On Just Terms

In this episode, partners Jason Betts and Anna Sutherland speak with the Honourable Justice Wigney of the Federal Court of Australia, one of Australia's most experienced judges in complex commercial litigation and representative proceedings, about the growing complexity of modern litigation and its implications for courts, practitioners and clients. They discuss the rise of sprawling commerci...

In this episode of On Just Terms partners Jason Betts and Melissa Gladstone speak with Professor Anthea Roberts, ANU Professor and leading scholar at the intersection of law, technology and global risk, about what it takes to work effectively with AI.  They discuss why lawyers may be uniquely positioned to thrive in the AI era, how multi-agent AI systems can tackle complex interdisciplinary challe...

In this episode, partner Jason Betts speaks with Michael Pelly, legal reporter at Capital Brief and former legal affairs editor at the Australian Financial Review, about the key developments shaping corporate litigation in Australia. They discuss the implications of the landmark ASIC v Star decision for directors' duties and corporate governance, the evolving landscape of shareholder class ac...

In this episode of On Just Terms , partners Jason Betts and Melissa Gladstone are joined by Professor Vince Morabito, one of Australia's leading empirical researchers on class actions. Drawing on decades of data, Professor Morabito explores common misconceptions about the class action system, the factors driving filing rates, and the impact of Victoria's group costs order regime.  He als...

In this episode of On Just Terms , Jason Betts and Melissa Gladstone are joined by Hamish Hansford, Head of National Security at the Department of Home Affairs and Australia's Commonwealth Counter-Terrorism Coordinator, for a discussion on the evolving national security landscape and its implications for Australian organisations. Hamish discusses Australia's Cyber Security Strategy, mand...

In this episode of On Just Terms, partners Jason Betts and Melissa Gladstone sit down with Dr Peter Cashman, adjunct professor at UNSW and leading barrister, to discuss the evolution of Australia’s class action regime.  Drawing on decades of experience, Dr Cashman reflects on its role in improving corporate governance, product safety and access to justice, while addressing ongoing challenges aroun...

In this episode of On Just Terms , HSF Kramer partners Cameron Hanson and Tania Gray speak with Mark Rigotti, Managing Director and CEO of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, about the evolving governance landscape.   The discussion explores governing culture beyond compliance, the growing influence of AI in the boardroom, and the impact of private capital on transparency, accountabilit...

In this episode of On Just Terms , Jason Betts and Harry Edwards are joined by Lucinda McCann, Group Executive, ASX Supervision, for a candid conversation on the organisation’s approach to its supervisory and enforcement responsibilities.   Lucinda discusses ASX's shift to risk-based supervision, effective engagement during its inquiries, continuous disclosure obligations, trading halts, and...

In the latest episode of On Just Terms , HSF Kramer partners Jason Betts and Rebecca Maslen-Stannage are joined by The Honourable Michelle Rowland MP, Attorney-General of Australia, for a wide-ranging discussion on the government's legal priorities.   The Attorney-General shares insights on Privacy Act reform, the government's position on copyright and AI and why there is no text and dat...

In this episode of On Just Terms, Jason Betts and Melissa Gladstone continue their conversation with Stuart Price , CEO of CASL, focusing on the practical realities of litigation funding. The discussion examines how funders balance commercial returns with fairness to group members, manage competing stakeholder interests, and respond to evolving market dynamics, including contingency fees, legal fi...

Season 2 Episode 1: From Compliance to Capability: AUSTRAC’s Expectations for Corporate Australia In this episode of On Just Terms, Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer disputes partners Jason Betts and Bryony Adams speak with Brendan Thomas, CEO of AUSTRAC, about the evolving financial crime risk landscape facing corporate Australia. Over the course of their discussion, Mr Thomas shares a number of inv...

In this episode of On Just Terms, Jason Betts and Melissa Gladstone speak with Stuart Price , CEO of CASL, about the role litigation funding plays in Australia’s corporate risk landscape. The conversation explores how funders assess and select cases, the legal and commercial factors that influence funding decisions, and what these dynamics mean for companies facing complex litigation. Stuart also...

In this episode of On Just Terms, Jason Betts is joined by Elizabeth Collins SC and Imtiaz Ahmed who are both Barristers at Sixth Floor Chambers. Both deeply experienced in the conduct of class actions litigations, including shareholder class actions, they discuss advocacy in complex commercial litigation, the operation of the class action regime and the nature of practice at the commercial bar. E...

In this episode of On Just Terms, Herbert Smith Freehills partner Jason Betts is joined by Michael Pelly, Legal Affairs Editor, Australian Financial Review (AFR) to discuss the reporting of legal affairs, trending reforms in class actions, and the issues more likely to grab future headlines in Australia. In a time of significant change where the legal sector is reshaping itself and risks are evolv...

In this episode of On Just Terms, Jason Betts is joined by The Hon. Justice Sarah C Derrington AM President of the Australian Law Reform Commission (ALRC), their discussion covers reforms to class actions practice, changes to the corporations law and the future direction of commonwealth law reform. Her Honour shares insights into the factors impacting class actions, approaches to modern litigation...

In this episode of On Just Terms, Jason Betts is joined by Jacob Varghese Chief Executive Officer of Maurice Blackburn Lawyers to discuss the litigious environment relating to social justice causes including their models of funding. Jacob shares his perspectives on the use of class actions to seek access to justice, the regulatory pyramid, group costs orders, and emerging trends including the gig...

In this episode of On Just Terms, Jason Betts is joined by President of the NSW Court of Appeal, the Honourable Justice Julie Ward. Her Honour shares perspectives on efficient management of complex litigation, challenges presented by class action multiplicity, and the evolving nature of legal practice in the post pandemic era. Elevated to the bench from partnership, Justice Ward shares her unique...

In this episode of On Just Terms, Jason Betts is joined by Cain Jackson Partner of Wotton Kearney and Paul O'Brien Director of YPOL. Together they discuss the growth in class actions and its impact on insurance markets, as well as the ESG exposures shaping the next chapter of risk. From the impact of litigation trends on insurance markets, through reconciling individual stakeholder interests,...

In this episode of On Just Terms Jason Betts is joined by two of Herbert Smith Freehills partners, Aoife Xuereb and Bryony Adams, to discuss emerging themes in the litigation and regulatory contexts, perspectives on product liability and Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing (AMLCTF), and the meaning of commerciality for litigators. Their discussion covers the observance of oversea...

In this episode of On Just Terms, Herbert Smith Freehills Partner Jason Betts is joined by Mark Rigotti Managing Director and CEO of the Australian Institute of Company Directors to discuss the changing risk environment for corporate Australia, building climate and cyber capability and the direction of corporate governance.  Mark comments on the risk environment, shares insights from the AICD on t...

In this episode of On Just Terms, Herbert Smith Freehills Partner Jason Betts is joined by Non Executive Director of numerous Australian listed entities Arlene Tansey to discuss how Australian corporations are navigating the complexity of their litigation and regulatory environments.  Their discussion covers how listed entities approach corporate governance, the changing risk environment from re-e...