Presenters

John Bird, Barrister, Blackburn Chambers
John has a diverse practice built on more than 15 years’ experience in global and national law firms. He is listed in Best Lawyers of Australia (2022, 2021 editions) for Government Practice. He is recommended in Doyles Guide 2019-2021 for commercial litigation. John’s practice focuses on commercial litigation and public law (Commonwealth and Australian Capital Territory). In the Commonwealth sphere, he has acted for a wide variety of Ministers and agencies under multiple statutory schemes canvassing both merits and judicial review of administrative action, complex commercial disputes, and civil claims (including Comcover and Dust Disease Tribunal matters). In the Territory, he has acted in planning matters, property (including strata and commercial leasing) disputes, contract and equitable claims, and building and construction litigation (including Security of Payment legislation and the statutory warranties in the ACT Building Act).


Sonja Gasser, Principal Solicitor, ACT Government Solicitor
Sonja works for the ACT Government Solicitor acting as Practice Leader Regulation and Employment – which involves supervising advices and litigation in administrative law areas of planning, revenue, licencing, and environment – and previously led the Information Privacy and Access practice area. Sonja was a finalist in the 2023 ACT Women’s Lawyer of the Year Awards in the category of Government and won the ACT Public Service Award for Excellence in the Leadership category. Sonja is committed to volunteering, having previously worked her way up into management in Community Legal Centres federally and in Victoria, and within the ACT State Emergency Service. She received an award for ACT Volunteer of the Year for Emergency Service. She has been involved in establishing a number of community groups and continues to volunteer on the board of number of community groups.