Leverage this unique opportunity to level-up your knowledge of family provision claims. In this seminar, you will explore the best conduct for family provision litigation, how to defend a family provision claim, and equitable remedies available to your clients. Additionally, our expert speakers will provide you with guides and strategies for managing a Section 95 release and what to do to ensure settlement between executor and plaintiff.

Presenters

Andrew Stevens, Barrister, Two Wentworth Chambers
Called to the Bar in 2015, Andrew is an expert in the areas of Equity and Succession Law, including probate, family provision, contested estates and equity claims. A sought after speaker and practitioner, Andrew often presents at Continuing Professional Development seminars on the topic of succession law.


Linda Clarke, Barrister, Two Wentworth Chambers
Linda is a barrister who advises and appears in contested estate litigation, including testamentary capacity matters, family provision cases, probate, estate administration and estate planning. Linda has a particular interest in the protective division and rural property disputes. She has chambers in Phillip Street and Orange in the Central West.


Angela Djukanovic, Barrister, Chalfont Chambers
Angela was called to the Bar in 2019. She appears primarily in the Supreme Court of New South Wales and has established a practice in Wills and Estates, including contested probate, family provision and general Equity claims. Angela is a regular speaker at Legalwise Seminars on a variety of topics relating to estate litigation and family provision. Prior to coming to the Bar, Angela held senior executive roles in the corporate and commercial space as a consultative leader leading large teams and was responsible for significant commercial transactions and negotiations. Angela holds a Diploma of Law, which she obtained through the Legal Practitioners Admission Board (LPAB) and a Master of Business from the University of Technology, Sydney.


Amber Geake, Associate, Autonomy First
Amber Geake has been working in the legal sector since 2016, initially gaining experience in administrative and paralegal roles before being admitted to the Supreme Court of New South Wales in 2020. A passionate advocate, Amber’s focus is on all matters dealing with estates, including succession planning, estate administration and estate litigation. She has substantial experience in contested estate litigation (family provision, contested probate, testamentary capacity and validity, protected persons and general equity matters) in the Supreme Court of New South Wales. She also has considerable experience in the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal, assisting clients within the Guardianship Division of the Tribunal. Her experience representing clients from all around New South Wales has allowed her to gain an understanding of different demographics and family dynamics. When she is not working, Amber enjoys playing sport and being outdoors. Amber is currently undertaking her Master of Applied Law (Wills and Estates) at the College of Law.


Alisa Green, Barrister, 13th Floor St James Hall
Alisa Green was admitted as a solicitor in 2017 and was called to the Bar in May 2023. Prior to her admission to the Bar, Alisa practiced as a solicitor at Glass Goodwin. She also worked as Tipstaff to the Succession List Judge in the Equity Division of the Supreme Court of NSW, the Hon. Justice Hallen. Alisa was recognised as a wills and estates law rising star in the 2021 edition of the Doyle’s Guide. Alisa practices in wills and estates (including contested probate and family provision matters), protective matters and general equity. Alisa holds a Juris Doctor, Bachelor of Science with Honours (Psychology) and a Master of Psychology (Forensic), all from the University of New South Wales.


Craig Birtles, Barrister, Two Wentworth Chambers
Craig Birtles is a barrister at the Sydney Bar specialising in estate litigation. Craig regularly presents papers on all aspects of estate litigation and general equity matters. Craig was named as a Leading Junior Counsel – New South Wales in the Doyle’s Guide from 2019 to 2024. Craig is a member of the NSW Bar Association Succession & Protective Law Committee and the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners. Old Craig Birtles is a member of the Society of Trust & Estate Practitioners (STEP) and a co-author of C Birtles and R Neal, Hutley's Australian Wills Precedents 8th Edition (LexisNexis Butterworths) 2013 and 9th Edition 2016. He is an adjunct lecturer for College of Law (Masters of Applied Law), Family Provision subject and is also a casual lecturer in the Law Extension Committee Diploma of Law, Succession Law subject. Prior to coming to the bar Craig was a solicitor with Teece Hodgson & Ward for 9 years and from 2015 - April 2017 was an Accredited Specialist in Wills & Estates Law. He was named as a Rising Star in the 2016 edition of Doyle's Guide in the area of Wills & Estate Litigation.


Patricia Muscat, Barrister, 13 Wentworth Chambers
Patricia was called to the Bar in 2019 and practices from 13 Wentworth Chambers, primarily in probate, family provision, protective and equity litigation. Since being called to the Bar, between 2020 and 2023, she has been named in the Doyle’s Guide as a recommended, and later leading, wills and estates litigation junior counsel. She has appeared in a number of noteworthy cases including litigation concerning the Benz Estate ([2022] NSWSC 534 and [2022] NSWSC 668) and Soulos Estate ([2022] NSWSC 1507 and [2023] NSWCA 243). Prior to being called to the Bar, Patricia was an Associate at Uther Webster and Evans and, in 2014, was the tipstaff to Hallen J (then, the Family Provision List Judge) in the Supreme Court of NSW.


David Liebhold, Barrister, 13 Wentworth Chambers
David is a Barrister at 13 Wentworth Chambers. He received a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Laws with Honours from Australian National University in 1992. He was admitted as a solicitor in 1993 and as a barrister in 2003. David has practised full time at the Sydney Bar since his admission, primarily in equity and probate and with a particular emphasis on family provision. David is co-author of Wills, Probate and Administration Law in NSW (2nd Edition, Thomson Reuters, 2020). He is a member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners, the Succession & Elder law Committee of the NSW Bar Association the Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee of the NSW Bar Association.


Victoria Hartstein, Barrister, Chalfont Chambers
Vicki Hartstein specialises in family provision law, professional discipline related to legal practitioners and medical and allied health practitioners, child protection including international child abduction (involving the Hague Convention on Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction) and administrative law relating principally to Children's Guardian matters. Victoria practised at the ACT Bar from 1976 to 1981 in general civil and family law areas, and in NSW from 1981 to 1985 in general civil areas involving both common law and equity. She then worked as a Crown Counsel in Hong Kong in the Attorney General's Chambers from 1985 to 1995, for the first eight years conducting civil matters in courts and disciplinary tribunals, including the Hong Kong Court of Appeal and the Privy Council. She prosecuted commercial crime and appeared in the Hong Kong Court of Criminal Appeal from 1993 to 1994. Victoria has been practising at the NSW Bar in general civil areas since 1995. She regularly appears in the Family Provision List and is briefed extensively by the NSW Crown Solicitor and by the NSW Health Care Complaints Commission (HCCC). Victoria has always practised as a barrister. Although she was first admitted as a solicitor in NSW in 1976, she was admitted as a barrister in the ACT in 1976 and practised solely in that jurisdiction until 1978 when she was admitted as a barrister in NSW. She graduated from the Australian National University with an LLB (Honours) in 1976.