In just one morning be totally across the implications of Family Violence Legislation Reform Act 2024 and gain the skills that are hallmarks of successful criminal law advocacy - the ability to get the evidence right, tell the case through the story, know the best way to use experts in court, deliver a persuasive final address, prepare for a sentencing hearing, deliver the plea in mitigation, and manage expectations. Some of Australia’s pre-eminent barristers have agreed to share their experience and expertise in this not-to-be-missed full-day conference, exploring the techniques required for effective and successful criminal law advocacy. This essential conference will also cover urgent updates, landmark cases, and ethical issues in criminal proceedings.

Presenters

Mark Trowell KC, Barrister at Albert Wolff Chambers
Mark Trowell joined the independent Bar in Western Australia in 1989 after having been admitted to practice eight years earlier. He was appointed Queen's Counsel in 2000. He, together with Tom Percy QC, founded Albert Wolff Chambers. Despite some time in commercial and common law, he was ultimately attracted to the challenge of the criminal law and has since practiced exclusively in that jurisdiction. He has for the most part acted as defence counsel not only in WA, but also NSW, and from time to time also prosecutes for the DPP (WA). Mark has appeared as counsel at two Royal Commissions, and several notorious CCC inquiries. He is co-chair of the Criminal Law Standing Committee of LAWASIA. He was also involved in negotiations at the International Tribunal of the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) in Hamburg on behalf of the owners of a foreign vessel seized by the Australian Customs for allegedly poaching the prized Patagonian toothfish in the Southern Ocean near Antarctica. In December 2006, Mark Trowell was appointed by the Australian Government to undertake a review of the legislation governing the Australian Crime Commission (ACC). His report was later tabled in the Federal Parliament.Since 2004, Mark has attended as an international observer at controversial criminal trials in Thailand, Malaysia and Sri Lanka on behalf of several organisations, including LAWASIA, the International Commission of Jurists, the Geneva-based Inter-Parliamentary Union, the Australian Bar Association, the Law Council of Australia, Commonwealth Lawyers Association and Paris-based Union International des Advocats. He is the author of two best-selling books on the recent criminal trial and appeals in the Malaysian courts concerning the former deputy prime minister and opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim, which attracted international attention.,


Shirley Casey, Barrister, Albert Wolff Chambers
Shirley is a Barrister at Francis Burt Chambers, having joined the Bar on 1 August 2022. Prior to this she worked for a boutique criminal law firm in Subiaco, and prior to that, she was a senior associate for a national firm. Shirley moved to Australia in 2008 to practice law. She has practiced solely in crime with a dabble in civil law very early on.


Helen Prince, Barrister, Equus Chambers
Helen Prince wasn’t always a barrister. She started life as a youth worker in the northern suburbs working with “at risk youth”. Primarily Indigenous young people. As a youth worker, Helen spent a lot of her time at the Childrens Court and Magistrates Court assisting clients and working with lawyers. Helen has more than 30 years’ experience in practice including 25 years’ experience at the bar practising primarily as a criminal defence barrister. She regularly represents accused in the Supreme Court, District Court and Magistrates Court. She has appeared in many complex and lengthy trials. She also appears before the Court of Appeal. She is a founding member of Equus Chambers. Helen’s interest in evidence, including expert evidence and DNA, has seen her teaching evidence and advocacy at Murdoch University.


Jeremy Scudds, Barrister & Solicitor, Porter Scudds
Jeremy Scudds is a senior barrister and solicitor and social worker, with extensive experience in the area of criminal law. He has also previously worked in the areas of personal injury law and commercial litigation. He worked in government and private practice prior to setting up practice as a sole practitioner. He now is the principal of a legal firm with a number of criminal lawyers. He has a excellent knowledge and understanding of needs of the firm's clients. Jeremy was admitted to practice as a Barrister and Solicitor in the Supreme Court of Western Australia and High Court of Australia in 1984. By way of connection with the community, Mr. Scudds has worked as a social worker and union official. In the past, he has been the "Night Line Lawyer" for Radio Station 6PR (2 years), the Honorary Solicitor for the W.A. Council of Social Services [WACOSS] (10 years) and Incest Survivors Association (2 years), University Lecturer, the Legal Practitioner on the Real Estate Agents Supervisory Board (3 years), a member of various Law Society Committees, and a Trustee with the Perth Theatre Trust (5 years). He is currently a member of The National Association of Criminal Defence Lawyers (USA) Forensic Society of Australia & New Zealand and WA Criminal Lawyers Association. Mr Scudds also has been involved in the administration of various sports in Australia.


Rebekah Sleeth, Barrister, Albert Wolff Chambers
Rebekah Sleeth commenced her legal career as a commercial litigation solicitor and then as a civil solicitor at the Aboriginal Legal Service of Western Australia. Rebekah joined the Victorian Bar in 2006. Rebekah was a Senior Public Defender for Victoria Legal Aid between 2014 and 2018. Rebekah primarily practised in criminal and family law at the Victorian Bar. Rebekah remained at the Victorian Bar until 2018, before relocating to Perth, where her husband is from. Rebekah was then employed by the ODPP as a State Prosecutor for 2.5 years before joining the Western Australian Bar.


David Robinson, Barrister, Geoffrey Miller Chambers
David Robinson has practiced exclusively within the criminal law in Western Australia since 2011. David has experience in defending and prosecuting criminal matters. He has appeared as counsel in the Supreme Court, District Court, Magistrates Court and Children’s Court having worked at both the Aboriginal Legal Service of Western Australia and the Director of Public Prosecutions of Western Australia. David has litigated jury trials, contested summary hearings, bail applications and complex sentencing proceedings in Perth and regional courts across the State. David commenced working at the Aboriginal Legal Service of Western Australia in 2012 and routinely appeared as an advocate in courts around the State on a daily basis. Whilst at the Aboriginal Legal Service, he gained an in depth understanding of the Magistrates and Children’s Court, representing clients facing serious criminal charges in the District and Supreme Court. He then joined the Director of Public Prosecutions in Western Australian in 2016, where he regularly prosecuted a broad range of jury trials in both Perth and regional courts. Whilst at the Director of Public Prosecutions in Western Australia he appeared as counsel in jury trials for: adult and child sex matters (including historical sex matters), violent offences, drug and firearm offences, robberies, arson, commercial burglaries, home invasions and for dishonesty based offences (including stealing as a servant and fraud). In 2021, he joined the Western Australian Bar. David is approachable, thorough and has a passion for litigation.


Katherine Dowling, Senior Solicitor, Curt Hofmann Barristers and Solicitors
Katherine graduated in 2007 with a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) and Law from the University of Western Australia. She commenced her legal career at an international law firm, working in commercial civil litigation. She quickly realised, however, that she enjoys advocacy and working with ordinary people so started practicing in criminal law after completing her restricted practice. Katherine provides advice and representation in all areas of criminal and traffic law. She has r extensive experience in the Supreme, District and Magistrates Court jurisdictions. She is counsel in jury trials, pre-trial applications and sentencing hearings. She has also assisted and briefed other prominent barristers. Katherine has outstanding communication and interpersonal skills and prides herself on her ability to establish excellent working relationships with her clients and peers to ensure that matters are resolved in a professional, practical and cost-efficient manner. She has been repeatedly recognised as a leader in her field of criminal law, evidenced by her nomination in Doyles Guide from 2018-2023. In addition to her legal work, Katherine has sat as an adjudicator for disciplinary hearings on the Football West Tribunal, the WACA Tribunal & the Rugby WA Judiciary, was a committee member of the Criminal Lawyers Association from 2020.


Tom F Percy KC, Albert Wolff Chambers
Tom Percy KC was admitted to practice in 1978 after graduating from UWA. He was elected to the WA Bar Association in 1984 and took silk in 1997. He practices primarily in the area of Criminal trials and appeals. He is a former National Director and State President of the Australian Lawyers Alliance. He won the WA Civil Justice Award in 2006, The WA Law Society Community Service Award in 2007 and the WA Lawyer of the Year award in 2013. He is currently Head of Chambers at Albert Wolff Chambers in Perth.


Leah Clemens, Principal, LB Lawyers
Leah completed her post graduate law degree in 2004 after serving as an officer in the Navy. After being admitted, Leah worked in civil litigation at a boutique maritime law firm before joining Legal Aid servicing many clients for over a decade in criminal law, family law and civil litigation, often being referred unusual or tricky cases where jurisdictions overlap. Leah was the supervising solicitor in care and protection matters for and undertook ICL training in 2008. Leah returned to private practice in 2019, heading up a commercial litigation practice, family law practice and more recently criminal law practices.She advocates for both applicants and respondents in Restraining Order matters and has a very detailed technical understanding of the law. Her area of specialty is the “trifecta” where clients are subject to criminal complaints, have restraining orders afoot and are a party to Family Court proceedings. She has succeeded in opposing serial family violence offender applications and is no stranger to making submissions to parliament on aspects of legislative reform. Leah has just commenced practice as Principal Lawyer at LSC Legal, which is a general practice. She appears in all Courts and Tribunals in WA including the SAT, Federal Court and the High Court of Australia. She as appears as counsel in interstate matters involving historic sexual abuse cases.


Warren Stevenson, President, IAATI Australasia, Forensic Services WA