In the high-stakes world of property law subdivisions, conveyancing and compensation claims for land acquisitions can present a maze of challenges and uncertainties. Unpack the regulatory frameworks which are often tricky to navigate, leading to costly delays. Receive guidance on planning approvals, land use issues, and local government requirements that create friction points. Gain actionable strategies to minimise project delays and sidestep compliance pitfalls. Develop practical solutions to streamline your processes and enhance the value you provide to clients in every property transaction.
Wednesday, 19 March 2025
Session 1: From Disputes to Developments: Strata, Subdivision, Carbon & Compensation
Chair: John Syminton, Consultant, WSR Law
9.00am to 10.00am Strata Disputes
Consider the latest strata dispute outcomes and the impact of recent decisions of the Courts and the State Administrative Tribunal. Draw upon key learnings to help you effectively navigate the complexities of strata living and management.
Presented by John Park, Partner, Dentons
11.15am to 12.15pm Navigating Carbon Projects in Your Land and Property Transactions
- What is the nature of the rights, title and interests in a carbon abatement project?
- When does an interest in land arise?
- How does the project proponent best protect its interests?
- How do different States approach these issues?
Presented by Jess Hamdorf, Director, McLeod Fisher & Hamdorf
12.15pm to 1.15pm Land Compensation: Types of Compensation Available and Emerging Issues
- Overview of land compensation and its complexities
- Examination of the various heads of claims available in compensation cases
- Insights into emerging challenges and recent developments in land compensation
- Best practices for instructing experts on valuation and relevant case factors
Presented by Tim Houweling, Director, Cornerstone Legal; Recommended Planning & Environment Lawyer, Doyle’s Guide 2023
Session 2: Ethics, Professional Skills & Practice Management for Property Lawyers
Chair: Catherine Wheeler, Partner, Piper Alderman
Practice Management & Business Skills
3.00pm to 4.00pm Real Estate Mortgages: Indefeasibility and Record-Keeping Considerations
- Current electronic conveyancing practice in WA versus Torrens orthodoxy
- Practical implications including record-keeping requirements
Presented by Shannon Davies, Principal, Stork Davies; Leading Property & Real Estate Lawyer, Doyle’s Guide 2024; Recommended Property & Real Estate Lawyer, Doyle’s Guide 2020-2023; Leading Leasing Lawyers, Doyle’s Guide 2024; Recommended Leasing Lawyer, Doyle’s Guide 2020-2023; Best Lawyers 2023-2025 Leasing Law; Best Lawyers 2024-2025 Real Property Law
Description
Attend and earn 7 CPD units including:
4 units in Substantive Law
1 unit in Ethics & Professional Responsibility
1 unit in Practice Management & Business Skills
1 unit in Professional Skills
This program is based on WA legislation
10.00am to 11.00am Subdivisions: Your Legal Tour with a Practical Guide
- Understand the legal foundation of development approvals, including key statutory requirements and regulatory frameworks
- Explore the critical steps in the approval process and relevant considerations when granting or denying applications
- Learn about the enforceability and legal validity of conditions attached to approvals, and how to challenge or comply with them
- Gain insights into the review process before the State Administrative Tribunal (SAT) and effective strategies for presenting your case
- Examine the grounds for appealing SAT decisions to the Supreme Court
- Stay up to date with recent policy and legislative shifts impacting development approvals and appeals
Presented by Paul McQueen, General Counsel and Partner, Lavan
11.00am to 11.15am Morning Tea
Professional Skills
2.00pm to 3.00pm Strategic Skills for Navigating Western Australia’s Planning and Development Framework
- Recent statutory planning framework changes and their impact on development projects
- Available pathways for lodging and progressing development applications
- Key legal principles guiding the assessment of development applications
- Strategic approaches to appealing planning decisions
Presented by Isabella Mosole, Senior Associate, Lavan; Best Lawyers 2025, 2024, ‘Ones to Watch’, Planning & Environment Law; Doyle’s Guide 2024, 2023, 2022 ‘Rising Star’, Planning & Environment Law; Elected Member, Property Council of Australia, Planning & Infrastructure Committee WA
4.00pm to 4.15pm Afternoon Tea
Ethics & Professional Responsibility
4.15pm to 5.15pm Ethics of Handling Suspicious Clients and Matters
The Commonwealth government introduced significant amendments to the AML-CTF Act, extending its reach to lawyers, especially those handling property transactions. Explore the practical impact of these changes and your responsibilities including:
- What to do before you’re even involved in a transaction
- Client identification
- What counts as suspicious?
- What if you have to report a suspicion?
- Can you cease to act?
Presented by Craig Slater, Barrister, Francis Burt Chambers
Presenters
Tim Houweling, Director, Cornerstone LegalTim Houweling is a Director at Cornerstone Legal. Tim has been providing legal services to clients of all levels and local governments for over 20 years and understands the complexities they face. Tim primarily practices law involving Town Planning, Environmental Law, Native Title, Local Government Law and Land Compensation matters. Tim often appears in the District Court, Supreme Court , Administrative Appeals Tribunal and State Administrative Tribunal. His qualifications includes: Bachelor of Laws from Murdoch University; Bachelor of Arts from Curtin University; Master of Laws from the University of Western Australia; Admitted to the Supreme Court; Admitted to the High Court; Adjunct Professor at Law.
Catherine Wheeler, Partner, Piper Alderman
Catherine brings over 25 years of experience in the Perth market, advising across the real estate, agricultural, projects, finance, and government sectors. Known for her pragmatic and commercially focused approach, she has a deep understanding of Western Australia's land tenure and property legislation. Her real estate expertise spans property acquisitions, disposals, leasing, and development across diverse industries, including agricultural, renewable energy, aged care, and retail. She also has significant experience advising on complex land interests for renewable energy projects and critical infrastructure.Catherine’s experience extends to providing guidance on professional responsibilities, contract management, and compliance matters, drawing on her extensive knowledge of property law and practice.She has been recognised in Best Lawyers in Australia for Leasing Law and Real Property Law since 2017 and has been listed as a Leading Property Real Estate Lawyer (WA) and Leasing Lawyer (WA) in Doyle’s Guide. She is currently a member of the Property Council of WA Industrial and Logistics Committee.
Paul McQueen, General Counsel/Partner, Lavan
Paul McQueen is Legal Counsel and Partner in Lavan Legal's Planning, Environment and Land Compensation Team. Paul is admitted to practice as a barrister and solicitor in both the Supreme Court of Western Australia and the High Court of Australia. Paul has been in specialist legal practice for over 35 years and is a recognised leader in the areas of town planning, environmental and land compensation law. The nature of Paul's practice as an advocate involves providing both court representation and strategic advice concerning the acquisition and development of land in WA. He advises on all aspects of the approval and implementation of development and subdivision proposals, conducts compensation claims, planning and environmental appeals (to the State Administrative Tribunal and Office of the Appeals Convenor) and in Supreme Court Judicial Review proceedings related to all types of planning and environmental matters. Paul has lectured in planning law at the University of Western Australia Law School. Paul's experience and industry involvement includes his role as Chairman of the UDIA EnviroDevelopment Board of Management, former member State Council of the UDIA and the appointment as Honorary Fellow of the Planning Institute of Australia.
Shannon Davies, Principal, Stork Davies
Shannon is Principal at Stork Davies Legal Advisors, practising predominantly in commercial real estate transactions. He was previously the property law course director for the Piddington Society’s practical legal training program and an instructor on the property law component of the Leo Cussen articles training program, and a current member of the Property Council of Australia’s Retail and Hotels Committee (having previously served as Deputy Chair of the Retail Management Committee). Shannon has most recently been ranked as a preeiminent and leading lawyer respectively in the 2025 Doyle's Guide listings of Leading Property & Real Estate Lawyers and Leading Leasing Lawyers, having previously been ranked as either a leading or recommended lawyer by Doyle's from 2020 to 2024. He has also achieved recognition in the 2023 edition of The Best Lawyers in Australia™ for Leasing Law, and in the 2024, 2025 and 2026 editions of Best Lawyers for both Leasing Law and Real Property Law. Previously, Shannon was a Business News 40under40 Winner in the professional services category, and the 2016 winner of the Property Council’s WA Future Leaders Award in the advisory and transactions category.
John Park, Partner, Dentons
John has advised about the establishment of many Strata complexes and on numerous Strata matters including a mix of advice and contentious matters. His practice covers a variety of clients including property development and building companies, strata companies and strata proprietors. His commercial dispute resolution experience ranges from small matters through to complex appellate court matters. He is adept at advising about and conducting all litigious matters through negotiation, mediation, arbitration and litigation in all Courts and Tribunals and has represented clients in various strata title related disputes in the Supreme and District Courts, the State Administrative Tribunal and in many private mediations and negotiations. John has strong experience and skill in relation to advising in all aspects of commercial advice, strata titles, dispute resolution, litigation and building and construction. He is a member of Strata Community Association WA (SCAWA), the Australian College of Strata Lawyers (ACSL) and a Fellow of the Australian Instituted of Management (AIM).
Craig Slater, Barrister, Francis Burt Chambers
Craig Slater is a barrister at Francis Burt Chambers Perth where he specialises in commercial litigation. He advises on the Corporations Act and trade practices legislation. He has appeared as counsel in trials arising from disputes over contracts, misleading or deceptive conduct, the dissolution of partnerships, winding up corporations and commercial disputes generally. Craig was the 2013 President for the Law Society of Western Australia. He remains a member of its Ethics committee.
John Syminton, Consultant, WSR Law
John Syminton is a Consultant of WSR Law (formerly Warren Syminton Ralph Pty Ltd). Prior to joining the firm, John was a partner of Freehills in Perth for many years. WSR Law has an office in Fremantle and acts primarily on commercial property transactions. The firm currently acts for a number of corporations including a major listed ASX corporation. John’s principal area of expertise is in commercial property and commercial agreements. John is a member of the Law Society of Western Australia and for many years was a member of the Law Society Committee which deals with drafting of the General Conditions for Sale of Land in Western Australia. He is the Chair of the Legal Practice Board. John prepared the original General Conditions for Sale of Land in WA which is the basis of the current 2018 General Conditions for the Sale of Land.
Isabella Mosole, Senior Associate, Lavan
Isabella Mosole is a senior associate in Lavan's Planning & Environment team and brings to it a wealth of experience advising clients across various sectors throughout Western Australia. Isabella’s expertise encompasses town planning, environmental and liquor licensing approvals, land compensation, as well as other matters relating to administrative and public law. Recognized for her strong work ethic, pragmatic approach, and friendly demeanour, Isabella is highly regarded by both colleagues and clients and has been recognised by Doyle’s Guide and Best Lawyers in Australia ™ as a future leading lawyer in the fields of Planning and Environmental law annually since 2022. In addition to her legal practice, Isabella has served as an elected member of the Property Council of Australia, Planning Committee in Western Australia since 2021 and has been appointed co-chair of the Committee for its 2025/2026 term.
Jess Hamdorf, Director, McLeod Fisher & Hamdorf
Jess is a Director with over 7 years of post admission experience. She specialises in many aspects of environment, planning, and public law. She represents clients in the State Administrative Tribunal and the Supreme Court in appealing subdivision and development application refusals, appealing the issuing of various planning notices, disputes regarding developer contribution plans and public and private nuisance. Further, Jess represents clients in the Magistrates Court in relation to planning prosecutions. Jess is also experienced in advising clients on issues related to the compulsory taking of land for public works, contamination of land, waste and general contractual disputes. In addition to her litigation work, Jess has advised on a range of general commercial matters, including drafting and negotiating commercial leases and licences, preparation and amendment of Incorporated Association’s constitutions. Jess is experienced in advising on matters of statutory interpretation, the implications of proposed statutory amendments and the creation of public submissions in relation to proposed developments. Jess is the Past President of the National Environmental Law Association and was awarded the 2021 Mahla Pearlman Australian Young Environmental Lawyer of the Year award. In 2023 Doyle’s Guide recognised Jess as a rising star in Planning and Environmental Law.
This seminar is part of a series
Ethics, Professional Skills & Practice Management for Property Lawyers
Wednesday, 19 March 2025
Explore the complexities of property law in areas like strata disputes, subdivisions, carbon projects, and land compensation. Gain insights into the regulatory frameworks affecting development projects and how to manage planning approvals, compliance, and emerging challenges.
Description
Attend and earn 3 CPD units including:
1 unit in Ethics & Professional Responsibility
1 unit in Practice Management & Business Skills
1 unit in Professional Skills
This program is based on WA legislation
Chair
Catherine Wheeler, Partner, Piper Alderman
Professional Skills
2.00pm to 3.00pm Strategic Skills for Navigating Western Australia’s Planning and Development Framework
- Recent statutory planning framework changes and their impact on development projects
- Available pathways for lodging and progressing development applications
- Key legal principles guiding the assessment of development applications
- Strategic approaches to appealing planning decisions
Presented by Isabella Mosole, Senior Associate, Lavan; Best Lawyers 2025, 2024, ‘Ones to Watch’, Planning & Environment Law; Doyle’s Guide 2024, 2023, 2022 ‘Rising Star’, Planning & Environment Law; Elected Member, Property Council of Australia, Planning & Infrastructure Committee WA
4.00pm to 4.15pm Afternoon Tea
Practice Management & Business Skills
3.00pm to 4.00pm Real Estate Mortgages: Indefeasibility and Record-Keeping Considerations
- Current electronic conveyancing practice in WA versus Torrens orthodoxy
- Practical implications including record-keeping requirements
Presented by Shannon Davies, Principal, Stork Davies; Leading Property & Real Estate Lawyer, Doyle’s Guide 2024; Recommended Property & Real Estate Lawyer, Doyle’s Guide 2020-2023; Leading Leasing Lawyers, Doyle’s Guide 2024; Recommended Leasing Lawyer, Doyle’s Guide 2023; Best Lawyers 2023, 2024, 2025 Leasing Law; Best Lawyers 2024, 2025 Real Property Law
Ethics & Professional Responsibility
4.15pm to 5.15pm Ethics of Handling Suspicious Clients and Matters
The Commonwealth government introduced significant amendments to the AML-CTF Act, extending its reach to lawyers, especially those handling property transactions. Explore the practical impact of these changes and your responsibilities including:
- What to do before you’re even involved in a transaction
- Client identification
- What counts as suspicious?
- What if you have to report a suspicion?
- Can you cease to act?
Presented by Craig Slater, Barrister, Francis Burt Chambers
View series listing
