Step into the world of cutting-edge medical law and tackle the most topical medical negligence issues. Examine the current landscape, challenges, and opportunities in class actions involving medical technologies, defective drugs, devices, and product liability claims. Get critical updates on recent decisions under NSW’s Civil Liability Act 2002, Section 50, as well as key rulings on breach of duty and causation. Gain fresh insights from the Parliamentary inquiry into birth trauma and what it means for your practice. Plus, hear from a leading cosmetic surgeon on the risks and common mistakes in cosmetic procedures.

FACE TO FACE SOLD OUT - SELECT LIVE ONLINE OR RECORDING

Presenters

Richard Sergi, Barrister, Greenway Chambers
Richard Sergi is a barrister with over 20 years’ experience at the Bar specialising in medical negligence (common law personal injury claims), Inquests and health practitioner disciplinary proceedings. Complex medical negligence matters and major claims form a significant part of Richard’s practice. His extensive experience covers all clinical areas including, for example, emergency medicine, obstetrics and gynaecology, cardiothoracic medicine, respiratory medicine, orthopaedics, neurosurgery, neurology, general surgery, and psychiatric practice. Richard acts for public health authorities and private hospitals as well as individual practitioners including Visiting Medical Officers, Staff Specialists, and employed medical and allied health practitioners in both public and private practice. The particular obligations, pitfalls and forensic idiosyncrasies of coronial proceedings and the Coroners Act 2009 are a significant part of Richard’s practice. He appears for all manner of interested parties including hospitals, service providers, and health practitioners in matters arising under the Health Practitioners Regulation National Law (NSW).Richard facilitates expert enclaves and is an accredited mediator. He is briefed as Independent Counsel to determine damages of eligible claimants in class action proceedings. While medical negligence and related matters are Richard’s principal area of practice, he maintains a practice in other common law areas including public liability, occupiers’ liability, and intentional wrongs. Richard has built his practice on an unfailing commitment to achieving the best possible outcome for his clients. The hallmarks of his approach are his down-to-earth manner, exceptional advocacy skills and attention to detail. Patient, diplomatic and frank, Richard is an advocate who understands the importance of clear and timely advice. He believes that a collegiate working relationship with solicitors is fundamental to ensuring clients make informed decisions during the legal process and achieve the best result. Richard is a member of the NSW Medico-Legal Society of NSW Inc.


Dr Gavin Sandercoe, Plastic Surgeon
Dr. Gavin Sandercoe is a Specialist Plastic Surgeon who completed his surgical training in 2007. Gavin is a member of the Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), the Australasian Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) & the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS). After Gavin completed his training, he spent time in Kathmandu performing microsurgery in a charity hospital, and then he completed a fellowship at Harborview Hospital in Seattle where he focussed on complex facial reconstruction after trauma. After Gavin returned to Sydney, he was the primary breast cancer reconstruction surgeon at Liverpool Hospital from 2009 to 2019. During his time in the public hospital system, Gavin was involved in registrar teaching for facial trauma and developed a cadaver course for education in surgical access to the facial skeleton & teaching how those techniques were important in facial cosmetic surgery. At the end of 2019, Gavin left Liverpool Hospital to focus on his private practice in Bella Vista.


David Higgs SC, 12 Wentworth Selborne Chambers
David was admitted as a solicitor in 1973, commenced practice as a barrister on 1 January 1977 and was appointed Senior Counsel in 1995. He has appeared in a wide variety of matters at first instance and/or on appeal in the Supreme Courts of NSW, the ACT, Victoria, Queensland, Tasmania and Western Australia as well as in the Federal Court of Australia and the High Court of Australia. Relevant to this seminar, one of David’s main areas of practice is medical negligence. Only recently, in Polsen v Harrison [2024] NSWCA 224, he appeared before the New South Wales Court of Appeal for the appellant. That case deals with the vexed issue as to what is required for a defendant to establish no liability based on s.5O of the Civil Liability Act 2002 (NSW). David now mainly acts as a mediator or arbitrator.


Dr Peter Cashman, Barrister, Third Floor Wentworth Chambers
Dr Peter Cashman is a barrister at 3 Wentworth Chambers in Sydney, former Professor of Law (Social Justice) University of Sydney Law School, currently Adjunct Professor, Faculty of Law & Justice, University of New South Wales. He was formerly: Commissioner in charge of the civil justice review with the Victorian Law Reform Commission; Commissioner jointly in charge (with Justice John Basten) of the reference on class actions with the Australian Law Reform Commission; founding Director of the Public Interest Advocacy Centre; founder and senior partner of the firm Cashman & Partners which merged with the Melbourne firm Maurice Blackburn & Co to form the national firm Maurice Blackburn Cashman (now Maurice Blackburn Pty Ltd); Governor of the American Trial Lawyers' Association (now the American Association for Justice) and National President of the Australian Plaintiff Lawyers' Association (now the Australian Lawyers Alliance). He holds a degree in law and a diploma in criminology from the University of Melbourne and a Master of Laws degree and a PhD from the University of London. He has practised law in the United Kingdom, the United States and Australia and is the author of numerous publications, including Class Action Law and Practice, The Federation Press, 2007.


Teni Berberian, Barrister, 13 Wentworth Chambers
Teni Berberian was called to the NSW Bar in 2005 where she practises from the 13th floor Wentworth Selborne Chambers. Teni’s main area of practise at the Bar is insurance, an area she practised in extensively as a solicitor. She practises in all aspect of insurance law and insurance litigation including life, TPD, income protection, professional indemnity, general liability and general commercial litigation. Teni has a special interest in medical law and is briefed regularly on behalf of medical indemnity insurers and the NSW Ministry of Health to appear on behalf of medical practitioners as well as public and private hospitals in defence of medical negligence claims and Coronial Inquests. Teni is also briefed and appears in both the prosecution and defence of disciplinary proceedings involving solicitors.


Dr Anna Walsh, Lecturer, University of Notre Dame
Dr Anna Walsh is a lawyer, bioethicist and academic. A former Principal of Maurice Blackburn Lawyers, she spent 15 years specialising in medical law including birth trauma litigation for plaintiffs. She completed a doctorate in law in 2022 focusing on freedom of conscience for doctors and is a lecturer in the School of Law and Business at the University of Notre Dame Australia where she teaches a number of subjects including Health Law, Bioethics and Mental Health Law. Anna's qualifications are PhD (UNDA), M. Bioethics (Harvard), LL.M (re) (Syd), LL.B (Hons), B. Nurs (Hons).Dip. Leg. Prac.