Maurice Blackburn (law firm)
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Maurice Blackburn Lawyers, (formerly Maurice Blackburn & Co and Maurice Blackburn Cashman), was founded in 1919 by Maurice Blackburn.[1] The firm is one of Australia's leading social justice and plaintiff firms, having represented clients in a number of high-profile cases since its establishment.
The firm acts for people who have been injured or allegedly badly treated through the actions or inactions of others. The firm specialises in cases involving class actions, workplace injury, medical negligence, road accidents injuries and asbestos. The firm has acted in class actions for groups, individuals, shareholders and businesses who had suffered loss due to illegal corporate behaviour, product liability, environmental negligence and other forms of mass wrong.
Maurice Blackburn's major competitors include plaintiff firms Slater & Gordon and Shine Lawyers.
In early 2006, Maurice Blackburn Commercial was established with the aim of providing for the commercial needs of clients in the union and corporate sectors.
Major Cases
Since its establishment Maurice Blackburn Lawyers have acted in a number of leading Australian 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 - fought for 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 class action settlement in legal history;[2]
- Mohammed Haneef Case - defended Dr. Haneef against false charges of terrorism in 2010 and later acted on his behalf in a defamation matter;[3]
- The Gene Patent BRCA1 Case - a landmark ruling that saw the High Court rule that a mutated gene that causes cancer cannot be subject to a patent under Australian law;[4]
Former staff
- Bill Shorten, Leader of the Opposition
- Nicola Roxon, Former Commonwealth Attorney-General
- Terri Butler, Federal Labor MP
- Eugene Arocca
- Murray Watt, Former Queensland Labor MP
References
- ↑ http://www.mauriceblackburn.com.au/about-the-firm.aspx
- ↑ "Court approves Centro's $200m class-action settlement". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2016-02-01.
- ↑ "Mohammed Haneef sues ex-immigration minister Kevin Andrews for defamation". NewsComAu. Retrieved 2016-02-01.
- ↑ "Landmark High Court ruling on BRCA1 gene patent as pensioner wins legal case". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2016-02-01.