You know that winning sexual and family violence cases at trial is challenging, and being an effective advocate in the limited time available to showcase your case is crucial. This is your opportunity to hear from extraordinarily barristers and members of the Judiciary while exploring landmark cases. Gain expert analysis of the new non-strangulation legislation and youth justice updates.  Attend and gain essential knowledge in understanding forensic DNA evidence and practical skills for client management and handling ethical Issues. All you need to do is attend, either in person or online, to gain insights that will make your practice easier.

Presenters

The Honourable Justin Hannebery KC, Crockett Chambers
The Honourable Justin Hannebery KC is a King’s Counsel practising in criminal law, occupational health and safety matters, coronial inquests, professional disciplinary proceedings and Royal Commissions. He has extensive experience in Supreme Court trials and bail applications and has appeared in appeals in the High Court and Courts of Appeal. He appeared in the Lawyer X Royal Commission and has significant experience in Confiscation Act matters. Justin signed the Bar Roll in 1998 and was appointed Silk in 2018. He served as a Judge of the County Court of Victoria from 2020 to 2022 and as President of the Victorian Bar in 2024 and 2025. He has also been leading counsel for Victoria Legal Aid’s Trial Counsel Development Program since 2011.

Liam McAuliffe, Crown Prosecutor, Office of Public Prosecutions Victoria
Liam practises in public and administrative law, common law, regulatory law, quasi-criminal and criminal law. He regularly appears in the County Court and the Magistrates' Court. He has significant experience in matters under the Serious Offenders Act 2018, and under the Crimes Mental Impairment (Unfitness to be Tried) Act 1997. Liam is experienced in regulatory prosecutions and in professional disciplinary matters. He also maintains an appellate practice relating to criminal law matters. He appears in coronial inquests, judicial review proceedings, public interest immunity matters, as well as confidentiality and suppression order proceedings. He also appears in VCAT in public law and human rights matters, merits review proceedings, privacy law and professional conduct matters. Liam in currently participating in the 2024 VLA Trial Counsel Development Program.

His Honour Judge Frank Gucciardo, County Court of Victoria
Signed Roll of Counsel of the Victorian Bar 1983; Extensive practice in Criminal Law in the County and Supreme Court of Victoria, 1983- 2008; Appointed to the County Court of Victoria in 2008; Instructor at Victorian Bar Reader’s Course since 1989- 2019 (Workshop on Interpreters, Plea making, General and Jury Trial Advocacy, Criminal Certificate Accreditation Seminars and Police Prosecutors examination moots); Instructor for Australian Advocacy Institute, 1994--2019, including as Teacher in the LL.B. undergraduate course in Trial Advocacy at Monash University Campus in Prato, Italy; instructor for Victoria Legal Aid in Trial Counsel Accreditation workshops; Chairman of the County Court Professional Development Committee 2011-2016; Member of the  Court’s Media Committee 2010-2017; Member of the Strategic Planning Committee of Court Services Victoria 2015-2018; Co-Sponsor Judge of the County Court Resilience and Reflective Practice Program; Occasional faculty member for seminars of the Judicial College of Victoria; Speaker on Judicial Wellness at a number of recent Conferences in Australia and New Zealand; Recent past Council Alternate Member of the National Judicial College of Australia and past member of the College’s Programs Advisory Committee; Member of the County Court Judicial Security Working group and County Court Judicial Wellbeing Committee 2024-5.

Robert Richter KC, Crockett Chambers
Robert is the former chairman of the Criminal Bar Association, former President of Victorian Council for Civil Liberties, former part-time Law Reform Commissioner for Victoria and former member of Bar Council. Joint Editor, with Ken Hayne (former Justice Hayne of the High Court), Melbourne University Law Review ;Signed Bar Roll in Victoria 1971; Appointed Queen’s Counsel 1985. He is a full time practice specialising in criminal law and associated fields; Adjunct Professor of Law at Victoria University since 2015.

Nick Jane, Partner, Stary Norton Halphen
Nick joined Stary Norton Halphen in 2015, having graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from Monash University and a Juris Doctor from The University of Melbourne. Nick has completed internships in remote WA with the Aboriginal Legal Service of Western Australia, and in Texas with anti-death penalty law firm GRACE.

Paul Galbally, Partner, Galbally O’Bryan
Paul is a Partner at Stary Norton Halphen & Galbally and an Accredited Criminal Law Specialist with more than three decades of experience in criminal defence. He has particular expertise in complex corporate and white collar prosecutions and has acted in some of Australia’s largest and most complex criminal matters. His experience includes representing clients in Public Inquiries, Royal Commissions, ASIC investigations and prosecutions, regulatory matters, extradition proceedings, and serious State and Commonwealth criminal cases. Paul Galbally has been recognised in The Best Lawyers in Australia™ for Criminal Defence since 2022 and was named Melbourne Criminal Defence Lawyer of the Year in 2024 and 2026.

Sam Norton, Partner, Stary Norton Halphen
Sam is a Partner and Accredited Criminal Law Specialist at Stary Norton Halphen & Galbally. With more than 25 years’ experience practising exclusively in criminal law, he represents clients in complex and serious criminal matters throughout Victoria. Sam regularly appears in the Magistrates’, County and Supreme Courts in contested hearings, jury trials, plea hearings and bail applications. His practice includes serious criminal matters, drug offences, sexual offences, white collar crime and fraud, and driving offences. Sam has been an Accredited Criminal Law Specialist since 2008 and is recognised by Doyle’s Guide as a leading criminal defence lawyer.

Emma Turnbull, Director, Emma Turnbull Lawyers
Emma Turnbull is the Director and founding partner of Emma Turnbull Lawyers, established in 2011. An Accredited Criminal Law Specialist, Emma has extensive experience in serious criminal cases, jury trials, committal proceedings, appeals and intervention order matters, and regularly appears across Victoria’s Magistrates’, County and Supreme Courts. She holds Bachelor of Laws and Master of Laws degrees and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. Emma is also actively involved in legal education and professional development, presenting on criminal law, advocacy, leadership and lawyer wellbeing. She was named Lawyers Weekly Wellness Advocate of the Year in 2024.

David Ranson, Adj Clinical Professor, Monash University, Adj Professor, La Trobe University, Honorary Associate, Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine
David Ranson has been a forensic pathologist both in Bristol in the UK and, since 1988, in Melbourne, Australia. He has held a range of positions at the Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine (VIFM) including Head of Forensic Services (Deputy Director). He retired from the VIFM in 2024 but remains an active teacher, writer and researcher. Currently he is an Adjunct Clinical Professor at Monash Medical School and an Adjunct Professor in the La Trobe University Law School. David is actively involved in corporate and clinical governance consulting with a focus on medical law and law relating to the coronial jurisdictions. He is currently the forensic pathology adviser to the Chief Coroner in New Zealand and has worked with business consultants (inc. NOUS) and the National Association of Testing Authorities (NATA) and the Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia (RCPA) in reviewing and accrediting forensic pathology services across Australia. David has a strong interest in Coronial law and procedure, expert medical evidence, forensic medicine in public health and related aspects of therapeutic jurisprudence. David has published widely including textbooks, editorials, research papers, forensic pathology technical/expert consultancy reports as well as forensic business consultancy reports.

Ethics, Professional Skills & Practice Management for Criminal Lawyers

Explore key aspects of criminal law, including managing difficult clients, ethical challenges, and forensic DNA evidence. Gain insights into maintaining well-being and ethical standards while navigating complex cases.

Presenters

Liam McAuliffe, Crown Prosecutor, Office of Public Prosecutions Victoria
Liam practises in public and administrative law, common law, regulatory law, quasi-criminal and criminal law. He regularly appears in the County Court and the Magistrates' Court. He has significant experience in matters under the Serious Offenders Act 2018, and under the Crimes Mental Impairment (Unfitness to be Tried) Act 1997. Liam is experienced in regulatory prosecutions and in professional disciplinary matters. He also maintains an appellate practice relating to criminal law matters. He appears in coronial inquests, judicial review proceedings, public interest immunity matters, as well as confidentiality and suppression order proceedings. He also appears in VCAT in public law and human rights matters, merits review proceedings, privacy law and professional conduct matters. Liam in currently participating in the 2024 VLA Trial Counsel Development Program.