Consumer markets & franchising

• Acting for a franchisor and conducting a risk assessment regarding compliance with the Australian Consumer Law and Franchising Code of Conduct, including the review of policies and procedures and conducting witness interviews.
• Assisting with pre-litigation preparation for Volkswagen Group Australia in relation to a dispute with a franchisee dealer.
• Acting for small businesses in disputes with consumers and suppliers, including disputes regarding the Australian Consumer Law.

Energy, infrastructure & resources

• Acting for a government owned corporation in relation to site based incidents, including the preparation of witness statements, advising on issues relating to a joint venture partnership, potential claims against third parties and made by third parties and dealings with regulators. Laura also advised on issues relating to insurance and regulator disclosure obligations and balancing those obligations in the context of legal professional privilege and common interest privilege.
• Acting in a confidential dispute in relation to an EPC Contract in the oil and gas sector. Acting for a franchisor petroleum company in relation to an uncontrolled underground release of gasoline at a franchised petrol station.
• Assisting with investigations for another government owned corporation regarding an incident resulting in destruction of land and goods. 
• Assisting with the appeal in relation to the dispute with Aurizon Network where the Firm acted for five mining companies/ shippers in the Queensland Supreme Court of Appeal (the dispute related to the $1 billion project to construct and modify rail infrastructure in the Central Queensland Coal Network, connecting the Wiggins Island Coal Export Terminal near Gladstone). 

Financial institutions

• Acting for Finance & Systems Technology Pty Ltd in Supreme Court of Queensland proceedings commenced by a former mortgage broker in relation to obligations under a settlement agreement.
• Acting for Loan Market Group (and its mortgage aggregation companies) in relation to a broad range of disputes with brokers in breach of their broker agreements, including the preparation of letters of demand, breaches notices and termination notices. Laura also assists Loan Market Group with responding to the various subpoenas issued to it and its mortgage aggregators.

Transport

• Acting for Qantas Airways Limited in relation to proceedings commenced:
  • against its facilities maintenance provider, Jones Lang LaSalle (and others) regarding the release of 33,000L of firefighting foam at Brisbane Airport in the Supreme Court of New South Wales. Laura was responsible for the preparation of lay and expert evidence to support Qantas' approximately $53 million claim.
  • by Queensland Urban Utilities in the Supreme Court of Queensland in relation to the same incident at Brisbane Airport and the alleged contamination of QUU's infrastructure.

Other dispute resolution & litigation

• Acting for AIG Australia Limited and American Home Assurance Company in relation to the recovery of payments under historical agreements concerning a mine in Solomon Islands.
• Acting for a private tax payer in relation to an appeal against the State Commissioner of Taxation to revoke an exemption for primary production purposes.
• Advising a British Virgin Islands company and individual shareholder in relation to possible claims against an Australian company for breaches of Australian law and/or breaches of directors’ duties.
• Acting for Ya Hua International Investment and Development Co. in Federal Court of Australia proceedings relating to shareholder oppression and restraint of trade allegations.
• Acting for a landlord in a retail shop lease dispute before the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal, including issues in relation to breaches by the tenant for failing to comply with noise requirements imposed by Development Applications and local planning laws.
• Acting for various landlords with landlord/ tenant disputes, including the preparation of letters of demand, breach notices and termination notices. Laura has also acted for landlords in relation to the preparation of complex settlement deeds relating to various parties, releases, indemnities and post settlement obligations.

Government

• Acting for the Queensland Building and Construction Commission in relation to numerous external review matters, including preparing applications, submissions and advice and appearing in the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal. Laura also has carriage of a number of matters before the Queensland Civil and Administrative Appeal Tribunal and has prepared detailed submissions for those matters.
• Acting for QLeave in relation to proceedings under the Building and Construction Industry (Portable Long Service Leave) Act 1991 (Qld) (being the first of its kind under the relevant provisions).
• Acting for the Department of Transport and Main Roads in relation to a reviewable decision under the Transport Infrastructure Act 1994 (Qld) (being the first of its kind under the relevant provision).
• Advising a Queensland State department in relation to project disclosure obligations
• Advising local council regarding obligations in relation to an easement on private land.
• Assisting with the preparation of a successful application for review of a decision made by the Office of Drug Control regarding medicinal cannabis and manufacturer licences under the Narcotic Drugs Act 1967.
• Assisting with confidential investigations and advice for the Australian Securities and Investments Commission.

Class/ representative Actions

• Assisting with plaintiff's claim in the Queensland 2011 Floods Class Action, including assisting with a multi-million dollar sample group member loss assessment.
• Assisting with preliminary investigations for the Woolworths Class Action which related to alleged breaches of continuous disclosure obligations and allegations of misleading or deceptive conduct.
• Assisting with preparing evidence for the Montara Oil Spill Class Action, which related to the uncontrolled release of oil from the Montara Wellhead Platform located west of Darwin.