The Full Federal Court has unanimously upheld verdicts awarding damages of over $1.3 million to US-based Rod David and his film production company, Thunder Studios Inc, against Sydney-based Charif and Adam Kazal.

The Full Federal Court has unanimously upheld verdicts awarding damages of over $1.3 million to US-based Rod David and his film production company, Thunder Studios Inc, against Sydney-based Charif and Adam Kazal.

The Full Federal Court has unanimously upheld verdicts awarding damages of over $1.3 million to US-based Rod David and his film production company, Thunder Studios Inc, against Sydney-based Charif and Adam Kazal.

The Full Federal Court has unanimously upheld verdicts awarding damages of over $1.3 million to US-based Rod David and his film production company, Thunder Studios Inc, against Sydney-based Charif and Adam Kazal.

The High Court has granted special leave to appeal to former NSW Minister, Ian Macdonald, against his conviction for conspiracy to commit misconduct in public office. The High Court will now consider the contention that the Crown case against Mr Macdonald (as well as Edward and Moses Obeid) was defective because it did not allege an agreement for Ian Macdonald to do a particular act or acts that amounted to misconduct in public office. Christopher Parkin appeared as sole counsel for Mr Macdonald instructed by HWL Ebsworth on the special leave application, as well as in the NSW Court of Criminal Appeal.

9 April 2025 Yesterday the High Court revoked the Appellant's grant of special leave to appeal against a decision of the Court of Criminal Appeal which holds that a person cannot be an accessory before the fact to constructive murder: see Batak v The King [2024] NSWCCA 66 (available here: http://www.caselaw.nsw.gov.au/decision/18f4b5d0489f21d4fa9bd459). Christopher Parkin appeared with Julian Murphy, led by Gabrielle Bashir SC and instructed by Fahmy Lawyers in the High Court for the successful respondent. He also appeared successfully in the Court of Criminal Appeal. The transcript of the argument and orders is available here: https://www.austlii.edu.au/cgi-bin/viewdoc/au/cases/cth/HCATrans/2025/27.html. The High Court has announced that reasons will be provided in due course.