Smarter Lawcast with Hall & Wilcox

Fay Calderone is joined by Hall & Wilcox Chief Executive Partner Graydon Dowd and employment partner Alison Baker to discuss what great leadership looks like in today’s increasingly complex workplace environment. From psychosocial safety and high performance to communication, resilience and workplace culture, this episode explores how leaders can support their people through ongoing change whi...

Fay Calderone is joined by partners Emily Harvey and Suzie Leask to discuss how leaders can navigate workplace transformation amid rapid technological change, economic uncertainty, and growing employee expectations. From AI governance and board accountability to psychological safety and workforce trust, this episode explores the leadership, governance and people considerations organisations should...

Seun Idowu and Sewar Mitanis discuss the connectionbetween names, cultural identity and professional experience. They explore the realities of having a name that is often mispronounced, the impact of assumptions in the workplace, and how experiences of bias and belonging canshape how individuals show up at work.

Fay Calderone is joined by Sean Sullivan and Clare Kerley to discuss reasonable management action and the challenges employers face when managing performance, conduct and workplace complaints. They explore common misconceptions, why workplace issues often escalate into legal claims and how employers can balance fairness, process and communication when managing difficult situations.

Fay Calderone is joined by Jessica Luker and Nicholas Beech to discuss the growing focus on psychosocial hazards in the workplace and what it means for employers. They explore what psychosocial risks are, how regulators are enforcingcompliance and what organisations should be thinking about when identifying, assessing and managing these risks.

Seun Idowu , Aash Velhal and Stephen Lin discuss how names reflect cultural identity and the role workplaces create in creating inclusive environments. They explore personal experiences of adapting names, the confidence to correct others and practical ways organisations can make it easier to get names right.

Fay Calderone is joined by Rosemary Roach and Piers Mitchem to discuss the legal and practical challenges organisations face when navigating restructures and redundancies. They explore what makes a redundancy genuinely compliant under the Fair Work Act, where employers commonly get it wrong and the practical steps organisations can take to reduce legal risk while leading workplace change with tran...

Karl Rozenbergs , Alison Choy Flannigan and David Markham discuss how registered providers in Australia can manage debt risk under the new Aged Care Act 2024, including the shift to means-tested co-payments, what security of tenure rules mean in practice and practical steps providers can take to reduce risk early.

Seun Idowu and Sonia Sawant discuss the role names play inrecognising identity and fostering respect in the legal profession. They explore name fatigue, the pressure to anglicise and how greater awareness and confidence, particularly among the next generation, are driving more inclusive practices.

Seun Idowu and Kenny Trần discuss the significance of names in professional settings, including the impact of correct pronunciation, the use of diacritical marks and how small actions can signal respect and inclusion. They explore Kenny’s experience with court recognition of his name and what it means for culturally diverse communities. 

Suzie Leask , Alison Baker and Eden Winokur discuss Australia’s privacy landscape, to celebrate Privacy Awareness Week 2026, which has a theme of ‘Trust is built here’. With businesses holding more data than ever before, organisations should focus on transparency, consent and security when it comes to customers’ personal information. They also highlight how the Australian Information Commissioner...

Jacqueline McGrath and Adam Dimac unpack the capital versus revenue distinction in property development and why it remains a key ATO focus. They explore recent cases, common risk areas and practical steps, like strong documentation, to help manage risk.

Seun Idowu and Sumith Perera discuss what’s in a name and why it matters, including the cultural significance of names, the impact of mispronunciation and how getting names right can foster inclusion, respect and belonging in the workplace. 

Sophia Wang and Frank Hinoporos explore when money received from overseas relatives is truly a gift for Australian tax purposes, and when it may attract scrutiny from the ATO. They highlight key red flags, what the ATO looks for, and why clear documentation, including a deed of gift, is critical to reducing risk.

Lauren Separovich and James Shiel continue their discussion on how artificial intelligence is impacting legal professional privilege, comparing developments in Australia and the United Kingdom. They examine differences and similarities in judicial language, the evolving distinction between open and closed AI, emerging procedural responses and the practical risks facing litigators, including disclo...

Catie Moore and Zachary Whale of GrainGrowers discuss the Commonwealth Government's $1.1 billion Cleaner Fuels Program and what it means for Australia. They explore the role of canola in low carbon fuel production, lessons from the US and EU and the policy settings needed to support a domestic industry. Learn more about GrainGrowers at graingrowers.com.au

Lauren Separovich and James Shiel discuss how artificialintelligence is impacting legal professional privilege, with a focus on how the issue is being approached in both Australia and the United Kingdom. They explore key similarities and differences in legal frameworks, significant UpperTribunal commentary from the UK, emerging Australian judicial consideration, and the risks associated with using...

Gloria Lim and Ruby Wensor look beyond core eligibility requirements to unpack the broader risk and governance considerations for businesses claiming the R&D tax incentive in Australia. They explore ATO focus areas, commercial arrangements that can affect R&D claims, the relevance of considering R&D claims in a transaction context, and why legal oversight can make all the difference. 

Laura Hanrahan and McLane Edinger discuss what happens when an informal will application is unsuccessful and how estates are dealt with in those circumstances. They explore the potential outcomes, including the role of earlier wills, intestacy and partial intestacy, and the risks of beneficiaries when a will fails. 

Laura Hanrahan and Karen Gaston discuss the rise of informal wills in Australia and how the courts determine whether a document can be admitted to probate. They explore the key legal requirements, recent case examples including digital documents, and the practical challenges in proving testamentary intention and capacity. The episode also highlights the risk of informal wills and why getting prope...

Catie Moore and Lauren Separovich discuss how Australian courts and regulators are responding to the growing use of AI in legal practice and what it means for legal professional privilege. They explore recent Family Court decisions, emerging judicial commentary, and key developments, including the Victorian Law Reform Commissions’ report on the use of AI in courts and tribunals. The episode also h...

Catie Moore⁠ and ⁠Lauren Separovich⁠ discuss the growing intersection between AI and legal professional privilege, including recent developments in Australia and overseas. They explore the risks of uploading confidential information to open AI platforms, emerging court decisions, and considerations for lawyers and clients when using AI. 

⁠⁠Erin Brown⁠⁠ and Emma Woolley discuss the role of the family office in succession planning, including trends in family governance, how families can prevent future conflict and why documenting values and preparing the next generation is key to preserving wealth and purpose across generations.

⁠⁠⁠Ilona Strong⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ , Stephanie Driscoll and Ben Clarke discuss how psychological injury work claims are assessed in Western Australia and South Australia.

⁠Erin Brown⁠ and Jacqui Barrett discuss the transition of directly held businesses and why it is vital to plan for the transition of your business, whether to ensure a smooth transfer of wealth and control to the next generation or to avoid an unexpected business partner in case of an unplanned death or total and permanent disability. Putting in place planning tools, such as buy sell deeds and sha...