Professions

THE legal landscape in Perth is as dynamic as it has ever been with new market entrants, unexpected mergers and surprise splits making waves in recent months.

Some Perth legal practices are riding out the current economic storm better than others, and it seems size does matter.

LEGAL firms are amending their staff management and recruitment plans in light of the economic downturn with confirmation that the true worth of a practice can be found in the quality of its legal professionals.

THE size of Western Australia's legal practices has fluctuated only mildly during the past 12 months despite the sector's changing dynamics as a result of the economic slowdown.

THE resource sector has been exposed to higher levels of fraud involving the theft of funds and physical assets due to increased jobs uncertainty, according to KPMG.

Around 150 employees of national kitchen and laundry appliance retailer Kleenmaid Group face an uncertain future as administrators are appointed to the company after the global financial crisis hits sales and margins.

FOR the second year running Perth has claimed first place in the annual Deloitte Hotel Occupancy Global Ranking index, cementing its position as the number one performer in worldwide hotel occupancy rates.

Specialist cigar business, Devlin's Cigar Divan, will be forced to close its Perth and Subiaco stores if an amendment to tobacco laws is passed by parliament.

THE recent upswing in the stock market may have some companies breathing a sigh of relief as the scramble for funding reaches a frenetic pace.

THE number of capital raisings and the amount raised by Western Australian companies in the March quarter has pleasantly surprised market observers.

The occupancy rate in Perth's major hotels reached 82.4 per cent during 2008, ranking Perth at the top of a global survey of hotel occupancy rates.

ABOUT 45 per cent of Australian businesses have been affected by fraud in the past two years, according to the 2008 KPMG Fraud Survey.

Deloitte has urged the federal government to adopt recent changes to US business policies that could throw a cash lifeline to struggling businesses during the current economic climate.

AS timing goes, right now might well be an appropriate time to launch an industry body for corporate doctors.

REBECCA Collins is a regular face at the Genesis Legal Clinic, where she offers pro bono family and criminal law advice to some of Perth's least fortunate people.

TWO of Perth's mid-sized law firms are heading in different directions, with Hammond Worthington Lawyers planning to split up after 17 years and Christensen Vaughan joining national firm Gadens Lawyers.

The resources sector in Australia and New Zealand may now be exposed to higher levels of fraudulent incidents involving the theft of funds and physical assets, according to a KPMG survey.

Perth firm Christensen Vaughan will merge with the Perth operations of national legal firm Gadens Lawyers to form an expanded commercial legal practice in Western Australia.

There's unlikely to be a return to record low CBD vacancy rates any time soon.

THE long-awaited opening of the new Bishops See office building at 235 St Georges Terrace could set the tone for the move towards greener, more sustainable office buildings in Perth.

Integrated Legal Holdings, a firm originating from Perth, has expanded its presence on the east coast after it reached a deal to acquire the legal business of Sydney-based mda lawyers.

DESPITE the doom and gloom coming from the state's mining sector, the January Deloitte WA Index revealed stock values of miners rose more than 3 per cent, bucking the overall trend.

Some 68 employees at CopperCo's Lady Annie mine have been stood down today as record rainfall and significant flooding in Queensland bring operations to a halt.

Fisheries Minister Norman Moore has imposed further conditions on the rock lobster industry after his initial raft of measures failed to achieve the necessary results.

The state's mining sector has bucked the trend of the Deloitte WA Index in January, with stock values rising by over 3 per cent.

Shares in Incremental Petroleum have closed up nearly 23 per cent as suitor TransAtlantic Petroleum Corporation sweetens its takeover bid.

Perth #1 in radio advertising spend PERTH has come out top of the pops in radio advertising revenue as the medium proves to be the most resilient of the traditional media in tough economic times, The

THE revolving door of accountants in Perth's insolvency world continues to spin with Chris Munday joining his former Pitcher Partners colleague Vince Smith in Ernst & Young's corporate restructuring practice.

Perth #1 in radio advertising spend PERTH has come out top of the pops in radio advertising revenue as the medium proves to be the most resilient of the traditional media in tough economic times, The

A DISASTER or a strong recovery - that's Martin Place Securities managing director Barry Dawes's each-way bet for what's likely to pan out in equity markets in 2009.

Perth #1 in radio advertising spend PERTH has come out top of the pops in radio advertising revenue as the medium proves to be the most resilient of the traditional media in tough economic times, The

UK company Cape plc's acquisition spree in Australia in 2007 has continued to have extraordinary fallout, with three new competitors emerging in the scaffolding and formwork sector in Western Australia.