Join our medical negligence webinar to delve into some key issues. Gain insights on the current surge in class actions in Medical Negligence claims and the current legal approach taken towards these actions.  Explore the findings from the NSW Legislative Council on birth trauma and obstetric violence, with reference to how these types of claims are being dealt with in Victoria. Finally, get a deeper understanding of how hospitals manage Medico-Legal risks behind the scenes, exploring the processes and the practical challenges they are forced to manage when there is an adverse event.

Presenters

Jane Fiske, Partner, Lander & Rogers
Jane has acted on behalf of many Victorian public and private hospitals, health facilities, doctors and allied health professionals. She has extensive experience in coronial enquiries, complaints, significant claims and defence litigation in the medical malpractice sphere. Jane has authored a number of other health and litigation related e-bulletins. Jane is recognised in the 2019 and 2020 editions of Best Lawyers in Australia for her expertise in Medical Negligence law. She is also in the current edition of the Doyle's Guide as a pre-eminent lawyer in the field of Medical Negligence. Jane is also chair of the firm's ethics Committee. Jane is a member of the Law Institute of Victoria, Women in Insurance, and the Medico Legal Society.


Emma Holden, Associate, Brave Legal
Emma is an Associate in our medical negligence team at Brave Legal and brings a deep level of understanding about the Australian health care system to each case and client she helps. Emma has an unmatched level of experience in the medico-legal field having worked in-house as a Principal Lawyer to a Queensland hospital and health service where she provided strategic advice to hospitals, doctors, and allied health professionals on a spectrum of complex issues, including civil claims, coronial inquests, and regulatory matters. Her experience within a hospital setting has equipped her with invaluable insights into the challenges faced by healthcare providers. Emma brings a compassionate approach, ensuring that her clients feel supported and informed throughout the legal process. Emma’s background enables her to simplify complex medical and legal information, making it accessible to her clients so they can focus on their recovery while also being active participants in their legal journey. Emma possesses a unique perspective that enriches her work, championing patients’ rights with compassion and diligence. Emma is committed to working tirelessly for her clients, combining her legal expertise and health background with a compassionate approach to achieve a fair outcome that makes a meaningful impact.


Christopher Lees, Barrister, Greens List
Christopher practices across general commercial law and public and administrative law. He specialises in health and medical law. His commercial practice encompasses contractual disputes, property disputes, insolvency proceedings, trust disputes, consumer protections and director duties. Christopher has experience in data and privacy compliance and regulation. His practice in health and medical law encompasses advice on commercial healthcare disputes including medical regulation, medical malpractice proceedings, disciplinary proceedings and data and privacy compliance. Christopher has experience working in the regulation of private health insurers, private hospitals and aged care. He also accepts briefs in Coroners Court proceedings and NDIS review proceedings. Before coming to the Bar, Christopher worked as an associate solicitor at S. Moran & Co Solicitors in Sydney and as in-house counsel at nib Health Funds and Honeysuckle Health (a subsidiary of nib Health Funds and Cigna Health Insurance). Christopher also worked as an intern with the Prosecution for the Khmer Rouge Trials and as a volunteer solicitor at Redfern Legal Centre. Christopher holds a Juris Doctor and Bachelor of Arts from the University of Melbourne. Christopher is currently completing his Master of Laws at the University of Melbourne, specialising in health and medical law. Christopher is reading with Renee Sion. His senior mentor is Ian Freckelton AO KC.


Janine McIlwraith, Principal Solicitor, Margalit
Before commencing her career in law, Janine worked as a health professional in public and private hospitals. Since commencing her career in law Janine has worked almost exclusively in the health and medical law arena. Janine has worked for both large and small firms. She has co-authored two prominent medical law texts, co-authored the National Disability Insurance Scheme Handbook and has written and edited a number of chapters for Halsbury’s Laws of Australia. Janine has taught Medical Law and Public Health Law at the University of Western Sydney and also taught Health Law to Masters and JD students at Monash University.


Emily Hart, Principal, Arnold Thomas & Becker Lawyers
Emily Hart is a Principal Lawyer and the head of Arnold Thomas and Becker’s Medical Negligence Team. She is an accredited specialist in personal injury law and has worked exclusively in medical negligence for over 15 years. She is also Deputy Chair of the Health Law Committee at the Law Institute of Victoria. She has a particular interest in obstetric, coronial and mental health matters.