| Revision as of 12:41, 26 September 2015 editTimtrent (talk | contribs)Autopatrolled, Extended confirmed users, Page movers, New page reviewers, Pending changes reviewers131,540 edits Declining submission: The majority of the references centre around the PR for the merger(s). While this may have been a significant event for the org it is not particularly useful in establishing the passing of WP:CORP and smacks of WP:BOMBARD,...← Previous edit | Revision as of 06:38, 27 September 2015 edit undoAlstah (talk | contribs)425 editsNo edit summaryNext edit → | ||
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| {{Infobox Law Firm | {{Infobox Law Firm | ||
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| | practice_areas = Full service commercial law<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lawyersweekly.com.au/news/15112-exclusive-herbert-geer-and-hwl-ebsworth-had-merger |title=Exclusive: Herbert Geer and HWL Ebsworth had merger talks |publisher=Lawyersweekly.com.au |date=2014-02-14 |accessdate=2015-09-26}}</ref> | | practice_areas = Full service commercial law<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lawyersweekly.com.au/news/15112-exclusive-herbert-geer-and-hwl-ebsworth-had-merger |title=Exclusive: Herbert Geer and HWL Ebsworth had merger talks |publisher=Lawyersweekly.com.au |date=2014-02-14 |accessdate=2015-09-26}}</ref> | ||
| | key_people = (]) | | key_people = (]) | ||
| | revenue = ] $135 million<ref>http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/legal-affairs/merger-to-create-120m-firm/story-e6frg97x-1226826478524</ref> | | revenue = ] $135 million<ref name="theaustralian.com.au">http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/legal-affairs/merger-to-create-120m-firm/story-e6frg97x-1226826478524</ref> | ||
| | date_founded = |
| date_founded = 1885<ref name="bloomberg.com">http://www.bloomberg.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapId=126901489</ref> | ||
| | founder = | | founder = | ||
| | company_type = ] | | company_type = ] | ||
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| | homepage = www.tglaw.com.au | | homepage = www.tglaw.com.au | ||
| }} | }} | ||
| '''Thomson Geer''' is |
'''Thomson Geer''' is an independent Australian commercial law firm founded in 1885.<ref name="bloomberg.com">http://www.bloomberg.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapId=126901489</ref><ref name="legalbusinessonline.com">http://www.legalbusinessonline.com/news/thomson-playford-cutlers-watermark-re-brand/58934</ref> Its predecessor firms included Thomsons Lawyers and Herbert Geer.<ref>http://www.afr.com/business/banking-and-finance/investment-banking/thomsons-and-herbert-geer-merger-focuses-on-midlevel-20140213-ixsnk</ref> The firm operates a full commercial law service as a fully integrated national firm with offices in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Adelaide.<ref>http://www.legal500.com/firms/34159/34456</ref> It is one of the top ten firms in the country by revenue, and the seventh largest firm in Australia by headcount.<ref name="theaustralian.com.au">http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/legal-affairs/merger-to-create-120m-firm/story-e6frg97x-1226826478524</ref><ref>http://www.thelawyer.com/news/regions/asia-pacific-news/australian-mid-market-firms-merge-to-form-thomson-geer/3016314.article</ref> | ||
| ==History== | ==History== | ||
| ], Thomson Geer’s Melbourne office]] | ], Thomson Geer’s Melbourne office]] | ||
| Thomson Geer was formed on 31 March 2014 as a |
Thomson Geer was formed on 31 March 2014 as a merger of two mid-tier Australian practices, Thomson Lawyers and Herbert Geer.<ref>http://www.asialawprofiles.com/JurisdictionFirm/10300/1/Thomson-Geer.html</ref> The result was a firm with annual revenue in excess of $120 million, and the seventh largest firm in Australia by headcount.<ref>http://www.iflr1000.com/newsandanalysis/australian-firms-thomsons-lawyers-and-herbert-geer-combine-to-form-thomson-geer/index/166</ref><ref>http://www.australasianlawyer.com.au/news/here-to-win-thomson-geer-190368.aspx?keyword=thomson%20geer</ref> | ||
| === |
===Thomsons Lawyers=== | ||
| Thomsons Lawyers was an incarnation of a number of prominent boutique firms throughout Australia that merged.<ref name="legalbusinessonline.com"/><ref name="austlii.edu.au">http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/journals/AdelLawRw/1989/7.pdf</ref> The firm's origins date back to 1885 when Hiram Wentworth Varley and Griffith Mostyn Evan began practice under the name of 'Varley & Evan'.<ref name="austlii.edu.au"/> In 1913 they were joined by Harry Thomson KC, and the name changed to 'Varley Evan & Thomson', the first of a succession of 'Thomson' firms, such as Thomsons Solicitors & Barristers, Thomson Simmons & Co and later, Thomson Playford.<ref name="legalbusinessonline.com"/><ref name="austlii.edu.au"/> | |||
| ⚫ | ], Thomson Geer’s Brisbane offices]] | ||
| The law firm of Herbert Geer was founded on 26 January 1939 when Keith Geer commenced his sole practice in Bank Place, off Collins Street, Melbourne. After the disruption of the Second World War, Keith Geer resumed his practice and was joined in 1946 by Geoffrey Herbert, who continued to operate from his office in Black Rock.<ref name="autogenerated2"/> | |||
| In 2006, Thomson Playford established a Sydney practice by merging with Cowley Hearne a North Sydney-based boutique founded in the 1960s.<ref>http://www.lawyersweekly.com.au/news/1625-thomson-playford-s-growth-leaves-adelaide-behind</ref><ref>http://www.lawyersweekly.com.au/news/8051-cowley-hearne-loses-cowley-but-keeps-hearne</ref> In 2008, Thomson Playford merged with Sydney CBD based boutique, Cutler, Hughes & Harris, becoming Thomson Playford Cutlers.<ref name="legalbusinessonline.com"/><ref>http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/business/sa-business-journal/law-firm-announces-another-merger/story-e6fredel-1111118709388 | |||
| The firm was known as Herbert & Geer and was largely a conveyancing practice. In 1950 the partnership expanded further with the addition of Eric Rundle and in 1960 it assumed the name, Herbert Geer & Rundle. In 1962 the Melbourne office relocated to 113 William Street, taking with it a total of ten partners and staff and three residents in the office at Black Rock. At about this time the firm purchased an office in Niddrie at the request of the Bank of New South Wales, for professional expansion in this area. This office was sold in 1988. Between 1962 and 1970, three small practices were absorbed into Herbert Geer & Rundle; Farmer & Ramsay, Williams & Matthews and the office of Cyril Brooks. Many clients from these three firms are still associated with the firm today. | |||
| </ref> Later that year, the firm controversially poached the entire Melbourne practice of national mid-tier firm, Dibbs Abbott Stillman.<ref>http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/legal-affairs/new-chief-seeks-thomson-playford-cutlers-synergies/story-e6frg97x-1225699708002</ref><ref name="lawyersweekly.com.au">http://www.lawyersweekly.com.au/news/4112-dibbsbarker-unveiled-as-new-firm-identity</ref> This prompted Dibbs Abbott Stillman to rename itself to Dibbs Barker.<ref name="lawyersweekly.com.au"/> In 2010, the firm rebranded to Thomsons Lawyers.<ref name="legalbusinessonline.com"/> | |||
| In 2011, Thomsons Lawyers expanded to Brisbane, with 10 partners and 51 professional and support staff defecting from ] to establish the Brisbane practice.<ref>http://www.afr.com/news/policy/industrial-relations/thomsons-debuts-in-brisbane-with-rival-talent-20110314-iu6tm</ref><ref>http://www.afr.com/business/banking-and-finance/investment-banking/thomsons-poaches-10-from-dla-phillips-fox-20110317-ij3bx</ref><ref>http://www.couriermail.com.au/business/lawyers-make-tracks-to-join-thompsons/story-e6freqmx-1226050116968</ref> | |||
| ⚫ | The firm achieved publicity in the early 1970s by handling the defendant’s litigation for all workers' compensation claims arising from the Westgate bridge collapse. Further office relocations occurred with moves to Owen Dixon Chambers and BHP House before arriving at the State Bank Building in 1983 when the firm had 12 partners and 110 staff. In April 1999, Herbert Geer & Rundle opened a Sydney office and expanded to Brisbane in early 2001.<ref name=" |
||
| Prior to the 2014 merger with Herbert Geer, Thomsons experienced significant growth since 2009, with revenue and average profit per partner, tripling.<ref>http://www.australasianlawyer.com.au/news/here-to-win-thomson-geer-190368.aspx</ref> | |||
| In 2008 the firm rebranded as Herbert Geer.<ref name="autogenerated3"/> At the same time it joined with Brisbane firm Nicol Robinson Halletts Lawyers,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lawyersweekly.com.au/news/herbert-geer-amp-amp-rundle-and-nicol-robinson-hal |title=Herbert Geer & Rundle and Nicol Robinson Halletts join forces |publisher=Lawyersweekly.com.au |date=2008-05-29 |accessdate=2015-09-26}}</ref> as well as the boutique construction firm RDK in Sydney. | |||
| ⚫ | ===Herbert Geer=== | ||
| Herbert Geer acted for iiNet Limited, an Australian ISP, in its defence of a landmark Federal Court claim and subsequent appeal brought by a group of major film studios alleging that iiNet had authorised copyright infringements by its subscribers,<ref>Herbert Geer's win for iiNet" Lawyers Weekly 8 February 2011</ref> and in successfully arguing the matter of ''Kirk v Industrial Relations Commission''<ref> HCA 1</ref> in the High Court. | |||
| ⚫ | ], Thomson Geer’s Brisbane offices]] | ||
| Herbert Geer was a Melbourne based law firm founded in 1939 when Keith Geer commenced his sole practice in Bank Place, off Collins Street, Melbourne. Temporarily suspending practice during the Second World War, he was joined by Geoffrey Herbert in 1946. In 1950 the partnership expanded further with the addition of Eric Rundell and in 1960 it assumed the name, Herbert Geer & Rundle.<ref>http://www.brw.com.au/p/business/mid-market/mid_market_merger_thomsons_lawyers_NuPanGBhOfgBGMvHxOXniI</ref> In 1962, the Melbourne office relocated to 113 William Street, taking with it a total of ten partners and staff. Between 1962 and 1970, three small practices were absorbed into Herbert Geer & Rundle; Farmer & Ramsay, William & Matthews and the office of Cyril Brooks. | |||
| ⚫ | The firm achieved publicity in the early 1970s by handling the defendant’s litigation for all workers' compensation claims arising from the ] collapse. Further office relocations occurred with moves to Owen Dixon Chambers and BHP House before arriving at the State Bank Building in 1983 when the firm had 12 partners and 110 staff. In April 1999, Herbert Geer & Rundle opened a Sydney office and expanded to Brisbane in early 2001.<ref name="afr.com">http://www.afr.com/business/banking-and-finance/investment-banking/thomsons-lawyers-herbert-geer-eye-merger-20130808-j0iq0</ref> | ||
| ===Thomsons Lawyers=== | |||
| Thomsons Lawyers was an incarnation of a number of prominent boutique firms throughout Australia that merged throughout the 20th Century, and traces its origins to the 1880s.<ref name="lawyersweekly2">{{cite web|url=http://www.lawyersweekly.com.au/news/1625-thomson-playford-s-growth-leaves-adelaide-behind |title=Thomson Playford’s growth leaves Adelaide behind |publisher=Lawyersweekly.com.au |date=2006-04-13 |accessdate=2015-09-26}}</ref><ref name="tglaw3">{{cite web|url=http://www.tglaw.com.au/media/25-07-2008/thomson-playford-merges-with-cutler-hughes-harris-and-an-exciting-new-commercial-law-firm-emerges |title=Media - Thomson Playford Merges With Cutler, Hughes & Harris – And an Exciting New Commercial Law Firm Emerges |publisher=Tglaw.com.au |date=2008-07-25 |accessdate=2015-09-26}}</ref> Its predecessor firms in Sydney were Cowley Hearne, a North Sydney-based boutique founded in the 1960s, which later became Thomson Playford, a firm with roots in Adelaide dating back to the 1880s.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lawyersweekly.com.au/news/8051-cowley-hearne-loses-cowley-but-keeps-hearne |title=Cowley Hearne loses Cowley but keeps Hearne |publisher=Lawyersweekly.com.au |date=2004-06-18 |accessdate=2015-09-26}}</ref><ref name="lawyersweekly2"/> Thomson Playford merged with CBD boutique, Cutler, Hughes & Harris in 2008, and became Thomsons Lawyers.<ref name="tglaw3"/> Prior to the 2014 merger with ], Thomsons experienced significant growth since 2009, with revenue and average profit per partner, tripling.<ref name="australasianlawyer1">{{cite web|url=http://www.australasianlawyer.com.au/news/here-to-win-thomson-geer-190368.aspx |title=Here to win: Thomson Geer |publisher=Australasianlawyer.com.au |date=2014-08-04 |accessdate=2015-09-26}}</ref> | |||
| In 2008 the firm rebranded as Herbert Geer.<ref>http://www.lawyersweekly.com.au/news/4586-rebranding-all-the-rage</ref> At the same time it joined with Brisbane firm Nicol Robinson Halletts Lawyers, as well as the boutique construction firm RDK in Sydney.<ref>http://www.lawyersweekly.com.au/news/herbert-geer-amp-amp-rundle-and-nicol-robinson-hal</ref> | |||
| ==Clients== | |||
| Prior to the merger with Thomson Lawyers, Herbert Geer’s partnership had fallen by 28% from 53 partners to 38 in the preceding 3 years, due to lateral defections.<ref name="afr.com"/> | |||
| Clients of Thomson Geer include ], ], ], ] and ].<ref name="lawyersweekly1"/> The firm’s ASX listed clients stands at 12, as of 2014<ref name="lawyersweekly1"/> | |||
| ==Significant |
==Significant Legal Work== | ||
| In 2015, Thomson Geer defended ] and other ] such as ] and ] in a case brought in the ] by ] for breach of copyright laws.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.judgments.fedcourt.gov.au/judgments/Judgments/fca/single/2015/2015fca0317 |title=Dallas Buyers Club LLC v iiNet Limited [2015] FCA 317 |publisher=Judgments.fedcourt.gov.au |date= |accessdate=2015-09-26}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Lia Timson |url=http://www.smh.com.au/digital-life/digital-life-news/telstra-optus-not-worth-chasing-in-dallas-buyers-club-piracy-crackdown-lawyers-20141023-11az39.html |title=Telstra, Optus not worth chasing in Dallas Buyers Club piracy crackdown: lawyers |publisher=Smh.com.au |date=2015-09-22 |accessdate=2015-09-26}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-08-14/iinet-dallas-buyers-club/6697314 |title=Dallas Buyers Club: Federal Court backs ISPs in row over illegal downloads - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) |publisher=Abc.net.au |date=2015-08-14 |accessdate=2015-09-26}}</ref> The case set legal precedence in Australia, whereby copyright holders can gain access to the details of internet users who illegally obtain their copyright material.<ref>{{cite web|author=Harry Tucker |url=http://www.news.com.au/technology/online/dallas-buyers-club-will-have-to-pay-bond-for-details-on-australian-pirates-court-rules/story-fnjwneld-1227483227372 |title=Dallas Buyers Club pirates identities kept private, for now |publisher=News.com.au |date=2015-08-14 |accessdate=2015-09-26}}</ref> This will lead to individuals in breach of copyright be liable to damages by copyright holders.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.australasianlawyer.com.au/news/federal-court-rules-on-dallas-buyers-club-downloaders-204314.aspx |title=Federal Court rules on Dallas Buyers club downloaders |publisher=Australasianlawyer.com.au |date=2015-08-14 |accessdate=2015-09-26}}</ref> Thomson Geer successfully argued that any damages must only be compensatory and not exemplary, like in the United States.<ref>{{cite web|author=Paul Bibby and Hannah Francis |url=http://www.smh.com.au/digital-life/digital-life-news/dallas-buyers-club-dealt-major-blow-in-federal-court-iinet-piracy-case-20150813-giyyd7.html |title=Dallas Buyers Club dealt major blow in Federal Court iiNet piracy case |publisher=Smh.com.au |date=2015-09-22 |accessdate=2015-09-26}}</ref> | In 2015, Thomson Geer defended ] and other ] such as ] and ] in Dallas Buyers Club LLC v iiNet Limited, a case brought in the ] by ] for breach of copyright laws.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.judgments.fedcourt.gov.au/judgments/Judgments/fca/single/2015/2015fca0317 |title=Dallas Buyers Club LLC v iiNet Limited [2015] FCA 317 |publisher=Judgments.fedcourt.gov.au |date= |accessdate=2015-09-26}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Lia Timson |url=http://www.smh.com.au/digital-life/digital-life-news/telstra-optus-not-worth-chasing-in-dallas-buyers-club-piracy-crackdown-lawyers-20141023-11az39.html |title=Telstra, Optus not worth chasing in Dallas Buyers Club piracy crackdown: lawyers |publisher=Smh.com.au |date=2015-09-22 |accessdate=2015-09-26}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-08-14/iinet-dallas-buyers-club/6697314 |title=Dallas Buyers Club: Federal Court backs ISPs in row over illegal downloads - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) |publisher=Abc.net.au |date=2015-08-14 |accessdate=2015-09-26}}</ref> The case set legal precedence in Australia, whereby copyright holders can gain access to the details of internet users who illegally obtain their copyright material.<ref>{{cite web|author=Harry Tucker |url=http://www.news.com.au/technology/online/dallas-buyers-club-will-have-to-pay-bond-for-details-on-australian-pirates-court-rules/story-fnjwneld-1227483227372 |title=Dallas Buyers Club pirates identities kept private, for now |publisher=News.com.au |date=2015-08-14 |accessdate=2015-09-26}}</ref> This will lead to individuals in breach of copyright be liable to damages by copyright holders.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.australasianlawyer.com.au/news/federal-court-rules-on-dallas-buyers-club-downloaders-204314.aspx |title=Federal Court rules on Dallas Buyers club downloaders |publisher=Australasianlawyer.com.au |date=2015-08-14 |accessdate=2015-09-26}}</ref> Thomson Geer successfully argued that any damages must only be compensatory and not exemplary, like in the United States.<ref>{{cite web|author=Paul Bibby and Hannah Francis |url=http://www.smh.com.au/digital-life/digital-life-news/dallas-buyers-club-dealt-major-blow-in-federal-court-iinet-piracy-case-20150813-giyyd7.html |title=Dallas Buyers Club dealt major blow in Federal Court iiNet piracy case |publisher=Smh.com.au |date=2015-09-22 |accessdate=2015-09-26}}</ref> | ||
| In 2013, Thomsons successfully acted for the Plaintiffs in the Maiden Civil Case in Australia under the Personal Property Securities Act 2009 (Cth) (PPSA).<ref>http://www.corrs.com.au/thinking/insights/when-a-security-interest-beats-legal-title-only-under-the-ppsa/</ref><ref>https://www.caselaw.nsw.gov.au/decision/54a63a743004de94513dacb8</ref> The case established that the nemo dat rule has been displaced in Australia where the PPSA applies, and businesses that lease personal property must declare their interests under the ], to maintain a priority.<ref>http://www.herbertsmithfreehills.com/insights/legal-briefings/key-ppsa-decision-nswsc-confirms-vesting-of-unperfected</ref><ref>http://www.claytonutz.com/publications/edition/4_july_2013/20130704/personal_property_securities_the_importance_of_registration.page</ref> | |||
| In 2011, Thomsons advised the Mitchell Group on the $1.2 billion Fitzroy Coal Terminal Project, which created coal chain supply infrastructure capable to transporting 22 million tonnes of coal per annum to and from Central Queensland.<ref>http://www.lawyersweekly.com.au/deals/9498-thomsons-lawyers-and-mallesons-advise-on-billion-d</ref><ref>http://www.ftproject.com.au/</ref> The project created significant concerns about potential damage to the ], and in 2014 the project was indefinitely on hold<ref>http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-07-04/decision-to-move-proposed-coal-terminal-cold/5571490</ref> | |||
| ==Offices== | ==Offices== | ||
| Thomson Geer has 4 offices across Australia.<ref |
Thomson Geer has 4 offices across Australia.<ref>http://www.legal500.com/firms/34159/34456</ref> The firm is headquartered in Sydney, on 1 O'Connell Street.<ref name="tglaw4">{{cite web|url=http://www.tglaw.com.au/Contact-Us.aspx |title=Contact Us |publisher=Tglaw.com.au |date= |accessdate=2015-09-26}}</ref> The Melbourne office is located at ] on 525 Collins Street, the Brisbane office is in ] and the Adelaide office is on 19 Gouger Street.<ref>http://www.australasianlawyer.com.au/news/here-to-win-thomson-geer-190368.aspx</ref> | ||
| ==Main practice areas== | ==Main practice areas== | ||
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| *http://www.tglaw.com.au | *http://www.tglaw.com.au | ||
| {{DEFAULTSORT: Thomson Geer}} | |||
| ] | ] | ||
| ] | ] | ||
| {{DEFAULTSORT:Thomson Geer}} | |||
| ⚫ | == |
||
Revision as of 06:38, 27 September 2015
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| Headquarters | 1 O'Connell Street Sydney, Australia |
|---|---|
| No. of offices | 4 |
| Major practice areas | Full service commercial law |
| Key people | Adrian Tembel (CEO) |
| Revenue |  $135 million |
| Date founded | 1885 |
| Company type | Partnership |
| Website | www.tglaw.com.au |
Thomson Geer is an independent Australian commercial law firm founded in 1885. Its predecessor firms included Thomsons Lawyers and Herbert Geer. The firm operates a full commercial law service as a fully integrated national firm with offices in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Adelaide. It is one of the top ten firms in the country by revenue, and the seventh largest firm in Australia by headcount.
History
Thomson Geer was formed on 31 March 2014 as a merger of two mid-tier Australian practices, Thomson Lawyers and Herbert Geer. The result was a firm with annual revenue in excess of $120 million, and the seventh largest firm in Australia by headcount.
Thomsons Lawyers
Thomsons Lawyers was an incarnation of a number of prominent boutique firms throughout Australia that merged. The firm's origins date back to 1885 when Hiram Wentworth Varley and Griffith Mostyn Evan began practice under the name of 'Varley & Evan'. In 1913 they were joined by Harry Thomson KC, and the name changed to 'Varley Evan & Thomson', the first of a succession of 'Thomson' firms, such as Thomsons Solicitors & Barristers, Thomson Simmons & Co and later, Thomson Playford.
In 2006, Thomson Playford established a Sydney practice by merging with Cowley Hearne a North Sydney-based boutique founded in the 1960s. In 2008, Thomson Playford merged with Sydney CBD based boutique, Cutler, Hughes & Harris, becoming Thomson Playford Cutlers. Later that year, the firm controversially poached the entire Melbourne practice of national mid-tier firm, Dibbs Abbott Stillman. This prompted Dibbs Abbott Stillman to rename itself to Dibbs Barker. In 2010, the firm rebranded to Thomsons Lawyers.
In 2011, Thomsons Lawyers expanded to Brisbane, with 10 partners and 51 professional and support staff defecting from DLA Phillips Fox to establish the Brisbane practice.
Prior to the 2014 merger with Herbert Geer, Thomsons experienced significant growth since 2009, with revenue and average profit per partner, tripling.
Herbert Geer
Herbert Geer was a Melbourne based law firm founded in 1939 when Keith Geer commenced his sole practice in Bank Place, off Collins Street, Melbourne. Temporarily suspending practice during the Second World War, he was joined by Geoffrey Herbert in 1946. In 1950 the partnership expanded further with the addition of Eric Rundell and in 1960 it assumed the name, Herbert Geer & Rundle. In 1962, the Melbourne office relocated to 113 William Street, taking with it a total of ten partners and staff. Between 1962 and 1970, three small practices were absorbed into Herbert Geer & Rundle; Farmer & Ramsay, William & Matthews and the office of Cyril Brooks.
The firm achieved publicity in the early 1970s by handling the defendant’s litigation for all workers' compensation claims arising from the Westgate bridge collapse. Further office relocations occurred with moves to Owen Dixon Chambers and BHP House before arriving at the State Bank Building in 1983 when the firm had 12 partners and 110 staff. In April 1999, Herbert Geer & Rundle opened a Sydney office and expanded to Brisbane in early 2001.
In 2008 the firm rebranded as Herbert Geer. At the same time it joined with Brisbane firm Nicol Robinson Halletts Lawyers, as well as the boutique construction firm RDK in Sydney.
Prior to the merger with Thomson Lawyers, Herbert Geer’s partnership had fallen by 28% from 53 partners to 38 in the preceding 3 years, due to lateral defections.
Significant Legal Work
In 2015, Thomson Geer defended iiNet and other ISPs such as Telstra and Optus in Dallas Buyers Club LLC v iiNet Limited, a case brought in the Federal Court of Australia by Dallas Buyers Club for breach of copyright laws. The case set legal precedence in Australia, whereby copyright holders can gain access to the details of internet users who illegally obtain their copyright material. This will lead to individuals in breach of copyright be liable to damages by copyright holders. Thomson Geer successfully argued that any damages must only be compensatory and not exemplary, like in the United States.
In 2013, Thomsons successfully acted for the Plaintiffs in the Maiden Civil Case in Australia under the Personal Property Securities Act 2009 (Cth) (PPSA). The case established that the nemo dat rule has been displaced in Australia where the PPSA applies, and businesses that lease personal property must declare their interests under the Personal Property Securities Register, to maintain a priority.
In 2011, Thomsons advised the Mitchell Group on the $1.2 billion Fitzroy Coal Terminal Project, which created coal chain supply infrastructure capable to transporting 22 million tonnes of coal per annum to and from Central Queensland. The project created significant concerns about potential damage to the Great Barrier Reef, and in 2014 the project was indefinitely on hold
Offices
Thomson Geer has 4 offices across Australia. The firm is headquartered in Sydney, on 1 O'Connell Street. The Melbourne office is located at Rialto Towers on 525 Collins Street, the Brisbane office is in Waterfront Place and the Adelaide office is on 19 Gouger Street.
Main practice areas
- Banking & Finance
- Competition & Regulation
- Construction & Projects
- Corporate & Advisory
- Environment & Planning
- Insurance
- Intellectual Property
- Litigation & Dispute Resolution
- Mergers & Acquisitions
- Property
- Restructuring & Insolvency
- Superannuation & Wealth Management
- Tax
- Technology
References
- "Here to win: Thomson Geer". Australasianlawyer.com.au. 4 August 2014. Retrieved 26 September 2015.
- "Exclusive: Herbert Geer and HWL Ebsworth had merger talks". Lawyersweekly.com.au. 14 February 2014. Retrieved 26 September 2015.
- ^ http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/legal-affairs/merger-to-create-120m-firm/story-e6frg97x-1226826478524
- ^ http://www.bloomberg.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapId=126901489
- ^ http://www.legalbusinessonline.com/news/thomson-playford-cutlers-watermark-re-brand/58934
- http://www.afr.com/business/banking-and-finance/investment-banking/thomsons-and-herbert-geer-merger-focuses-on-midlevel-20140213-ixsnk
- http://www.legal500.com/firms/34159/34456
- http://www.thelawyer.com/news/regions/asia-pacific-news/australian-mid-market-firms-merge-to-form-thomson-geer/3016314.article
- http://www.asialawprofiles.com/JurisdictionFirm/10300/1/Thomson-Geer.html
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- http://www.australasianlawyer.com.au/news/here-to-win-thomson-geer-190368.aspx?keyword=thomson%20geer
- ^ http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/journals/AdelLawRw/1989/7.pdf
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- ^ http://www.lawyersweekly.com.au/news/4112-dibbsbarker-unveiled-as-new-firm-identity
- http://www.afr.com/news/policy/industrial-relations/thomsons-debuts-in-brisbane-with-rival-talent-20110314-iu6tm
- http://www.afr.com/business/banking-and-finance/investment-banking/thomsons-poaches-10-from-dla-phillips-fox-20110317-ij3bx
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- http://www.brw.com.au/p/business/mid-market/mid_market_merger_thomsons_lawyers_NuPanGBhOfgBGMvHxOXniI
- ^ http://www.afr.com/business/banking-and-finance/investment-banking/thomsons-lawyers-herbert-geer-eye-merger-20130808-j0iq0
- http://www.lawyersweekly.com.au/news/4586-rebranding-all-the-rage
- http://www.lawyersweekly.com.au/news/herbert-geer-amp-amp-rundle-and-nicol-robinson-hal
- "Dallas Buyers Club LLC v iiNet Limited [2015] FCA 317". Judgments.fedcourt.gov.au. Retrieved 26 September 2015.
- Lia Timson (22 September 2015). "Telstra, Optus not worth chasing in Dallas Buyers Club piracy crackdown: lawyers". Smh.com.au. Retrieved 26 September 2015.
- "Dallas Buyers Club: Federal Court backs ISPs in row over illegal downloads - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)". Abc.net.au. 14 August 2015. Retrieved 26 September 2015.
- Harry Tucker (14 August 2015). "Dallas Buyers Club pirates identities kept private, for now". News.com.au. Retrieved 26 September 2015.
- "Federal Court rules on Dallas Buyers club downloaders". Australasianlawyer.com.au. 14 August 2015. Retrieved 26 September 2015.
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- http://www.corrs.com.au/thinking/insights/when-a-security-interest-beats-legal-title-only-under-the-ppsa/
- https://www.caselaw.nsw.gov.au/decision/54a63a743004de94513dacb8
- http://www.herbertsmithfreehills.com/insights/legal-briefings/key-ppsa-decision-nswsc-confirms-vesting-of-unperfected
- http://www.claytonutz.com/publications/edition/4_july_2013/20130704/personal_property_securities_the_importance_of_registration.page
- http://www.lawyersweekly.com.au/deals/9498-thomsons-lawyers-and-mallesons-advise-on-billion-d
- http://www.ftproject.com.au/
- http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-07-04/decision-to-move-proposed-coal-terminal-cold/5571490
- http://www.legal500.com/firms/34159/34456
- "Contact Us". Tglaw.com.au. Retrieved 26 September 2015.
- http://www.australasianlawyer.com.au/news/here-to-win-thomson-geer-190368.aspx
External links
Category:Law firms established in 2014 Category:Law firms of Australia