Get ready to tackle the potential weaknesses of your property law practice head-on. Gain crucial insights into unfair contract terms that can ensnare both tenants and landlords and learn how to shield your clients from these risks. Unpack co-owned property divisions and master compliance with the latest regulations surrounding managed investment trusts (MITs) and property trusts. With a focus on state tax developments, you’ll uncover strategies that transform potential tax pitfalls into profitable opportunities for your clients. Equip yourself with the confidence and expertise to navigate the dynamic challenges of property law and tick off your mandatory CPD units!

Presenters

Leisa Rafter, Partner, BDO Australia
Leisa Rafter has specialised in the field of indirect tax for over 15 years and has a wealth of experience advising clients on their business and commercial matters. As both a Solicitor and an Accountant, Leisa has the ability to provide comprehensive commercial advice to her Clients. Leisa has worked on some of Queensland and Australia's significant transactions and she has provided services to many of Australia's top 50 (ASX50) listed companies. In recent times Leisa has acted for a variety of foreign syndicates providing stamp duty, GST and structuring advice for significant land and agricultural acquisitions.


Julia O'Connor, Barrister, More Chambers
Prior to being called to the bar in 2015, Julia spent 8 years as a solicitor practising almost exclusively in complex commercial litigation. Upon commencing at the bar, Julia continued to practise in commercial litigation and has appeared in disputes in competition and consumer law, commercial property, insolvency, corporations law and contract. Her experience has included appearances in courts and tribunals in both state and federal jurisdictions, as well as appearances in commissions of inquiry such as the Grantham Floods Commission of Inquiry and the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse. Julia has also developed a significant practice in mining, energy and resources, and environmental law. She regularly appears in cases before the Land Court of Queensland and the Land Appeal Court for mining proponents, statutory parties, and objectors. Julia has acted in environmental appeals, mining compensation disputes, land access disputes and mining objections proceedings. Her experience includes appearances in two of the largest and most complex objections proceedings before the Land Court – the New Acland and Waratah Coal objection proceedings. Currently, Julia is a member of Queensland Environmental Law Association and sits on the Bar Association of Queensland’s Environmental, Planning and Property Law Committee.


Matthew Ray, Principal, Craig Ray & Associates
Matthew Ray is one of our principals. Matthew practices in the areas of property, wills and estates and family law, together with other general personal law matters. He graduated from the University of Queensland with a Bachelor of Laws with Honours, and attained a Master of Laws in 2018, at which time he was admitted to the University of Queensland’s Faculty of Business, Economics and Law Dean’s Honour Roll for outstanding academic excellence. From 2017 to 2019 Matthew was a nationally accredited Mediator, under the Australian National Mediator Standards. Matthew’s post graduate studies have focused on estate planning and elder law, estate litigation and disputes, electronic commerce law and reforms and developments in property law. Matthew’s continuing involvement in higher education has seen him take on the role of an adjunct oral assessor at the College of Law, of which he is an alum. Matthew has extensive experience in project management, leadership of teams and working in the not-for-profit sector (including on state boards). Matthew was one of the inaugural members of the PEXA Member Advisory Council, working with colleagues across the state and representatives from PEXA, towards the continual improvement of the innovative property law settlement platform.


Clinton Mohr, Principal, Clinton Mohr Lawyers
Clinton was admitted as a solicitor in the Supreme Court of Queensland in 1991 and worked at a number of large commercial firms before commencing practice in his own firm. While Clinton is an accredited specialist in property law, his broad experience across all areas of commercial, property and business law, allows him to apply a holistic approach to his clients’ legal issues. The best possible legal result is going to come from providing advice with an understanding of how one area of the law affects and interacts with related areas of law that may play a part in the solution. Clinton’s experience with a broad client base has also given him an excellent understanding of a number of industries, which he uses to cater for client’s needs in a cost effective manner. Clinton specialises in property and planning & environment law and has over fifteen years experience in advising clients in the areas of development, town planning, community title, contaminated land and leasing.


Jake McKinnon, National Research Manager, Cushman & Wakefield
Jake McKinnon is a research professional at Cushman and Wakefield, a global commercial real estate firm. After obtaining his degree in Urban and Environmental Planning, he worked in property consulting industry with a focus on property research, spatial analysis, demographics and planning. Jake then moved into commercial real estate research and advisory where he currently leads Queensland research for Cushman and Wakefield.


Sasha Vleeshouwer, Special Counsel, Sparke Helmore Lawyers
Sasha advises clients on a range of property transactions, including acquisitions and disposals of commercial and industrial sites, retail and commercial leasing, and property development. She has experience in rural transactions, including acquisitions and disposals of rural land, water rights dealings and rural leases, and regularly assists clients with other matters related to their property interests, such as business acquisitions and disposals, and share transactions. Sasha is involved in Sparke Helmore's Pro Bono Program, including the Salvation Army Wills program and assisting non-profits on a range of matters, including the negotiation of a lease and the acquisition of rainforest land for conservation.


Graham W Dietz, Barrister, George Street Chambers
Since admission to the legal profession in 2001, Graham has practised extensively in the areas of commercial litigation and insolvency. At the private bar, Graham has represented parties in a broad range of commercial disputes (including shareholder, partnership, joint venture, franchising, trust, contractual, real property, banking and finance, and employment disputes), all aspects of corporate and personal insolvency matters (including winding-up and liquidation, voluntary administration, bankruptcy, acting both for and against insolvency practitioners, directors, shareholders and creditors, professional negligence, professional misconduct, disciplinary and contempt proceedings and solicitor-client retainer and costs disputes. Graham has appeared for parties in all Queensland Courts and the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal (QCAT), the Federal Courts, the Administrative Appeals Tribunal and the Supreme Court of Tasmania. Graham was recognised as an Accredited Specialist in Commercial Litigation by the Queensland Law Society between 2010 and 2017 and has been listed in Doyle’s Guide as both leading Commercial Litigation & Dispute Resolution Junior Counsel – Queensland (from 2015 to date) and leading Insolvency & Reconstruction Junior Counsel – Queensland (from 2016 to date).


James Petterson, Partner - State Taxes, Deloitte
James Patterson is a State Taxes specialist in Deloitte's indirect taxes group in Brisbane, with over 17 years taxation experience. James advises on stamp duty planning in relation to corporate restructuring, mergers and acquisitions and other transactions across a broad range of industries including: property and infrastructure, banking and insurance, media and telecommunications, manufacturing, utilities and mining. Over the years, James has assisted both private sector and Government clients in relation to state taxes matters. In addition to stamp duty, James also advises on payroll tax, land tax and state mining royalty matters. James advises on state taxes matters across all Australian jurisdictions.


Eileen Tsai, Director, BDO Australia
Eileen is a Director in BDO Brisbane’s corporate and international tax division. She has worked in the industry for over 10 years and has expertise with the provision of technical taxation advice to ASX listed entities, multinational corporations and large privately owned corporate groups. Eileen works closely with a wide range of clients, across a range of industries, obtaining an in-depth understanding to ensure she can provide tailored taxation advice that meets their specific needs.


Mark Steele KC, Northbank Chambers
Mark Steele has been in private practice at the Queensland Bar since 2005. He practises predominantly in commercial, building, succession and administrative law. Before coming to the Bar, Mark worked for two large national law firms, and before that he worked for the BSE Inquiry in the United Kingdom.


Jason Wang, Barrister, Quay 11 Chambers
Jason is a barrister and nationally accredited mediator. He was admitted to practice in 2019 and called to the Bar in 2022. Prior to the Bar, Jason worked in legal and financial roles across Australia, Hong Kong, and the United Kingdom. Jason has a broad commercial practice and has represented lenders, private companies, and individuals in the Supreme Court of Queensland and the Federal Court of Australia. He has advised on cases in Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, and New Zealand. Jason holds an MSc in Law and Finance from the University of Oxford, where he won the MLF Prize for Best Overall Performance. He also holds a Bachelor's in Law and Commerce (Honours) from The University of Queensland, where he teaches corporate law and ethics. Jason speaks fluent Mandarin Chinese.


Ian Lockhart, Partner, MinterEllison
Ian is a finance partner in the Brisbane office of Minter Ellison and acts for Australian and foreign banks, credit unions and mutual banks, government and listed entities. His practice spans consumer credit, privacy, financial services, licensing, compliance with APRA prudential standards and anti-money laundering and counter terrorism financing compliance. His background in corporate finance also means that he can also bring a transactional perspective to the application of regulatory compliance obligations. Ian is a current member of the Banking and Financial Services Law Committee of the Queensland Law Society and served as the chair of that committee until recently for a period of 6 years.