The temporary measures put in place by the Government in March this year which:

1. increased the monetary threshold at which creditors can issue a Bankruptcy Notice to $20,000; and
2. increased the time period in which a recipient of a Bankruptcy Notice has to respond to a Statutory Demand from 21 days to 6 months,

have now been extended until 31 December 2020.

As property lawyers, we are often asked about what is happening in the property market.  We are currently living in time of great uncertainty, with the COVID-19 pandemic impacting not only how we go about our daily lives, but also the economy – in a significant way.  With this said, and despite what you may hear, the Eastern Suburbs’ housing market continues to strengthen – much of which stems from a chronic shortage of listings, combined with low interest rates.

Two new laws have been passed to restore public confidence in the NSW building industry and to stop 'dodgy' builders and developers:

• Design and Building Practitioners Act 2020
• Residential Apartment Buildings (Compliance and Enforcement Powers) Act 2020

The laws are part of the reforms promised by the NSW government in order to improve the quality of construction and provide better protections for consumers against non-compliance within the building sector. 

On 27 August 2020, in what seems to be the first Australian decision of its kind, Her Honour Judge Gibson considered the meaning of the “zipper face” emoji in the context of defamation.

Recent reports that former NRL player Benny Elias was scammed out of $860,000 when hackers impersonated his lawyer during a property transaction come as an important reminder to be extra careful when transferring money online.

Catch Holman Webb Chief Marketing and Client Relations Officer Adriana Giometti in the latest episode of the Club of United Business 'Catching up with CUB' Podcast as she chats to CUB CEO Daniel Hakim to discuss:

• The importance of understanding your clients
• How neuromarketing is revolutionising market research
• The future of technology in the law

Do you have a family trust in New South Wales? 

It is important to note that you may need to make urgent (by 31 December 2020) changes to your trust deed, to ensure that you don't pay extra stamp duty or land tax.

During a weekend in San Francisco in 2008, when all of the hotels were sold out for a design conference, Brian Chesky and Joe Gebbia decided to rent out an air-mattress in their apartment on Rausch Street.  It is unlikely that the person hosted by Brian and Joe that weekend had any idea that they were the first guest of what would become the  global business known as Airbnb.

Holman Webb's Brisbane Partners have much pleasure in announcing three promotions.

In Episode 10 of Legal Lockdown, Adriana Giometti speaks with Chris Hadley, Partner within Holman Webb's Commercial Recovery and Insolvency Group, to discuss a range of COVID-19-related changes brought about in the debt recovery space.

Topics include:

• Has there been a surge in insolvencies and bankruptcies?
• What can we expect to see moving forward?
• Government relief measures
• Changes to statutory demands
• Director's liability in light of the changes