Digital assets offer great potential but come with complex legal challenges. Explore the legal frameworks of data sharing, storage and privacy aspects of blockchain and NFTs plus insights gained from Federal Court decisions.  Examine smart contracts including the issues with AI in automated legal agreements. Navigate key tax considerations relating to transacting with digital assets and the approaches and implications of valuing and valuations of these assets. Gain clarity on managing risks when dealing with technolgy and digital assets including insolvency, disputes and litigation risks.

Presenters

Amanda Comelli, Partner, Brown Wright Stein Lawyers
Amanda is a Law Society of NSW Accredited Specialist in Business Law and currently sits on the Law Society's Specialist Accreditation Advisory Committee for Business Law. With more than 10 years' experience as a business lawyer, Amanda provides commercial and corporate law, tax law and estate planning advice to businesses and business owners. Amanda likes to keep her practice broad, to provide her clients with well-rounded and practical legal advice. Amanda has acted for a range of clients including both private and public companies, accountants, financial planners, retailers, business owners, manufacturers, individuals (including high net worth individuals) and not-for-profit organisations. She is also a founder of the Women in Tax Discussion Group, which is hosted monthly by Brown Wright Stein, as a forum for female tax professionals to meet and discuss recent key changes in tax law in a relaxed and supportive environment. Outside of work, Amanda enjoys travel, fitness, and spending time with her family.  She has also represented Australia in several international karate tournaments!


Dr. Adrian McCullagh, Principal, ODMOB Lawyersx
Adrian has degrees in Computer Science and Law as well as a Ph.D. in IT Security. He obtained his Ph.D. from the Information Security Research Centre at the Queensland University of Technology. He has been practicing in IT law for more than 30 years being one of the pioneer IT lawyers within Australia. He is a member of the Queensland Law Society and a member of the American Bar Association and participate in the Information Security Forum. In 1999 he was the QUT Faculty of Information Technology Alumnus of the year. He is a member of the Intellectual Property and Information Technology Committee for the Queensland Law Society. Adrian’s current research interests include Telecoms security, IT security, IT governance, cryptocurrencies, Blockchain and its uses in supply chain management, Decentralised Autonomous Organisations and Identity Management. He is also investigating the impact of autonomous vehicles and machine learning and their policy considerations.


Natasha Blycha, Managing Director, Stirling & Rose
Ms Natasha Blycha is the Managing Director of the law firm Stirling & Rose. She has previously led HSF’s global digital law group with team members in the US, UK, Europe, Africa, Australia and Asia. She specialises in smart legal contract advisory and creation and distributed ledger technology. Natasha advises on regulation and governance of digital assets, platforms and applications, digital ethics and human rights policies. Natasha is a Director and founder of the Digital Law Association and sits on the Australian Law Council’s Digital Commerce Committee – she is also CEO of the Smart legal contracting company Nooriam. She has lived and worked in the United States, Africa, Asia and the Middle East. She is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and holds degrees in economics and law (Honours). Natasha successfully founded and launched a cycling infrastructure project in Western Australia.


Maryna Kovalenko, Director, Kova Tax
Maryna who is the Tax Co-Founder @ Kova Tax, is a Chartered Tax Adviser and the member of the Institute of Public Accountants with extensive experience in accounting, audit, and tax. Maryna has a passion for cryptocurrency and has specialised in crypto tax over the last four years. Maryna empowers Kova Tax to be Australia's tech-driven accounting firm, building a better digital world for investors, businesses, and SMSFs in the cryptocurrency sector. With her latest venture, Syla, Maryna is now solving crypto tax for investors and professionals through software and automation. She is inspiring more professionals to make the leap into the blockchain world.


Fiona Hansen, Senior Managing Director, Head of Valuations Advisory, FTI Consulting Australia
Fiona is a Senior Managing Director and leads FTI Consulting’s Valuation Advisory practice in Australia. She has over 28 years' experience in corporate finance and business valuations having held senior roles in the Big 4 accounting firms working in Australia, Europe and South Africa. Fiona specialises in valuations of businesses, intangible assets, equity and debt instruments, executive options, impairment testing and independent experts reports. She has prepared numerous valuation reports for a range of purposes, including mergers and acquisitions, accounting, taxation, stamp duty, Corporations Act and ASX requirements. Fiona’s valuation reports comply with the relevant standards or professional requirements. They are succinct, easy to read and give clients confidence in the final outcome. Fiona has also undertaken numerous corporate finance assignments involving mergers and acquisitions, divestments and financial due diligence.


Joel Hanrahan, Managing Director, Global Market, Mosaic Capital and Advisory
Joel is a Managing Director at Mosaic Capital and Advisory, a global intangible asset advisory, corporate finance and investment firm. Joel helps innovators, entrepreneurs, leaders of companies and capital providers convert intangible assets into business impact, which means increased margins, market share and enterprise value. Joel has significant global experience with market-leading firms including PwC, KPMG, Telstra, Ashurst and Computershare. He has led programmes of work across industries such as physical infrastructure, cybersecurity, data governance, renewable energy, financial services, investment banking, private equity and insurance.