Articles by cameron leaver
Hicksons | Hunt & Hunt | Holman Webb recognised in the 2027 edition of Best Lawyers and Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in Australia
This achievement reflects our ongoing commitment to legal excellence and delivering outstanding outcomes for clients.
Hicksons I Hunt & Hunt | Holman Webb appoints Rita Derrick as Chief Operating Officer to drive a new era of innovation and growth
Commercial law firm, Hicksons | Hunt & Hunt | Holman Webb, has today announced the arrival of Rita Derrick as Chief Operating Officer (COO). Derrick, a Chartered Accountant, joins Hicksons I Hunt & Hunt | Holman Webb, following a successful career as the Chief of Staff at Baker McKenzie. She also has a strong financial background and has extensive experience in commercial operations and business advisory having held previous senior roles including Head of Finance and Operations.
Lawyers Weekly - Hicksons appoints Baker McKenzie chief of staff as new COO
Rita Derrick has been named chief operating officer at Hicksons | Hunt & Hunt | Holman Webb, bringing nearly two decades of leadership experience from prominent law firms to the mid-tier firm.
Hicksons | Hunt & Hunt | Holman Webb Promotes Ten to Senior Positions
Effective 1 January 2026, four lawyers have been elevated to Senior Associate: Courtney Dudgeon in Workers Compensation, Demi To in Health, Georgette Georges in Corporate and Commercial, and Nameeta Chandra in Litigation. Six lawyers have also been promoted to Associate: Joshua Ayoub, Sarah Otton, and Gary Tran in Health, and Callum Glendenning, Taylor Hales, and Tallis Haydon in Workers Compensation.
Australian Financial Review: Law firms focus on compliance goldmine as deal drought drags on
Our firm has received positive media coverage on our new alliance, with the AFR naming us among the “fastest-growing firms” and highlighting the strength, momentum, and ongoing strategic growth of our combined firm. This is a fantastic milestone for all of us and a strong reflection of the hard work and collaboration across our teams.
Hicksons | Hunt & Hunt recognised as an ‘Employer of Choice’ by the Australian Business Awards
This important achievement recognises our ongoing commitment to building a workplace where people feel supported, engaged, and motivated. It also demonstrates the strength of our policies and practices that drive recruitment, engagement, and long-term retention.
Hicksons | Hunt & Hunt and Holman Webb Lawyers announce strategic alliance
The alliance marks a major milestone in Hicksons | Hunt & Hunt’s growth strategy, extending the firm’s presence from Sydney to include Brisbane, Adelaide, Darwin, and Melbourne. It closely follows Hicksons Lawyers’ successful merger with Hunt & Hunt NSW earlier this year and represents a further step in building a stronger, more comprehensive national practice, with an ongoing commitment to delivering exceptional client service.
Hicksons | Hunt & Hunt COO, Colleen Weiler and Partner, Cheree Sawley named as finalists in the Lawyers Weekly Women in Law Awards 2025
Celebrating her 10th year with Hicksons | Hunt & Hunt, Colleen’s inclusion in the Executive of the Year category recognises her strategic leadership in our firm’s growth and success, particularly through the seamless integration with Hunt & Hunt, NSW. Cheree has been named in the Not-for-Profit, Pro Bono or Community Legal Centre Lawyer of the Year category, acknowledging her dedication to driving our pro bono program and empowering the charities and not-for-profit organisations she works with.
Hicksons Lawyers promotes talent to senior positions as the firm enters new era of growth for FY26
Liam Maguire has been promoted to Special Counsel as part of the Commercial Dispute Resolution team. Five lawyers have also been promoted to Senior Associate – Alexandra Beal in Workplace Relations, Employment and Safety; Alexandra Costello and Oliver Gilmour in Workers Compensation; and Bridget Shields and Jessica Zhang in Health. Connor Wares has been promoted to Associate in the Workers Compensation team after being admitted as a solicitor in 2024.
Hicksons Lawyers - Industrial Manslaughter - A New Offence for Serious Workplace Safety Failures
A new offence and serious penalties are now in action across NSW for PCBUs (employers, businesses and the like) and officers (including directors and some senior executives) whose actions or inactions lead to the death of a worker. Although there are no specific new WHS obligations to be aware of, there are new consequences. It is now more important than ever for organisations and senior executives to educate themselves on their obligations under WHS legislation.
Hicksons Lawyers - Does a pay raise in the 52 weeks pre-injury affect a worker’s PIAWE?
Key Points: 1. By operation of Regulation 8C, a pay raise has been considered as a change of an ongoing nature to the employment arrangement, resulting in a financially material change to the earnings of the worker. 2. The relevant earning period for the purpose of calculating PIAWE will be restricted to the period from the date the pay raise became effective, until the date of injury.
Hicksons Lawyers - Please Stop Talking to Me: Australian Workers NEW Right to Disconnect
Introduction The Federal Government has moved to further regulate the relationship between work and home with new Right to Disconnect laws. The laws mean that employees have more control over when and how they choose to respond to communication from their employer outside business hours. What’s changing? The new Right to Disconnect is part of the Closing the Loophole changes, and will apply to all employers, except small employers, from 26 August 2024.
Hicksons Lawyers - Modern Awards Refresher: A Breakdown of Essential Elements for Employers
Often the obvious can be ignored in the business of everyday trading. Increasingly, employees are becoming more aware of their rights at law and under their respective Modern Award. While this may be familiar territory for many, this article is a quick reminder of the issues Awards deal with, especially as civil penalties can approach six figures for breaching a term of an Award.
Hicksons Lawyers - Meki Jnr Puletua by his Tutor Sosefina Puletua v Sydney Childrens Hospital [2024] NSWSC 64 - What is
Introduction Following settlement negotiations in a claim involving an infant plaintiff, terms of settlement were signed. In the usual course, a listing date had been allocated for the approval of the terms of settlement by the Supreme Court of NSW. In the lead up to the infant approving Hearing, the plaintiff’s legal advisors requested that the matter be urgently heard as the plaintiff’s health had suddenly deteriorated and he was now in a critical condition.
Hicksons Lawyers - An Employer’s Positive Duty to Prevent Unlawful Sexual Conduct is in Place
Introduction Since 12 December 2023, your organisation can face a visit from the Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC). In the latest wave of legislative amendments of the Sex Discrimination Act 1984 (Cth), businesses are required to take additional reasonable and proportionate steps to eliminate, as far as possible, certain unlawful conduct.
Hicksons Lawyers - Vicarious Liability, Criminal Acts, and Volunteers
Introduction Adam Kneale claimed damages from the Footscray Football Club (Club) for injuries, loss, and damage suffered as a result of child sexual abuse by Graeme Hobbs and others. The trial proceeded before a judge and a jury of 6. Key Points There was no evidence on which the jury could have reasonably found that the relationship between the volunteer and sporting club was one in which vicarious liability could arise.
Hicksons Lawyers - Will you be protected if you provide medical advice through an app?
Introduction There has been a proliferation of businesses in the past decade both globally and in Australia which provide medical and dental advice over the internet. The appeal to patients is obvious: convenience, low expenses and instantaneousness.
Hicksons Lawyers - GLJ: High Court Refuses Permanent Stay in Historical Sexual Abuse Claim
Introduction On 1 November 2023, the High Court of Australia delivered its judgment in the matter of GLJ v Trustees of the Roman Catholic Church for the Diocese of Lismore [2023] HCA 32. The majority of the Court allowed GLJ’s appeal stating that the Court of Appeal was wrong to conclude that there could be no fair trial of the proceedings nor that the proceedings involved an abuse of process.
Hicksons Lawyers - When an Employer gives their staff exclusive access to client confidential information - the result
This topic has become particularly relevant in the past 12 months, with organised cybercrime groups targeting several high-profile Australian legal and consultancy firms, as well as Government departments. The resulting large scale data breaches can serve as a warning for all Australian businesses.
Hicksons Lawyers - Subpoena to Produce set aside on grounds of Legal Professional Privilege in the NSW Supreme Court ju
Introduction The Supreme Court judgment in the matter of Woolner v South Western Sydney Local Health District [2023] NSWSC 748 (“Woolner”) outlines the Court’s consideration of a subpoena to produce issued to a defendant’s law firm, calling for production of its communications with the client.
Hicksons Lawyers - Peer Professional Opinion and Inherent Risk considered by the NSW Supreme Court in the recent case o
Login Contact Us Close Introduction A recent Supreme Court of NSW judgment in the matter of Katrina Polsen v Dr Harrison (No.8) (‘Polsen’) considers the pleading of Inherent Risk and Competent Professional Practice under the Civil Liability Act 2002 NSW (‘the Act’) and the viability of expert evidence based on assumptions which are not supported by evidence. Key Points A pleading of section 5O pursuant to the Act provides a complete answer to the plaintiff’s claim.
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