What are you looking for from CPD? Updates? Insights? Subject matter experts sharing wisdoms? Look no further. This conference provides an examination of the nexus between personal injury claims and actions for contravention of the Anti-Discrimination Act 1991 (Qld), pure psychiatric claims, updates in motor vehicle and workers compensation claims, plus bespoke presentations for personal injury lawyers on ethics, professional skills and practice management.

Presenters

Emma Fitzgerald, Barrister, Hemmant's List
As a solicitor, Emma spending 8 years working in Government and Private Practice in defendant insurance litigation representing insurers in both personal injuries and property damage litigation.  She then went on to establish the Financial Abuse Prevention team at a Queensland community legal service. Emma has been at the bar since April 2021.  She has a broad practice in what she calls ‘human’ law – including personal injuries, insurance, consumer law, abuse law, guardianship, wills & probate, family law and domestic violence. Emma is regularly briefed to appear both led and unled in State and Federal Courts. Emma is a proud single mum and mental health advocate and regularly speaks about her experience. If you believe Emma can assist you or your clients, are interested in coming to the bar, or ever feel the need to phone a friend – Emma warmly welcomes a phone call or a visit to the Hemmant’s List Centre for a cup of tea.


Dani Sharp, Principal, Kanther Law


Chau Donnan, Barrister, North Quay Barristers
Chau was called to the Bar in May 2019 and specialises in personal injury (CTP, public liability, WorkCover, product liability and medical negligence), general insurance and employment claims.  She has represented plaintiffs and defendants in contested applications and the hearing of property claims. Chau completed her Bachelor of Laws (with Honours) and Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Adelaide and was admitted as a solicitor in 2000.   Prior to commencing at the Bar, Chau worked as a solicitor representing injured plaintiffs, as an in-house solicitor for a government entity and as a Settlement Manager for a global insurer. Chau is a fluent speaker in Cantonese, Mandarin and Vietnamese.  She also serves on the Australian Insurance Law Association, Queensland Committee.


Rob Davis, Barrister-at-law, Davis Legal
Rob was first admitted as a solicitor in both Qld and NSW in 1979 after completing 5 years articles of clerkship with a medium sized law firm on the Gold Coast. Rob holds the following degrees: B.Soc.Sc., LL.M and LL.M (Corp & Com). Rob lives on the Gold Coast. He has worked as a barrister since 2007. Prior to that he was a solicitor for 27 years, for the majority of that time working in civil litigation. Rob practises mainly in civil negligence law (medical negligence, aviation accidents, product liability injury law and other accident claims) in Qld, NSW, ACT Courts and the Federal Court. Rob also represents current and former employees of the Commonwealth and Commonwealth Authorities in claims for denied Commonwealth superannuation entitlements. He has appeared in nearly all of the decided cases involving this highly specialised area of law. Rob has served in many roles throughout his career, including: National President of the Australian Lawyers Association (2000-2001) – twice elected; Australian representative on the Board of Governors of the Association of Trial Lawyers of America; Chair of the Consumer Law Committee of the Law Council of Australia; Member of the initial QLS Personal Injury Specialist Accreditation Committee; QLS Professional Standards Committee; President of the Queensland Law Society (2006); Board member of the College of Law Queensland; Board member of Lexon Insurance (Qld Solicitor’s Professional Indemnity Insurer); Advisory Committee of the Innocence Project at Griffith University; Visiting Assistant Professor at Faculty of Law at Bond University; and Adjunct Professor at Faculty of Business, Economics and Law at University of Queensland. He regularly speaks at conferences throughout Australia and has published extensively in legal journals and legal professional texts. Rob is currently a member of the Bar Association of Queensland’s Professional Ethics Committee. www.davislegal.com.au


Jo Sorbello, Barrister, 31 West Chambers
Jo Sorbello is a barrister in private practice at the Queensland bar. Prior to being called to the bar, Jo spent over a decade in private practice as a solicitor practising in personal injuries litigation. She is a Queensland Law Society Accredited Specialist in Personal Injuries having been awarded the Highest Achievement award for the 2007 accreditation program.


Verity Smith, Principal, McInnes Wilson
Verity is a Principal within McInnes Wilson Lawyers’ compensation division. In the personal injury field, Verity practises across a variety of matter types including motor vehicle accidents, bicycle accidents, workplace incidents, chemical harm, assault and general public liability incidents. Verity has a particular interest in motorcycle accidents and motorcyclist welfare, leading McInnes Wilson Lawyers’ motorcycle law division. In addition to supporting motorcyclists with compensation claims, Verity provides legal education to riders and assists core groups with road safety advocacy and initiatives. Verity has experience in broader insurance (including property damage and income protection) and injury insurance schemes (such as NDIS and NIISQ). Outside of her compensation practice, Verity is passionate about access to justice and coordinates McInnes Wilson Lawyers’ national pro bono program. She personally performs pro bono work for individuals, community legal centres and other organisations and has helped to establish multiple outreach legal clinics. Verity has been listed in Doyle’s Guide and is the recipient of awards including Lawyers Weekly Australian Law Awards (“Innovator of the Year” winner in 2023) and 30 Under 30 Awards (“Insurance” winner in 2023, and “Health Medical and Personal Injury” winner 2024).


Samuel Smith, Barrister, Carson Chambers
Sam was called to the Bar in May 2024 having worked in private practice as a solicitor for some 8 years. Before coming to the Bar, Sam's work was in personal injuries, including medical negligence and abuse claims, and professional negligence. His areas of practice include personal injuries covering CTP, employment, public liability, medical negligence and abuse claims, professional negligence, administrative law, criminal law, employment disputes, trusts and estates litigation and family law matters. He is a director of a charity disability employment provider that assists people with disability to obtain and maintain employment.


Yvette McLaughlin, Partner, Sparke Helmore Lawyers
Yvette McLaughlin is an accredited specialist in personal injury law, with more than 20 years’ experience in the insurance industry. She has practised predominately in defendant insurance and has extensive knowledge of workers' compensation, motor accident and personal injuries proceedings. Her experience spans all Queensland Courts, the Court of Appeal, the AAT and the QIRC and she has contributed to policy formulation and education initiatives for clients. She is regularly involved in committees discussing ongoing issues such as management of litigated matters and the use of technology in claims management and represents clients at public stakeholder meetings. Her experience in both formulating and complying with the strict service level standards expected by her clients, and her commitment to the continuous improvement of claims management processes, has allowed Yvette to develop and implement claims management systems to efficiently conduct personal injuries claims while at the same time adhering to clients' service level standards and the relevant legislative timeframes. Yvette regularly chairs and presents industry seminars and provides client training.


Susan Anderson, Barrister, Chambers 33
Susan has been a barrister with a general civil practice in Queensland since 2003. In her personal injuries practice she specialises in pure psychiatric injuries whether in the workplace or caused in other ways. Susan also practices in administrative law, commercial claims, and white collar crime.


Richard Perry KC, 35 West Chambers
Richard Perry KC was admitted to the Queensland Bar in 1983 and took silk in 2004. Admitted to the High Court and Supreme Court of Queensland in 1983. Admitted as a Barrister in the following States and Territories: Supreme Court of New South Wales, 1987; Australian Capital Territory, 1994; Northern Territory, January 2000; He is a graduate of the University of Queensland and Queensland University o Technology and holds the following degrees: Bachelor of Arts (University of Queensland); Bachelor of Laws (Queensland University of Technology); Master of Laws (Queensland University of Technology) 1995; Mr Perry's practice is advocacy based: He has extensive commercial and civil litigation experience having conducted a very large number of major trials in all jurisdictions, and in various States, during the course of his career at the Bar; He appears regularly in the Court of Appeal and in the Full Court of the Federal Court; He appears as defence Counsel in numerous statutory prosecutions and has prosecuted medical disciplinary complaints; He has appeared frequently in the Fair Work Commission and the Queensland Industrial Relations Commission; He has appeared as defence Counsel in numerous statutory prosecutions; He has appeared frequently in the Fair Work Commission and the Queensland Industrial Relations Commission, and He is frequently retained to advise, and appear for, Barristers subject to complaints to the Legal Services Commission. He has acted in numerous Commisions of Inquiry, most recently the Home Insulation Inquiry and has appeared as Counsel Assisting the Coroner. Mr Perry also has wide experience in diverse aspects of the legal system: He commenced his career at the bar practising in crime and has defended in both the Supreme and District Courts; He has appeared in a number of major Criminal Justice Commission inquiries eg Yock, Carruthers, Carter and Kimmins Inquiries. He was appointed as inaugural Public Interest Monitor in April 1997. Mr Perry served in that capacity for 3.5 years. In that capacity, he appeared in numerous applications by the Criminal Justice Commission, QPS and NCA for surveillance warrants. His duty was to ensure that the public interest was served in each and every instance, by weighing and reconciling issues of civil liberties with the imperatives of law enforcement; Mr Perry gave evidence to a Commonwealth Joint Standing Committee, regarding the NCA, concerning civil liberties issues and investigative bodies. He was appointed as acting Parliamentary Criminal Justice Commissioner for 12 months in 2001. He has acted, pro bono, on matters in the Magistrates Court for homeless persons, being on the PILCH list, and, at the request of the Registrar, in the Federal Circuit Court in a discrimination case; He was retained, by parties, to provide an expert determination concerning fuel prices at airports; He has conducted a very large number of mediations as mediator, generally in Supreme Court cases.