Enhance your expertise in key areas of government litigation skills Gain comprehensive, practical insights and actionable strategies for tackling complex legal issues faced by government practitioners.  Explore the challenges of legal professional privilege, public interest immunity, and Cabinet confidentiality. Gain valuable insights into the essential steps for preparing cases in Freedom of Information (FOI) and privacy matters. Master the art of drafting effective, admissible affidavits and witness statements together with the management of government deponents.

Presenters

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.


Tom Egan, Barrister, Greens List, Chancery Chambers
Tom practises in commercial and public law, with a focus on property, insolvency, contracts, corporations and administrative law. He also has an interest in investigations by regulatory and integrity agencies. Before coming to the Bar, Tom practised as a solicitor: In Hall & Wilcox's commercial dispute resolution team, where he acted in disputes relating to contracts, property development, leasing, oppression, winding up, injunctions and the Land Acquisition and Compensation Act 1986 (Vic).  He also advised government clients on public law issues; In the public law team of the Department of Premier and Cabinet's Office of the General Counsel, where he advised on state significant litigation and various high profile public law matters, as well as freedom of information, privacy and aboriginal heritage matters. He also advised on investigations by the Auditor-General, the Ombudsman and the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission; and In Allens' disputes and investigation team, where he acted in group proceedings, tort claims, regulatory action (ASIC / ACCC / AER) and insolvency matters. Prior to his admission as a solicitor, from 2017-2019, Tom was Associate and then Senior Associate to the Honourable Justice Croft at the Supreme Court of Victoria, where he assisted with general commercial, leasing, class action and state taxation matters, as well as arbitration related proceedings. Since coming to the Bar, Tom has appeared in the following cases: VS Property and Holding Pty Ltd v Zurzolo [2024] VSCA 154: VS Property and Holding Pty Ltd v Zurzolo [2024] VSCA 199 and; AJ Moussi Pty Ltd v Luxor Corporation Pty Ltd (Building and Property) [2024] VCAT 846. Tom is reading with James McKay and his senior mentor is Elizabeth Bennett SC.


Melanie Olynyk, Partner, Maddocks
Melanie Olynyk is a Partner in Maddocks' Public Law Group specialising in governance and administrative law. She has extensive experience in providing advice and training on FOI, privacy and record keeping for State Government, Local Government and statutory authorities, and she has also appeared in numerous FOI and privacy proceedings before the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT). Melanie also regularly advises on statutory interpretation, delegations and protected disclosures. Melanie was ranked by the 2010 member survey of the Australian Corporate Lawyers Association as one of Australia's: "A team of great lawyers". Melanie is the author of the Lawyers Practice Manual Chapters on Victorian FOI and Privacy. She has also been a regular presenter at Leo Cussen on FOI and privacy since 2005.


Tim Maybury, Barrister, 6 St James Hall
Tim was called to the bar in 2024. Tim accepts briefs in all areas of law, with particular interests in the areas of public law, criminal law and commercial litigation. Before coming to the bar, Tim practised as a Senior Lawyer at the Australian Government Solicitor. At AGS, Tim acted for Commonwealth clients in federal, state and territory courts and tribunals at all levels in matters concerning law enforcement and national security, and in coronial inquests and royal commissions. Tim also maintained a summary prosecution practice, appearing in contested hearings as a solicitor-advocate for clients including the Australian Federal Police, Australian Border Force and the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency. Tim is an experienced commercial litigator, having practised as a Senior Associate with Piper Alderman. At the firm, Tim represented corporate clients in the financial services/fintech, energy and nutrition industries in investigations and proceedings brought by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission as well as a range of commercial arbitration, private international law, contract and consumer protection matters. Tim gained specialist expertise in international trade law practising as a Legal Officer for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. At DFAT, Tim acted for Australia in disputes before the World Trade Organization including India – Measures Concerning Sugar and Sugarcane and China – Anti-dumping and Countervailing Duty Measures on Barley from Australia. In that role, Tim appeared and made oral submissions before a WTO dispute settlement panel and represented Australia in settlement consultations in Geneva.  Tim began his career in litigation practising as a Senior Federal Prosecutor (A/g) for the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions. Tim acted in multiple terrorism, drug importation and white collar crime jury trials in the Supreme Court of New South Wales and District Court of New South Wales and regularly appeared for the Crown in bail and sentencing hearings.