Without eating into the working week this conference has been developed and curated for the busy lawyer to keep abreast of new laws and trends to provide practical guidance from subject matter experts. With a broad range of topics covering wills and family, property, contracts, consumer, insolvency and commercial law, plus tick the compulsory ethics, professional skills and practice management boxes, you can attend for the full 10 hours or only the sessions most relevant to your practice.

Presenters

Elizabeth Picker, Barrister, Queen Square Chambers
Among her qualifications, Elizabeth holds a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) and a mediation diploma from Bond University. She is also an Accredited Mediator - Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner (FDRP) and an Accredited Arbitrator. In previous roles, she has worked as a solicitor of the Supreme Court of Queensland (1994-1999), Solicitor of the High Court of Australia (1996 - 2007), Solicitor of the Supreme Court of NSW (2000-2007) and is now a Barrister of the Supreme Court of NSW 2007 (to date). Her area of practice at the Bar is principally in Dispute Resolution (in any areas suitable for mediation) and in the Family Law jurisdiction in all aspects of family law, financial and parenting matters. Elizabeth also has a steady practice in areas of equity including wills and probate & Family Provision matters.


Stipe Vuleta, Managing Director, Chamberlains Law Firm
Leading Canberra Litigation, Insolvency & Reconstruction lawyer at Chamberlains Law Firm. A depth of experience from the traditional Legal and emerging Legal Technology sectors with Top Tier, Boutique and Online Expertise. Providing practical and commercial solutions to complex legal problems at all stages of the corporate and personal financial life cycle. Regular presenter on Insolvency, Building and Construction. Author and contributor to various Print & Online Publications.


David Jury, Partner, HWL Ebsworth
David has practised in building and construction industry for 25years and has particular expertise in adjoining land owner issues including proceedings under section 88K of the Conveyancing Act. David’s clients include, Contractors, Developers and specialist subcontractors. David provides advice on tendering, project delivery, contract administration and dispute resolution including processes under the Building and Construction Industry Security of Payment Act.


Geoffry Underwood, Barrister, Sixth Floor Selborne Wentworth Chambers
Geoffry Underwood is a barrister practising from Sixth Floor, Selborne Wentworth Chambers, 174 Phillip Street Sydney. He practises principally in the area of Equity, Estate and Family Provision advising and litigation. He has been involved in Estate Litigation on a regular basis for over 20 years. He has many interests outside the law including family, travel, golf and classical music.


Diane Skapinker, Principal, Skapinker Law
Principal, Skapinker Law is Principal at Skapinker Law and previously a consultant at Ashurst. Diane practices in all aspects of property law, including property developments, strata and community titling, acquisitions, disposals and leasing and has particular expertise in the property aspects of telecommunications, data centre and infrastructure projects. Diane was formerly an Associate Professor of Law at the University of Sydney lecturing in Real Property, Conveyancing and Equity, and since 2009 has been a member of the NSW Law Society’s Property Law Committee and a member of the subcommittee responsible for drafting the NSW standard form contract for the sale and purchase of land. Diane is recognised as a real estate practitioner by Chambers Asia-Pacific, Doyle's Guide and Best Lawyers Australia.


Nick Chadwick, Principal, Chadwick Workplace Law
Nick Chadwick has practised in employment law and industrial relations for 35 years. Nick's entrée into the world of industrial relations in 1989 was at a time when disputation and strikes were frequent. He spent most of his time at the NSW Industrial Relations Commission or the Australian Industrial Relations Commission or in meetings with Unions. Nick has run a small employment law practice for the last 16 years, predominantly representing small to medium sized business in all facets of industrial relations and employment law. Nick’s practice covers all matters in connection with industrial and employment law - unfair dismissal; general protections claims; workplace investigations; strategic employment advice; dispute resolution and mediation; work health and safety; discrimination, bullying, harassment and Respect@Work; drafting policies and procedures and advocacy and representation in all tribunals and courts.


Matthew Graham, Partner, HWL Ebsworth
Matthew is a Partner in HWL Ebsworth’s Construction and Infrastructure group who specialises in Litigation and Alternative Dispute Resolution. Matthew regularly assists clients in the Construction, Infrastructure and Property industries.


Craig Birtles, Barrister, Two Wentworth Chambers
Craig Birtles is a barrister at the Sydney Bar specialising in estate litigation. Craig regularly presents papers on all aspects of estate litigation and general equity matters. Craig was named as a Leading Junior Counsel – New South Wales in the Doyle’s Guide from 2019 to 2024. Craig is a member of the NSW Bar Association Succession & Protective Law Committee and the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners. Old Craig Birtles is a member of the Society of Trust & Estate Practitioners (STEP) and a co-author of C Birtles and R Neal, Hutley's Australian Wills Precedents 8th Edition (LexisNexis Butterworths) 2013 and 9th Edition 2016. He is an adjunct lecturer for College of Law (Masters of Applied Law), Family Provision subject and is also a casual lecturer in the Law Extension Committee Diploma of Law, Succession Law subject. Prior to coming to the bar Craig was a solicitor with Teece Hodgson & Ward for 9 years and from 2015 - April 2017 was an Accredited Specialist in Wills & Estates Law. He was named as a Rising Star in the 2016 edition of Doyle's Guide in the area of Wills & Estate Litigation.


Alison Jones, Special Counsel, Corrs Chambers Westgarth
Alison is a Special Counsel at Corrs Chambers Westgarth, Australia’s leading independent law firm and practises in IP, competition and consumer law, entertainment law and related areas. Alison has expertise across a broad range of areas, including IP protection and enforcement, commercialisation (including licensing, distribution and sponsorship), advertising collateral, complaints and disputes, industry ethics, competition and consumer law, anti-bribery, anti-counterfeiting, confidential information, cross-border transactions, contract drafting and due diligence. She advises various leading companies on a range of regulatory issues including food law, cosmetics, life sciences and therapeutic goods regulation, trade, customs, administrative action, investigations, product liability and recalls, privacy and data protection. Alison has undertaken various client secondments in global companies at General Counsel level including a US headquartered pharmaceutical and life sciences company, a leading multinational FMCG company and a major global interactive marketing services company.


Philip Bambagiotti, Barrister, Floor, St James Hall Chambers
Philip Bambagiotti is a barrister / arbitration counsel based in Sydney, Australia. He has over twenty years' experience as an advocate specialising in Commercial and Construction Law matters. This experience also extends to the provision of representation in Alternative Dispute Resolution matters. He practices in all aspects of commercial law, including: contract disputes, tort disputes, Building & Construction disputes (including Home Building Act matters), Security of Payments disputes and adjudications, Arbitration law, Trade Practices law, Corporations Law, Insurance, Environmental Law, Planning & Local Government Law, Property and Strata matters, appeals and judicial review as well as Occupational Health & Safety, International Sale of Goods matters and Taxation appeals.


Oliver Berkmann, Barrister, Ground Floor Wentworth Chambers
Oliver was admitted as a solicitor in 2005 and was called to the Bar in 2019. Prior to coming to the Bar, Oliver was at Revenue NSW (formerly Office of State Revenue), where he held a number of senior leadership and technical roles. As Counsel Oliver has appeared in revenue and taxation matters and advises regularly on complex revenue and taxation transactions in the field of land tax, stamp duty and payroll tax including private rulings and objections. Oliver has appeared in all jurisdictions and has presented at Legalwise seminars, the Taxation Institute of Australia’s Annual State Tax Conference and at the College of Law and UTS to law students on revenue topics.


Leah Sewell, Barrister, 9th Floor, 67 Castlereagh Street Chambers
Leah Sewell was admitted in 2002, and from 2019 was an Accredited Specialist in Wills & Estates and recognised by Doyle’s Guide since 2020 in estate litigation. After more than 18 years as a solicitor, Leah was called to the Bar in 2024 and recognised in Doyle’s Guide Leading Junior Counsel in Estate Litigation in 2024. Leah is also a Trusts & Estates Practitioner with STEP and elected committee member to the Mental Capacity Special Interest Group (SIG) of STEP. Leah accepts briefs in all civil areas, with a focus on all thing’s equity including wills and estates and property.


Petros Macarounas, Barrister, Frederick Jordan Chambers
Petros Macarounas is a barrister at Frederick Jordan Chambers. He maintains a broad practice, with his core areas of focus encompassing commercial and equity, common law, family law and criminal law. He appears predominantly for plaintiffs in personal injury matters, and insurers in motor vehicle property litigation, and his commercial practice sees him acting for both individuals and small companies. Other matters to which his experience extends includes worker’s compensation, wills and probate, fraud, building and construction and property. Prior to being called to the Bar, Petros practised as a solicitor at Henry Davis York and McLachlan Chilton, where he gained significant experience in the areas in which he continues to practice, providing him with a well-balanced approach when representing clients.