In episode 3 of KWM’s Responsible Business podcast NEXT, hosts Clem Johnson and Dan Creasey dive deep into the world of pro bono legal services with guests Christina Carney from NAB and Elise Perry from KWM. The conversation explores the critical role of pro bono work in helping to bridge access to justice, highlighting how lawyers can create meaningful social impact by providing pro bono to individuals and organisations. Through personal stories and professional insights, the episode reveals the transformative potential of pro bono work, demonstrating how lawyers can be powerful allies in addressing systemic social challenges.

 Key Topics:

• Pro bono legal work is fundamentally about providing free legal assistance for the public good, extending beyond individual cases to create systemic change.
• Corporate leadership plays a crucial role in establishing and sustaining pro bono programs, with senior executives like NAB's Sharon Cook driving cultural transformation.
• The future of pro bono work is increasingly focused on long-term, strategic interventions in addition to addressing immediate legal needs.
• Technology, including AI, presents emerging opportunities to expand the reach and efficiency of pro bono legal services.
• Successful pro bono programs require dedicated teams, leadership support, and integration into core professional responsibilities.
• Evaluation and impact measurement are becoming more sophisticated, moving beyond hours worked to understanding actual client outcomes.
• A new generation of purpose-driven lawyers is emerging, seeking meaningful opportunities to contribute to social justice through their legal careers.
• Effective pro bono work depends on genuine partnerships with community organisations, ensuring interventions are community-led and responsive to real needs.

Host Nathan Hodge and guests Caroline Coops and Simon Cooke delve into the significant changes brought about by the upcoming merger reforms, and the implications for the financial services industry and beyond. This episode covers the complexities of the new regulatory landscape, including the broad types of transactions captured, how much it will cost, timelines, potential pitfalls and what companies should start doing now to prepare. 

This episode is essential listening for anyone with plans to acquire or sell assets.

For all you need to know about merger reforms, see the Merger Reform Hub on the KWM website.

Key Points Discussed:

1. Overview of the new regime – what is changing and what it means for you.
2. How to transition into the new regulatory landscape for companies buying and selling between now and next year.
3. The type of information you’ll need to provide under the new notification process.
4. How to create a runway for deals in process or coming up – and how to set up your due diligence and market share data now.
5. What it will cost and potential pitfalls to avoid.

In episode 2 of KWM’s Responsible Business Podcast NEXT, hosts Clem Johnson and Dan Creasey explore the critical issue of the digital divide and its impact on education and social equity now and in the future. They are joined by Doug Taylor, CEO of The Smith Family, and Silvia Griselda, Research Manager at E61 Institute, to discuss the barriers to digital inclusion, the role of technology in education, and the broader economic implications of digital exclusion.

Key Topics:

• The significance of the digital divide in education and its impact on disadvantaged students.
• The role of access, affordability, and digital skills in bridging the digital divide.
• The importance of digital literacy and the challenges faced by educators and parents.
• Successful strategies and interventions to improve digital inclusion.
• The potential of AI and technology in enhancing educational outcomes and workforce readiness.

In the first episode of KWM’s Responsible Business Podcast NEXT,  hosts Dan Creasey and Clem Johnson explore the intersection of business and nature with Rachel Lowry, CEO of Bush Heritage Australia. 

They discuss the importance of integrating nature into business strategies, the challenges and opportunities of conservation, and the role of partnerships in achieving a nature-positive future. Rachel shares insights from her career in wildlife conservation and highlights the significance of protecting habitats and biodiversity. 

Key Topics: 

• Business and nature
• Habitat loss and conservation
• Partnerships and biodiversity
• Climate change and natural capital
• AI technology in landscape management
• Shared values and business strategy
• Community resilience

Welcome to the NEXT podcast series - where we sit down with bold thinkers, innovators, and changemakers to explore what’s just around the corner and how business and community groups can prepare for it, together. 

In this first season Clem Johnson, KWM's Head of Social Impact and Shared Value and Dan Creasey, Director of Responsible Business at KWM go deep with thought leaders and changemakers on issues such as the importance of trust-based relationships with communities and future talent, loneliness, social isolation, and mental health in the workplace, and how these forces are shaping our lives and communities. How inequality is growing in Australia, with more people living below the poverty line, struggling with insecure work, rising costs, and limited access to essentials like education and healthcare, among many others. 

This podcast series will sit alongside our regular, twice annual publication on what’s coming NEXT for society, the environment, businesses and the communities in which they operate.

If you are passionate about understanding the forces shaping our world and exploring how we can collectively build a better future, listen to Episode 1 on Bush Heritage and subscribe to KWM podcasts where new episodes will drop fortnightly.

Hosts: Rod Smythe, Josh Thorneycroft, Jonathan Grant

Duration: 25:32

Summary:
In the first episode of KWM’s Power Perspectives podcast, KWM Energy Partners Rod Smythe and Josh Thorneycroft, and with M&A Partner Jonathan Grant dissect the state of Australian energy market in 2025. 

They explore the significant shift from traditional thermal generation to renewable energy sources and the investment opportunities that arise from this transition.

Key Topics Discussed:

·      Current trends in the Australian energy market

·      The impact of increasing electricity demand driven by digitisation and AI

·      Investment opportunities in renewables, battery storage, and gas

·      The role for institutional and private investors

·      Challenges posed by regulatory changes and economic factors

·      The rise of smaller batteries and their implications for energy storage

·      Predictions for the next phase of the energy transition in Australia

Tune in to learn how Australia is navigating its energy transition and what it means for markets and investors.

In this second episode of KWM’s FS Reg Room Podcast, host Nathan Hodge is joined by KWM Technology law Partners Cheng Lim and Bryony Evans to explore the dynamic world of generative AI and its potential to revolutionise the financial services industry. 

The discussion covers use cases, adoption trends, and the potential long-term effects of AI technology, including soon-to-be-released research from Sapere and KWM for AFIA on the economic and associated benefits of Gen AI implementation in the finance industry. 

The experts explore the misconceptions surrounding AI, the barriers to its implementation, the regulatory landscape that governs its use and important considerations for any reform. 

Tune in to discover how generative AI is reshaping the industry and the steps organisations can take to harness its potential while managing associated risks. 

What now and what next for employers navigating the rapidly and radically altered Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion landscape?

KWM Employment Relations and Safety Partner Annamarie Rooding and Senior Associate Erin Richardson, together with special guest David Glasgow explore the rapidly and radically altered Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) landscape in 2025. 

David Glasgow, Executive Director of New York University Law school’s Meltzer Center for Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging, provides a comprehensive overview of the historical context and current challenges facing DEI in the US, including the backlash against DEI programs and the legal battles surrounding recent executive orders. The conversation offers a detailed comparison of the American and Australian laws on the subject, highlighting key differences and the implications for Australian businesses also grappling with increased domestic regulator focus on discrimination, equity and equality activities in their organisations.  with US ties.

Together, Annamarie, David & Erin talk through strategies for navigating resistance and backlash, the importance of psychological safety, and the role of allyship in fostering inclusive workplaces. The discussion also provides listeners practical steps organisations can take to ensure compliance with Australian regulations, and to create more inclusive better and more productive workplaces.

Links: Death of DEI Part one | Part two

In the first edition of KWM’s new "It's Public" podcast, M&A partners Will Heath, Antonella Pacitti, Heath Lewis, and Paul Schroder discuss why 2025 is shaping up as a promising year for resources M&A. Their discussion covers the energy transition and uncertainty themes driving consolidation, the regulatory and dealmaking environment, geopolitical and trade uncertainty, and the financing and investment trends all fuelling resources dealmaking.

Key Topics Covered:

• Energy Transition and Uncertainty: The long-term energy transition and shorter-term uncertainty are driving consolidation in the resources sector, particularly in markets like Australia with abundant transition resources.
• Current Landscape and Consolidation Trends: Discussion on mega deals, opportunism sparked by distressed assets, and the regulatory and dealmaking environment.
• Gold and Lithium: Insights into the consolidation theme in gold and lithium M&A, including the all-scrip takeover of Latin resources by Pilbara minerals.
• Coal and Other Deals: The demand for coal, private capital filling funding gaps, and the competitive Anglo coal sale process.
• Geopolitical and Trade Uncertainty: The impact of geopolitical uncertainty on resources deals and the importance of critical mineral supply.
• Regulatory Environment: The need for efficient and fair processes around foreign investment, anti-trust, and other regulatory approvals.
• Cross-Border Deals and Capital: The role of private equity, sovereign wealth funds, and the influx of Canadian companies raising capital on the ASX.

Transcript Excerpt:

• Will Heath: "We believe it's going to be a big year for resources M&A, with a couple of big themes dominating the mining M&A landscape. The first and long arc is the energy transition, and the second and shorter arc is uncertainty. Both drivers favour markets like Australia, with abundant transition resources like copper and other crucial critical minerals, as well as in the uncertainty scope hedge commodities like gold."

Hosts and Guests:

• Will Heath: M&A Partner
• Antonella Pacitti: M&A Partner
• Heath Lewis: M&A Partner
• Paul Schroder: M&A Partner

In this inaugural episode of KWM’s FS Reg Room Podcast, host Nathan Hodge is joined by Partner Tim Bednall and Special Counsel Emma Newnham to explore the implications of Australia’s new mandatory climate reporting regime. The discussion highlights the extensive coverage of the regime, which may affect most entities operating in the financial services sector, and the critical responsibilities placed on directors regarding compliance and sustainability disclosures. Key concerns include the challenges of transitioning to mandatory reporting, the potential for increased regulatory scrutiny, and the importance of balancing ambition with transparency to avoid greenwashing. 

Listen in to understand how these developments align with broader business priorities and what they mean for the financial services sector.

For more on the AGM trends discussed in this episode, you can find our report here: Deep dive into ASX200 AGMs in 2024 - KWM