice Blackburn fought for shorter working hours;
- MUA Waterfront Dispute Case - represented maritime workers against the Commonwealth Government during the waterfront dispute in 1998;
- The GIO Class Action - the first shareholder class action win in Australian legal history;
- Centro Class Action - the biggest shareholder class action settlement in Australian legal history;[3]
- Black Saturday bushfires Class Actions - collectively the largest class action settlement in Australian history at $794 million ($494 million in the Kinglake class action and $300 million in the Marysville class action);
- Mohammed Haneef Case - defended Dr. Haneef against false charges of terrorism in 2010 and later acted on his behalf in a defamation matter;[4]
- The Gene Patent BRCA1 Case - a ruling that saw the High Court rule that a mutated gene that causes cancer cannot be subject to a patent under Australian law.[5]
Former staff
- Maurice McRae Blackburn, Firm Founder, Former Labor MP and Former Independent Labor MP
- Bill Shorten, Opposition Leader and Federal Labor MP
- Nicola Roxon, Former Commonwealth Attorney-General and Federal Labor MP
- Terri Butler, Federal Labor MP
- Anika Wells, Federal Labor MP
- Peter Cashman, Barrister and Academic at the University of Sydney
- Eugene Arocca
- Bill Slater, Australian politician and founder of the law firm Slater and Gordon Lawyers.
- Murray Watt, Australian Labor Senator and Former Queensland Labor MP
- Justice Bernard Murphy, Justice of the Federal Court of Australia[6]
- John Button, Former Labor Senator for Victoria[7]
- John Cain, Former Victorian Government Solicitor[8]
- Andrew Watson, Justice of the Supreme Court of Victoria
External links
Notes and References
- Web site: Steve Bracks | Chairperson, Maurice Blackburn.
- Web site: About Maurice Blackburn Lawyers . mauriceblackburn.com.au . 15 April 2018.
- Web site: Court approves Centro's $200m class-action settlement. The Sydney Morning Herald. 19 June 2012. 2016-02-01.
- Web site: Mohammed Haneef sues ex-immigration minister Kevin Andrews for defamation. NewsComAu. 2016-02-01.
- Web site: Landmark High Court ruling on BRCA1 gene patent as pensioner wins legal case. The Sydney Morning Herald. 7 October 2015. 2016-02-01.
- Web site: Transcript of Proceedings: Federal Court of Australia Ceremonial Sitting of the Full Court for the Swearing in and Welcome of the Honourable Justice Murphy . fedcourt.gov.au . Federal Court of Australia . 15 April 2018.
- News: Former Labor minister John Button dies . 8 April 2008 . The Age . 25 March 2016.
- News: Former rival is new Herbert Geer MP . 24 August 2012 . Lawyers Weekly . 25 March 2016.
