Presenters

Nicole Spicer, Lead Counsel, Victorian Government Solicitor’s Office
Nicole is Lead Counsel in the Inquiries, Prosecutions and Administrative Law branch at the Victorian Government Solicitors Office (VGSO). She is currently involved in advising the State of Victoria in connection with its responses to the Yoorrook Justice Commission and the Defence and Veteran Suicide Royal Commission. She has previously worked over an extended period of time in the field of criminal and quasi-criminal litigation. Prior to moving to the VGSO she was a supervising lawyer and mentor at Stary Norton Halphen Lawyers. She has been an LIV accredited specialist in criminal law since 2002, a past co-chair of the Criminal Law Section.


Dr. Felicity Gerry KC, Barrister, Crockett Chambers
Labelled “The International Dynamo”, Felicity has been recognised for her work across jurisdictions on career defining cases including in the UK Supreme Court on #jointenterprise law, the Australian High Court on rights to second appeal, a due diligence memorandum on investment listing on SGX for Justice for Myanmar, which led to the $82m divestment of the Golden City scheme and for her role in saving a trafficked woman from death row in Indonesia. She is leading the legal petition for Christine Keeler to receive a posthumous pardon after the fallout of one of Britain’s biggest ever political scandal, The Profumo Affair, in the 1960s. Her successful petition for mercy for Zak Grieve, a young Indigenous man in Australia, has been described as “rock star lawyering”. She was admitted in the International Criminal Court (ICC) & Kosovo Specialist Chambers (KSC) in The Hague, in England & Wales and Australia (Victoria & High Court Roll) and has had ad hoc admission in Hong Kong and Gibraltar. Felicity is currently defending at the ICC on the Al Hassan team and has led for the defence in major terrorism and homicide trials. Felicity holds a PhD on human trafficking and is regularly called upon to handle complex and sensitive matters at trial and on appeal. She has appeared on all major news channels and is an expert on issues relating to women and law, technology and law and reform of justice systems.


Paul Galbally, Partner, Galbally O’Bryan
Paul Galbally is a partner at Galbally & O'Bryan as well as an Accredited Criminal Law Specialist. He has been retained in some of the country's largest and complex criminal law proceedings which for the most part have involved white collar crime. He acted on behalf of a co-accused in the Elliott foreign exchange trial. He was retained in the Pro-Image proceeding and recently acted on behalf of Glenn Wheatley and is currently retained by Mr Andrew Lindberg, the former CEO of AWB, in regard to a civil penalty proceeding brought by ASIC and Mr Martin Kemp, a former director of ABC Learning Centres Ltd.


Andrew Waters, Senior Public Defender, Victoria Legal Aid
Admitted to the legal profession:1996. Signed Victorian Bar Roll: 2001. Andrew is an experienced criminal advocate, who is committed to delivering high quality and compassionate representation to all legally aided clients. Prior to joining Chambers in January 2021, Andrew had over 19 years' experience at the Victorian Bar appearing in all manner of criminal hearings including complex County Court and Supreme Court trials and appeals. Andrew also has extensive experience in the Children's Court (Criminal Division) and continues to appear in serious indictable matters for children both in the Children's and higher courts. Andrew is available to be briefed in County Court trials and pleas, Supreme Court trials and pleas, Court of Appeal matters, breach proceedings, committals, Complex Children's, Court matters County, Court and Supreme Court, bail applications advice matters. Qualifications, memberships and accreditations: Bachelor of Laws (LLB) (Hons), Bachelor of Arts (Criminology) (Hons) member of Criminal Bar Association, member of Children's Court Bar Association.