Thomson Geer acted for The Australian newspaper in successfully striking out a defamation claim in a landmark "serious harm" ruling in September 2024.
The was case brought by alleged murderer John Peros over the Shandee's Story podcast, which analysed the murder of Shandee Blackburn at the hands of her ex-boyfriend Peros.
Peros had been acquitted of the murder but was later found by a coroner to have been responsible.
The defamation case was dismissed on the basis of a new "serious harm" threshold test under defamation law.
This is the first case in Australia where a major media publisher succeeded on these grounds.
Thomson Geer argued that Peros had already suffered so much harm to his reputation by a Coroner's findings that the podcast did not cause further serious harm to his reputation. The Court agreed.
The Thomson Geer team was led by Partner John-Paul Cashen and included Partner Marlia Saunders, Connor O'Beirne (who has since gone to the Bar), Associate Amelia CauselyTodd and Associate Sophie Meixner.