Struggling with drafting initiating documents, defences, or affidavits? This essential seminar is here to solve that problem. Learn to draft effective, bulletproof pleadings, particulars, and defences that avoid common pitfalls and stand up to scrutiny—keeping you out of costly interlocutory battles. Gain valuable tips and insights to improve your documents immediately. Master affidavit drafting and create instruction letters that set your experts up for success. This is a must-attend seminar for anyone aiming to strengthen the clarity, precision, and impact of their legal drafting.

Presenters

Philippe Doyle Gray, Barrister, 8 Wentworth Chambers
Philippe has represented clients in over 3,500 disputes, including many barristers and solicitors. He now principally practises in commercial law and equity and is frequently briefed to advise and appear in civil litigation in which allegations are made of criminality, fraud, or other serious misconduct. These disputes range from commercial disputes, professional negligence claims, charges of unethical conduct, legal costs disputes, to claims requiring scientific or technical evidence, or all of these combined. He has almost three decades' experience across many branches of law and is an experienced, strategic litigator who excels at handling complex cases requiring meticulous analysis and creative thinking. Philippe trained as an industrial chemist at the University of Sydney, before becoming a lawyer. He understands scientific method and is comfortable with science and scientists. Philippe is proficient with Microsoft Excel, Google Sheets, and mathematics. He usually appears before the Supreme Court of New South Wales and the New South Wales Court of Appeal. Philippe has appeared several times in the High Court of Australia seeking special leave, many times before the Federal Court of Australia at first instance and on appeal, and numerous times before inferior courts and tribunals.


Stephen Owen-Conway KC, Sir Lawrence Jackson Chambers
Stephen Owen-Conway KC 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 throughout Australia. He also appears in the Supreme Court of Western Australia and in the Court of Appeal. Stephen was admitted as a member of the Honourable Society of the Inner Temple in early 1971, having been awarded an entrance scholarship. He was subsequently awarded two further scholarships by the Inner Temple. Stephen graduated from the university of Sheffield in 1972. He was first called to the English Bar in mid 1973. Stephen joined the Queensland Bar in 1975; the Western Australian Bar in 1977, and he was appointed a Queen's Counsel in the states of Queensland and Western Australia in 1992. Stephen has held a number of legal academic positions throughout his career including adjunct professor of law at Murdoch University; visiting lecturer at Nottingham University, senior teaching fellow at the University of Western Australia and a lecturer-in -law at the universities of Plymouth, Queensland and Western Australia. Stephen's List Clerks are Svenson Barristers who are located in Melbourne.


Wai Kaey Soon, Barrister, Frederick Jordan Chambers
Wai Kaey was admitted as a solicitor in 2010 and called to the Bar in 2014. His practice encompasses advising and appearing in contract and commercial disputes, insolvency and bankruptcy, complex corporations litigation and insurance law disputes. Wai Kaey has represented individuals, banks, insurance companies and multi-national corporations in a broad range of jurisdictions across Australia, including in New South Wales, Western Australia and Victoria. Prior to being called to the Bar, Wai Kaey gained experience at several large law firms and governmental statutory bodies, including Clayton Utz, Baker & McKenzie and the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC). He holds a Bachelor of Laws and a Bachelor of Science (Information Technology) degree from the University of Technology, Sydney, and a Master of Laws from the University of Sydney.


Robert French, Barrister, Francis Burt Chambers
Robert French is a barrister who practices in commercial, administrative and employment law. Robert has been at the Bar for over 10 years. He has appeared as sole or lead counsel in numerous trials in the Supreme Court of Australia, Federal Court of Australia and Federal Circuit Court of Australia. He has also appeared as sole counsel in appeals to the Full Court of the Federal Court of Australia, the Western Australian Court of Appeal and to the High Court (special leave only). Prior to joining the Bar, Robert worked at law firms in Perth, Melbourne & Hong Kong.


Amir Chowdhury, Barrister, Ninth Floor Selborne Chambers
Amir was called to the Bar in 2024 and accepts briefs in all areas of law, with a particular interest in commercial disputes and class actions. Prior to coming to the Bar, Amir practised as a Senior Associate at Corrs Chambers Westgarth, where he worked on disputes across the Supreme Court of New South Wales, the Supreme Court of Western Australia, the Federal Court of Australia and private arbitral tribunals. Amir was also the Associate to the Hon Kathleen Farrell of the Federal Court of Australia. Amir holds a Juris Doctor (with Distinction, Order of Merit), Bachelor of Science (Physics) and a Bachelor of Commerce (Finance) from the University of New South Wales.