LawFuel – The Law News Wire – The Corporate Deal Maker Forum blog reports on the legal drama between Churchill Downs Inc. and its former content distribution partner TVG, which it says is still worth watching.

TVG, a horse racing satellite provider and online wagering service, on Friday filed a lawsuit in federal court in California against HGTV, the horse racing television network jointly owned by Churchill Downs and Magna Entertainment. The suit also targets Magna’s online account wagering service XpressBet.com.

According to the Louisville Courier-Journal, TVG charges that Magna is infringing on two of its patents that cover internet wagering technology and audio and video feeds from multiple tracks.

This isn’t the first time that Churchill Downs and TVG have bumped up against one another. The 10-year relationship between the Louisville-based track operator and TVG came to an abrupt end late last year when the two couldn’t agree on terms to extend TVG’s exclusive licensing deal. And as we reported in the latest issue of Corporate Dealmaker, Churchill Downs sued TVG for breach of contract for attempting to sublicense its races to overseas distributors.

How profitable can sticking up for battlers be? Plenty — just ask Slater & Gordon lawyers Peter Gordon, Andrew Grech and Paul Henderson, whose shares in the Melbourne-based firm are now worth more than $40 million.

Slater & Gordon yesterday became the first law firm in Australia to float on a stock exchange. Shares, issued at $1, closed at $1.40.

Mr Gordon, a former president of the Western Bulldogs, Mr Grech and Mr Henderson also pocketed $4.6 million each by selling shares issued to them in return for funding that they provided to the firm.

Asked at yesterday’s launch if it was a concern to be seen to be profiting from the law, Mr Grech, the firm’s managing director, replied: “Everyone profits from the law. I don’t think that’s going to be earth-shattering news, to be frank.”

Slater & Gordon has built its “battlers’ friend” reputation, and its senior lawyers’ fortunes, predominantly on personal injury litigation against corporations and industrial litigation on behalf of unions.

Prominent claims have included actions against BHP in relation to its Ok Tedi mine, CSR in relation to asbestos and Victoria Police in relation to S11 protesters. Labor deputy leader Julia Gillard is an alumnus of the firm.