The Sparke Cast

In this podcast, James Johnson and Maxine Feletti provide a workers’ compensation liability perspective on COVID-19. Topics discussed include whether COVID-19 will be an injury or disease; when an employer is liable if a worker contracts the virus; liability and insurance issues with WFH arrangements; and top tips for transitioning workers back into the workplace - while also managing those who remain at home.

In our next podcast, Special Counsel Jehan Mata and Senior Associate Andy Mansfield from the London Next Generation group discuss how the healthcare industry has adapted to the challenges of providing care in light of COVID-19 pandemic through telehealth medicine. Jehan and Andy will take us through the opportunities and potential pitfalls this has for practitioners in terms of their civil liability and regulatory obligations.

With the gradual easing of restrictions, this episode focuses on returning to work in the COVID environment. Carlie Holt and Roland Hassall discuss key employment and safety considerations as organisations start to embark on returning back to the new ‘normal’.

Leading AAT practitioner and Sparke Helmore Partner, Matthew Hawker, sits down with special guest Senior Member Tavoularis of the AAT to discuss how the AAT has responded to the COVID-19 crisis, and the current and future course of litigation in that forum. In an open and intriguing discussion, the Senior Member shares his observations on digital hearings, offers some tips for parties and practitioners on conducting litigation in the current environment, and offers some important insights on the longer-term future of AAT litigation.

The Commercial Insurance practice group are back with episode two in their podcast series. In this second episode, Lucille Stewart and Lani Carter from Sparke Helmore’s Next Generation team explore the topic of Class Actions in the wake of COVID-19. As the impacts on consumers and financial markets become clearer, it is expected that consumers and businesses will be looking for avenues to recoup losses and with that will come law firms and litigation funders looking for opportunities to act – just as occurred following the Global Financial Crisis.

The Commercial Insurance practice group is launching a series of podcasts to discuss relevant trends in the market and topical issues. In this first episode, James Clohesy and James Sutherland from Sparke Helmore’s Next Generation team explore business interruption cover and COVID-19.

In light of industry shutdowns due to COVID-19, Partner Liana Westcott and Senior Associate Victoria Wilkinson from Sparke Helmore’s Government Commercial team dissect what current challenges our clients face, and how these shutdowns are affecting Commonwealth agencies' planned and current procurement processes, and the performance of existing contracts.

As remote hearings are increasingly being relied upon by Australian Courts and Tribunals, Bernadette Rayment and Katherine Evans, members of Sparke Helmore’s Government team, speak with Barrister Greg Johnson about the issue of protecting and delivering open justice in the digital COVID-19 world.

Emma Gruschka and Ian Bennett continue their discussion on the impact of COVID-19 for workplaces nationally by looking at relevant WHS risks and considerations, the enforcement approaches adopted by Regulators as well as the big issues that are anticipated to keep employers busy in a post-COVID-19 world.

In the first of this two part episode, Emma Gruschka and Ian Bennett discuss the impact of COVID-19 in the workplace nationally by examining significant recent changes to legislation and industrial instruments, including the Fair Work Commission’s changes to 99 Modern Awards, and the implications for employers from the JobKeeper Bills and consequential amendments to the Fair Work Act.