10 Points All In One Day

The end-of-the-CPD-year crunch shouldn’t feel impossible. We have you covered. Make your 10 Points count with 10 experts and 10 areas of legal developments, and all in just one day. Unpack the current, timely legal issues with the experts in everything from family to commercial law, ethics and professional skills to practice management, join us for a carefully curated program that brings you not just the points, but expert insights. 31 March isn’t just a “deadline” with Legalwise Seminars —it’s a launch line to hear brilliant sessions from leading legal minds.

Thursday, 20 March 2025
Session 1: Wills Property and Family Law Update


Chair: Debbie Clinch, Partner, Clairs Keeley; Recommended Family & Divorce Lawyer, Doyle’s Guide 2019-2024; Preeminent Parenting, Custody & Children’s Matters Lawyer, Doyle’s Guide 2024

7:30am to 8:30am Wills and Estates Update


Gain a broad overview of some of the rapidly developing areas in succession law:

  • Changes to intestacy provisions
  • Rumours of inheritance taxes
  • Recent cases on the meaning of de facto spouse
  • Family trusts and their changing position in estate litigation

Presented by Morgan Solomon, Director, Solomon Hollett Lawyers; Preeminent Wills & Estates Litigation Lawyer, Doyle’s Guide 2024

8:30am to 9:30am Current Issues in Family Law

 

  • Navigating Family Violence Restraining Orders in the Family Court
    • Nature of proceedings and advantages/disadvantages of applying for a FVRO in the Magistrates Courts vs Family Court
    • Effect of findings and decisions in Magistrates courts hearings on proceedings in the Family Court
    • The types of FVRO Part B exceptions to seek on behalf of applicants/respondents
    • Relationship of orders made in the Family Court with inconsistent FVROs’
    • The impacts of current and historical family violence in parenting matters
  • Plus, latest and greatest case updates

Presented by Marion Buchanan, Barrister, Murray Chambers

9:30am to 10:30am Property Law Disputes Update


Explore recent decisions impacting on property law disputes in Western Australia. Benefit from an overview of those cases as well as practical insights to help you identify and navigate property law issues.
Presented by Michael Stork, Managing Principal, Stork Davies Legal Advisors

10.30am to 10.45am Morning Tea
Session 3: Commercial Law Update


Chair: David Vilensky, Solicitor and Managing Director, Bowen Buchbinder Vilensky Lawyers

2.15pm to 3.15pm Discretionary Trusts: Still the Best Entity?


Effective structuring requires careful consideration of all relevant aspects including asset protection aspects, tax and duty, and the general purpose of the entity. Trusts, in particular, discretionary trusts have increased in popularity over the decades, so much so that it is also attracting its fair share of scrutiny by litigants and revenue authorities.  In this presentation we will explore whether discretionary trusts are still the ‘best’ structures for your clients through analysing:

  • The characteristics and nature of the structure
  • The current legal issues and challenges involving discretionary trusts
  • The practical problems with the structures from a Tax and WA Duty compliance standpoint

Presented by Yikai Hoe, Director, Provident Lawyers

3.15pm to 4.15pm Navigating Misleading and Deceptive Conduct Concerning Financial Products and Services

 

  • Understanding the complex interplay between:
    • Section 1041H of the Corporations Act 2001
    • Section 12DA of the ASIC Act 2001
    • Section 18 of the Australian Consumer Law (ACL)
  • Identifying when to apply each legislative framework for misleading and deceptive conduct, particularly as it relates to ‘financial products and/or financial services
  • Practical considerations in selecting the correct statutory pathway

Presented by Dr. Robert Cunningham, Barrister, Murray Chambers; Dean & Head of Curtin Law School; Professor of Law; Fellow of the Australian Academy of Law

4.15pm to 4.30pm Afternoon Tea
5.30pm to 6.30pm Workplace Compliance Update: Key Cases on Bullying, Sexual Harassment, and Directors' Responsibilities

 

  • Explore critical case law: gain insights into recent landmark cases shaping employer responsibilities around bullying, sexual harassment, and maintaining a safe work environment
  • Understand directors’ legal obligations: learn how directors' duties intersect with workplace safety and compliance, including potential liabilities they face
  • Strategies for workplace compliance: discover practical strategies to help ensure your organisation meets evolving standards in employee protection and regulatory compliance

Presented by Cav. Maria Saraceni, Barrister, Francis Burt Chambers

Description

Attend and earn 10 CPD units including:
7 units in Substantive Law
1 unit in Professional Skills
1 unit in Ethics and Professional Conduct
1 unit in Practice Management

This program is based on WA legislation

Session 2: Ethics, Professional Skills and Practice Management


Chair: Professor Stephen Owen-Conway KC, Barrister, Sir Lawrence Jackson Chambers

Professional Skills
10:45am to 11:45am Written Evidence: Essential Skills for Drafting Affidavits and Witness Statements

 

  • Admissibility: key evidence rules and practical tips to ensure admissibility, including form requirements
  • Evidence of conversations: best practices for drafting oral evidence; insights on judicial views from recent cases such as Wild v Meduri and Punchbowl Casual Dining Pty Ltd v Rashay's Cafes & Restaurants Pty Ltd; strategies for managing admissibility and credibility
  • Professional obligations: overview of ethical obligations when preparing written evidence

Presented by Doug Johnson, Barrister, Francis Burt Chambers

Ethics and Professional Conduct
11:45am to 12:45pm AI Governance and Digital Transformation and the Ethical Principles

 

  • Explore the ethical principles guiding AI governance and its impact on professional responsibilities in digital environments
  • Understand key challenges in AI ethics as they relate to privacy, accountability, and bias
  • Analyse best practices for responsible AI implementation within organisations undergoing digital transformation
  • Examine the role of regulatory frameworks in ensuring ethical AI usage and compliance with professional standards
  • Develop strategies for ethical decision-making and risk management in relation to AI-driven solutions

Presented by Professor Anthony Langlois, Stan Perron Dean of Applied Ethics, Curtin University, and Dr. Jacqueline Boaks, Senior Lecturer, School of Management and Marketing, Curtin University

Practice Management
12:45pm to 1:45pm From Briefs to Retirement: Practice Makes Perfect(ish)


We’re delighted to welcome back Martin, who, after several years of happy retirement, will share valuable practice management insights gained over his career. In this session, Martin will provide practical advice and reflections on managing a successful legal practice, covering topics such as:

  • Key lessons from memorable cases, from the serious to the humorous
  • Effective strategies for balancing the pressures of legal practice
  • Insights into the evolving role and responsibilities of lawyers
  • Perspectives on the future challenges and opportunities in legal practice management

Join us for an engaging seminar packed with valuable lessons in practice management for lawyers at all stages of their careers – and even those who’ve survived it!
Presented by Martin Dobson, formerly at Moray & Agnew

4.30pm to 5.30pm Advising Directors Through Corporate Distress

 

  • The surge in ATO Director Penalty Notices
  • When do directors need to consider safe harbour
  • The role of directors in external administrations
  • The use of director-led DOCAs to recapitalise a company

Presented by Melissa Ferreira, Special Counsel, HWL Ebsworth Lawyers

Presenters


Douglas Johnson, Barrister, Francis Burt Chambers
Doug is a barrister at Francis Burt Chambers. He maintains a broad commercial litigation and arbitration practice, with particular expertise in the areas of construction and engineering, insurance, and professional liability disputes. He is often instructed on highly technical cases involving complex factual and expert evidence. Clients value Doug’s accessibility and collaborative approach, both as sole counsel and when led as part of a team of barristers. Doug recently received the Tom Yuncken Australian Construction Lawyer award for 2023, where his referees emphasised his work ethic, creative thinking, and technical knowledge. Before being called to the bar, Doug worked in the dispute resolution teams at Jones Day and King & Wood Mallesons. He also practiced insurance litigation at Moray & Agnew.


Martin Dobson, formerly at Moray & Agnew
Martin Dobson was admitted to practice as a barrister and solicitor in 1980. He holds a Bachelor of Jurisprudence and a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Western Australia. He worked almost exclusively in litigation since 1981 and, after operating in a number of areas of practice, including acting for plaintiffs for a number of years, he acted exclusively for insurers, self-insureds and employers for the last 25 years. He practiced chiefly in the areas of workers' compensation and employer's liability (common law) claims but has also worked in the areas of motor vehicle personal injury claims, public liability and medical negligence. Martin is a member of the Australian Insurance Law Association. He is a former partner at Moray & Agnew.


Professor Stephen Owen-Conway KC, Barrister, Sir Lawrence Jackson Chambers
Stephen Owen-Conway QC specialises in commercial litigation and practices in the fields of competition law; taxation; intellectual property; corporations law; maritime law; and sports law. He appears in the Federal Court of Australia and other Commonwealth Courts and Tribunals. He also appears in the Supreme Court of Western Australia and in the Court of Appeal. Stephen was first called to the English Bar in 1973, then joining the Queensland Bar in 1975 and the Western Australian Bar in 1977 and was appointed a Queen's Counsel in the states of Queensland and Western Australia in 1992. He has held a number of academic positions throughout his career including visiting lecturer at Nottingham University, senior teaching fellow at the University of Western Australia and was a lecturer at the universities of Plymouth, Queensland and Western Australia. Stephen currently holds the position of adjunct professor of law at Murdoch University in Perth. Stephen has a particular interest in professional football and most recently was a director of Cardiff City Football Club in 2012. Stephen’s List Clerks are Svenson Barristers who are located in Melbourne.


David Vilensky, Solicitor and Managing Director, Bowen Buchbinder Vilensky Lawyers
David is a corporate lawyer with a particular focus on mining and resources, mergers and acquisitions, telecommunications, corporate advisory, contractual disputes, specialist contract drafting and complex corporate transactions. David has more than 35 years experience in negotiating, advising on and drafting a broad range of commercial agreements including mergers and acquisitions, shareholder and management agreements, exit agreements, licence agreements, the sale and purchase of mining tenements, joint ventures and share sale agreements. He also advises on capital raisings, corporate governance, due diligence and corporate transactions generally and acts for both private and public companies listed on the Australian Securities Exchange. He regularly advises on directors’ duties and compliance with ASX Listing Rules including continuous disclosure. David is also an experienced public company director and currently sits on the boards of 3 ASX listed companies including one as its Chairman. David is also experienced in dispute resolution including mediations and arbitrations and in the resolution of commercial and contractual disputes. Over the years David has had articles published in various journals on subjects such as directors’ duties, the Trade Practices Act and law firm practice management issues such as ethical billing practices and value pricing on which subject he has frequently delivered papers at seminars in Australia and New Zealand. David has been a strong advocate of the value pricing model for law firms and was largely instrumental in replacing the billable hour model at BBV with a fixed fee model where fees are fixed and agreed with clients in advance and where time is not money.


Yikai Hoe, Founding Director, Provident Lawyers
Yikai is the founder of Provident Lawyers. Yikai practices in superannuation and tax law and assists business clients and professional advisers with a myriad of legal solutions on all types of superannuation, tax compliance and commercial matters. He also delivers tailored estate planning and succession strategies to high net worth clients and is a SMSF Specialist Advisor (SSA), Chartered Tax Adviser (CTA) and Trusts and Estate Practitioner (TEP). He has presented on various superannuation, tax, estate and succession planning and commercial law topics.


Morgan Solomon, Director, Solomon Hollett Lawyers
Founding Director at Perth law firm Solomon Hollett Lawyers, Morgan is a well-established lawyer with many years' experience in commercial, business, wills and estates and estate litigation. Prior to opening Solomon Hollett Lawyers along with Craig Hollett in 2015, Morgan was Director at one of Western Australia's leading midsized law firm. Morgan has particular interest in Wills, Contested Estates, Contentious Probate and Administration matters and currently is the author of the Lexis Nexis practical guides on non contentious probate, administration and Wills in WA. His Will drafting is also informed by a very broad range of commercial, business and litigation law experience. In recent years Morgan has held the positions of Vice Chair and then Chairman of the prestigious Law Australasia group of leading independent law firms across Australia. A third generation West Australian lawyer, he also takes an active role in the State's cultural community having studied fine arts for four years before his studies in law. Morgan is Chair of the Perth Theatre Trust, a Founding Member of the WA Chamber of Culture and the Arts, and is also Board Member of the Prostate Cancer Foundation WA.


Cav. Maria Saraceni​​​​, Barrister, Francis Burt Chambers
Maria Saraceni is a barrister practising in regulatory and compliance law - particularly in workplace relations; employment-related matters and occupational safety and health. She is also an active non-executive director an accomplished public speaker and an Adjunct Professor at Murdoch University.


Marion Buchanan, Barrister, Murray Chambers
Marion practices in criminal, family, administrative, and disability law. She began her career at Dwyer Durack, then moved to the ODPP, where she prosecuted in all courts. Marion later focused on family law across Western Australia and Tasmania, including as the senior lawyer at the Mental Health Law Centre, representing clients with mental impairments facing criminal charges and challenging guardianship decisions. Before joining the Bar, she served as principal policy adviser to WA's Attorney General (2021–2023) and senior policy adviser to the Minister for Health and Mental Health (2018–2021). Her advisory work covered electoral law, end-of-life care, mental health, and disability issues. Notably, she was the senior adviser for the Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill 2019 and the principal adviser on the Criminal Law (Mental Impairment) Bill 2023. Marion holds an LLB (2001, UWA), a Graduate Certificate in Philosophy (2012, Murdoch), and a Masters of Bioethics (2021, Monash).


Debbie Clinch, Partner, Clairs Keeley
Debbie is an accredited Family Law Specialist with 29+ years of experience. She handles all family law matters, including children’s issues, child support, spousal maintenance, property settlements, and financial agreements. A nationally accredited mediator, family dispute resolution practitioner, and Independent Children’s Lawyer, Debbie excels in keeping disputes out of court. Active in professional organizations, Debbie is a former President of Collaborative Professionals WA and former Secretary of the Family Law Practitioners Association of WA. She holds leadership roles on various committees and is a member of the Law Society of WA, the Family Law Section of the Law Council of Australia, Resolution Institute, and several other professional associations.


Michael Stork, Director, Stork Davies Legal Advisors
Michael is a seasoned commercial litigator with over 20 years of experience representing individuals, SMEs, and national and ASX-listed companies. He has a general litigation practice but these days finds himself predominantly involved in property law disputes and litigation. Michael is a founding principal of Stork Davies Legal Advisors which is the only small firm ranked in the highest tier of metropolitan Perth real property and leasing law practices in Best Law Firms™ - Australia and is also one of only a handful of small firms to regularly feature in recent Doyle's Guide listings of Leading Property & Real Estate Law Firms in Western Australia (having now been ranked in those listings for five consecutive years from 2020 to 2024). He is also a founder of CREW CPD which provides elective real estate CPD catering specifically to the Western Australian commercial real estate industry.


Melissa Ferreira, Special Counsel, HWL Ebsworth Lawyers
Melissa Ferreira is a Special Counsel in Perth, specializing in dispute resolution, insolvency, and securities enforcement. With expertise in both contentious and non-contentious matters, she works closely with boards, in-house teams, and professional advisors to manage complex restructuring, enforcement, and commercial litigation issues. Melissa advises on Safe Harbour and turnaround planning, debt-for-equity swaps, and other restructuring strategies for distressed capital providers. She also represents insolvency practitioners, creditors, and stakeholders, including government departments, in contested insolvency processes and complex litigation. Her industry recognition includes being listed in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch for Litigation (2025), named a Rising Star in Commercial Litigation and Insolvency Law by Doyles Guide (2023-2024), and shortlisted for Senior Associate of the Year by Lawyers Weekly (2023). Melissa’s experience includes advising AGC Group on a successful restructure and acquisition by Altrad, representing Kipoi Holdings in complex insolvency proceedings involving USD$110 million in debt, and providing restructuring advice to Sun Cable in voluntary administration. She has also supported government agencies and significant creditors across sectors such as oil and gas, mining, construction, and health, navigating the complexities of insolvency law and enforcement strategies.


Dr. Robert Cunningham, Barrister, Murray Chambers
Dr. Robert Cunningham is a barrister at Murray Chambers, specializing in Federal Court matters, particularly corporate law litigation related to directors' duties, market misconduct, disclosure, and corporate contracting, as well as intellectual property and international trade law. He has a strong commitment to public interest advocacy, providing legal advice and court representation for not-for-profit organizations and consumer protection advocates. Admitted to practice in 2004 and elected to the Western Australian Bar Association in 2015, Robert has taught at prestigious institutions including the Australian National University, University of California (Berkeley), New York Law School, and Queen Mary College (London). A prolific author, he has published numerous journal articles and books in the fields of corporate law, intellectual property, and international trade law, and regularly presents his work both domestically and internationally. In addition to his practice, Robert serves as Dean and Head of Curtin Law School and is a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Law, maintaining teaching and research commitments in Corporate Law, International Commercial Law, World Trade Organization Law, Intellectual Property, and Information Governance.


Professor Anthony Langlois, Stan Perron Dean of Applied Ethics,
Professor Anthony J. Langlois is the Stan Perron Dean of Applied Ethics in the Faculty of Business & Law at Curtin University. He is the founding director of the new Curtin Centre for Applied Ethics. Langlois is a distinguished specialist on Human Rights and International Ethics, with over 25 years of experience as an educator, author and public speaker. He has an international reputation for his human rights scholarship, published by presses such as Cambridge and Oxford, and in leading academic journals. Among other responsibilities, he is on the editorial board of The Journal of Human Rights and the European Journal of Politics and Gender and is a commissioning editor for Australian Outlook (Australian Institute of International Affairs). He was educated at the University of Tasmania and the Australian National University.


Dr. Jacqueline Boaks, Senior Lecturer, School of Management and Marketing, Curtin University
Dr Jacqueline Boaks is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Management and Marketing at Curtin University. She holds a PhD in Philosophy from the University of Western Australia and has over a decade of experience teaching business ethics and leadership ethics. Dr Boaks is the co-editor of Leadership and Ethics and has published extensively on topics including democracy, leadership, and ethics. Her recent work includes articles in the Philosophy of Management (2024) and the Journal of Business Ethics (2014). She is passionate about promoting ethical leadership in both academic and business contexts.

253W07

10 Points All In One Day

CHOOSE YOUR SESSION AND
DELIVERY MODE BELOW

All Sessions
Thursday, 20 March 2025
7:30am to 6.30pm Australia/Perth
CPD Points 10
$990.00
$693.00
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Session One
Thursday, 20 March 2025
7:30am to 10.45am Australia/Perth
CPD Points 3
$420.00
$294.00
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Session Two
Thursday, 20 March 2025
10:45am to 1:45pm Australia/Perth
CPD Points 3
$420.00
$294.00
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Session Three
Thursday, 20 March 2025
2.15pm to 6.30pm Australia/Perth
CPD Points 4
$505.00
$353.50
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Venue
Parmelia Hilton

Level 1, Meeting Room, 14 Mill Street, Perth

Directions

Nearby Public Transport:
Train Stations - The Esplanade Station
Bus Interchange - St Georges Terrace Cloisters Green

Parking Information

Parking is not included in you registration. Here are some options below:

Parmelia Hilton - Valet Parking only - Click here to view rates 
Convention Centre - 100 metres from Parmelia Hilton.  Click here to view rates