Professions

SPECIAL REPORT: Law firms are having to adapt as more businesses build in-house legal teams and squeeze billing rates.

Former foreign affairs and defence minister Stephen Smith has been appointed a professor of international law at The University of Western Australia.

Engineering and consulting group GHD has announced it will acquire specialist architecture and design firm Woodhead.

Patersons Securities plans to introduce an employee share scheme to help bolster its net assets by at least $15 million, after posting its third interim loss in succession.

Experienced insolvency practitioner Gary Anderson has agreed to merge his practice with Kim Wallman at HLB Mann Judd.

King & Wood Mallesons has broken with tradition and become the first major law firm in Perth with a fully open-plan office.

Global law firm Jones Day will open a Perth office in April this year with plans to focus attention on project disputes in the state's growing energy sector.

Journalists and lawyers will soon be able to use electronic devices such as laptops, tablets and smartphones to access the internet and social media in Western Australian courts.

The newly-appointed Perth-based chairman of national accountancy group Walker Wayland Australasia says he plans to use his new role to grow the business in Western Australia.

The new management team at accounting firm Lawrence Business Management has agreed to buy the business for $7.3 million cash from listed company Countplus, after two years of restructuring.

Rio Tinto employees have dominated a list of 16 executives and key operational players based in Western Australia that feature in the 100 Global Inspirational Women in Mining.

Women dominate the ranks of newly appointed senior counsel, with three of this year’s five fresh faces significantly boosting the small female membership of the bar.

Listed company ILH Group has announced that its law firm subsidiaries Rockwell Olivier and Civic Legal plan to merge their Western Australian operations

The lines defining management consulting are becoming increasingly blurred as the sector adapts to a leaner market.

The former chief executive of law firm Talbot Olivier has questioned the corporatised business model adopted by his old employer, after taking up a new role at Hotchkin Hanly.

Professional services firm Deloitte Australia has announced a strategic advisory alliance with engineering group WorleyParsons as both organisations look to build future growth opportunities.

Two new surveys have painted a pessimistic picture of the local jobs market, with employer hiring intentions and employee mobility both slumping.

The holding company of South Perth accounting firm William Buck (WA) has been ordered into liquidation by a Perth judge, following a lengthy dispute with a former director.

Professional associations in WA have recorded significant growth in membership over the past five years.

An appeal against the murder acquittal of former prominent Perth barrister Lloyd Rayney has been dismissed in the WA Court of Appeal.

Chartered Secretaries Australia will become the Governance Institute of Australia, with members overwhelmingly backing the rebrand at a general meeting last week.

A disgraced Perth lawyer who overcharged clients and is now fighting to save his career has been scolded by the chief justice for not explaining why there has been a delay in delivering reparations

Seven outstanding Western Australian business and community leaders will go on to represent the state in the 2013 EY Entrepreneur of the Year awards after being announced ascategory winners for the

WESTERN Australia's high construction costs threaten to constrict the new project pipeline, according to Perth's leading architecture firms.

It takes more than a winning idea to be able to call yourself an entrepreneur.

 Australia remains one of the top destinations for migrating professionals, but has slipped in a global rankings survey amid the high-value dollar putting pressure on exchange rates.

David Karotkin has been appointed as the national president of the Australian Institute of Architects for 2014, following his period as Western Australian chapter president of the membership organi

Accounting firm Walker Wayland WA has signed a heads of agreement with fellow practice Attalus which will lead to a merger of the two firms.

WHK Group, which owns accounting firm Crowe Horwath, is evaluating a merger proposal from SFG Australia, which owns accounting and financial planning firms including Western Pacific and Shadforth.

Engineers, IT professionals, corporate services managers and accountants continue to be in short supply across Australia, research shows.

Accounting firm Deloitte Australia has appointed its outgoing Western Australian boss, Keith Jones, as its national chairman.

ACCOUNTING firm BDO has recruited experienced management-consulting player Maurice Argento to establish a new business line for the firm.