Don’t miss the opportunity to gain invaluable updates and insights you need to effectively perform your role as In-House Counsel.  Hear from a panel of experienced In-House Counsel on how they manage and balance the pressures of multiple aspects of the In-House Counsel role that you face each day. Ensure that you are across carbon accounting and sustainability reporting as well as continuous disclosure obligations. Hear an essential employment law update and some tips on legal professional privilege. Gain your core compulsory CPD units while covering topics tailored to In-House lawyers that will give you additional tools to put into practice.

Presenters

Julianne Taverner, Special Counsel, Danny King Legal


Maija Kerry, Partner, Norton Rose Fulbright Australia
Maija Kerry is a corporate and commercial lawyer based in Sydney. Maija is a Best Lawyer - in the area of Franchising Law, and her experience in franchising law has also been recognized following her accreditation as a FRANdata Accredited Franchise Lawyer. Maija regularly presents in relation to legal issues affecting franchisors and organisations operating in consumer markets, including at the national conference of the Franchise Council of Australia. Maija works with clients across a broad range of industries , assisting them with broad range of strategic and day to day legal issues, including in relation to business sales and acquisitions, compliance, IP, competition & consumer law, contractual enforcement and how to expand businesses internationally. Practical, commercial and proactive, Maija works closely with her clients to ensure that her legal advice aligns with her clients’ commercial imperatives.


Paul Venus, Partner, Piper Alderman
Paul Venus is a highly experienced lawyer specializing in commercial litigation, dispute resolution and commercial law, across Australia. With over 29 years of experience, he has acted in all levels of the Australian Court system, including the High Court of Australia, Federal Court of Australia, Supreme Courts of Queensland and New South Wales, District Courts, and Magistrates Courts. His expertise spans practice areas which are characterised by high levels of regulation. Those include Competition and Consumer law, Intellectual Property Protection, Privacy, Franchising, Technology, Defamation law, Insolvency litigation, and Banking litigation. He is also an experienced franchising and commercial mediator, who is familiar with the Mandatory Codes of Conduct prescribed by the Competition & Consumer Act. As a trusted adviser, Paul is known for his responsiveness to client needs, clarity and commerciality of advice, and strong advocacy. Clients, ranging from multinational corporations to SMEs to high-net-worth individuals, rely on Paul for counsel. They turn to him when making difficult decisions, requiring help in stressful situations, or seeking to navigate legal complexities to achieve high value outcomes for their business. His approach to providing practical context to legal problems and achieving exceptional outcomes for clients has earned him high praise from his clients. Paul also has substantial experience in contract disputes, negligence cases, corporate law disputes, and shareholder disputes. In addition to his litigation expertise, Paul brings a wealth of knowledge in commercial and corporate law. Real world industry knowledge has been gained by Paul from non-executive director roles in the Electricity and Health sectors. Paul has also gained experience in not-for profit organisations as a non-executive director in a research foundation and a charitable trust. Paul’s expertise as a commercial lawyer, and excellent drafting skills enable him to provide strategic commercial advice and negotiate a wide range of agreements for clients. He has substantial knowledge advising clients on directors’ duties and responsibilities, conflicts management, continuous disclosure, board decisions, responses to regulator notices and investigations. Paul holds a Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Queensland, a Masters of Laws from Queensland University of Technology, and a Certificate of Arbitration and Mediation from the University of Adelaide. He is admitted as a legal practitioner in the High Court of Australia, Supreme Court of Queensland, Supreme Court of New South Wales, Supreme Court of South Australia, and Supreme Court of the Northern Territory.


Steve Johns, Partner & Technology and Digital Economy Co-Lead, Hall & Wilcox
Steve’s practice focuses on corporate law, specialising in M&A and joint ventures. He has particular expertise in transactions in the technology (including ICT), life sciences, biotechnology and services sectors. Steve advises clients on share and asset sales, strategic investments, joint ventures and restructures (including carve-outs). His clients including foreign and domestic corporations and private equity and venture capital funds. In addition to his sector expertise, Steve has a focus on cross border transactions, and in particular transactions involving the US. He has worked in the US and regularly advises US clients on transactions in Australia. In addition to working on transactions in the US and Australia, Steve has worked extensively in South East Asia and the Pacific.


Andrew Lumsden, Partner, Corrs Chambers Westgarth
Andrew Lumsden advises corporate clients in all aspects of mergers and acquisitions and corporate and securities law. Andrew advises corporate clients in all aspects of mergers and acquisitions and corporate governance, as well as contested and negotiated takeovers, fundraising and corporate and securities law matters. He has a 20 year reputation for delivering high quality results in ground breaking transactions. Andrew is known for his ability to develop innovative solutions. From 1998 to 2001 he was the Chief of Staff for the Hon. Joe Hockey MP, then Minister for Financial Services & Regulation. Andrew has been the co-chair of Corrs' China Practice Group for more than 10 years. Andrew is a former member of the Takeovers Panel, a member of the Corporations Committees of both the Law Council of Australia and the Australian Institute of Company Directors, the Regulatory Compliance Group and Company Reporting Subcommittee of the Financial Services Institute of Australasia and an Adjunct Faculty member of The University of Sydney Faculty of Law.


Aletta Boshoff, National Lead Partner, IFRS & Corporate Reporting and ESG & Sustainability, BDO
With over 30 years of financial reporting and accounting experience, Aletta's expertise spans financial accounting and reporting, carbon accounting, sustainability reporting, audit and assurance and taxation. Passionate about helping people and organisations to create and sustain long-term value in this rapidly changing world, Aletta enjoys using her technical, problem solving and leadership skills to work with colleagues and empower clients to make informed, strategic decisions. Aletta led the creation of BDO in Australia’s inaugural Sustainability Report in 2022, which included a carbon footprint assessment, and leads the BDO Global Carbon Accounting Working Group.


Olga Ganopolsky, General Counsel – Privacy and Data, Macquarie Group Limited
Olga Ganopolsky is Macquarie Group’s General Counsel - Privacy and Data and is versed in the subject of data protection with extensive experience in detailed privacy policy challenges, law reform and ongoing management of legal and strategic issues. Much of Olga’s work involves implementing new technologies and addressing privacy requirements in an increasingly complex co-regulatory and sometimes contentious environment. Most recently this has included work on implementations of GDPR and the reforms to Security of Critical Infrastructure Act and related regimes, artificial intelligence, CPS 234, Covid-19 related matters, the Consumer Data Right and addressing cross border issues considering the Schrems II Decision of the European Court of Justice and the newly updated Standard Contractual Clause as approved by the Commission.


Linda Martin, General Counsel, REMONDIS Australia Pty Ltd
Linda is the General Counsel of REMONDIS Australia Pty Limited, a leading international and Australian waste, recycling, water and environmental services company. Prior to that, she held senior legal roles in property development, asset management and corporate governance with a top tier law firm and in-house with ASX listed Sydney Airport Corporation Ltd, Optus, Stockland and Colonial First State Global Asset Management. Linda and her legal team specialise in contract delivery and risk management across REMONDIS’ NSW, ACT, VIC, QLD and WA waste and water businesses, and liaise with regulators and local councils in relation to existing operations and new projects. REMONDIS is also is a leading innovator in the circular economy shift from landfills to EfW facilities in Australia and in navigating the regulatory regime to deliver bespoke EfW build and operational contracts.


Simone Rees, Solicitor Director, Buchanan Rees Dispute Lawyers
Simone Rees has a proven track record in guiding corporate clients and high-net-worth individuals through complex commercial litigation and alternative dispute resolution (including arbitration and mediation). Before founding Buchanan Rees, Simone accumulated valuable experience in the commercial litigation team of a national top-tier law firm, advising blue-chip corporate and government clients. Her consistent recognition in "The Best Lawyers in Australia" for Litigation (2021 - 2025) underscores her commitment to delivering a high standard of legal service. Beyond national recognition, she's made her mark as GLE's Dispute Resolution Law Representative in Australia, showcasing her dedication to advancing legal practices on an international scale. Together with Luke Buchanan, Simone founded Buchanan Rees Dispute Lawyers in order to provide a boutique commercial litigation offering, with a focus on technical excellence and outstanding client service.