Conveyancers are under siege from an increasingly complex regulatory landscape.  Gain the vital tools you need to manage these risks head-on, from preventing settlement failures and navigating title insurance nuances to ensuring compliance with federal and state conveyancing rules. Learn how to safeguard your practice and clients in a world of heightened scrutiny and ever-present legal landmines with this step-by-step guide.

Presenters

Patrick Duffy, Principal, Duffy Law Group
Patrick is a native of the Macarthur Region having been educated locally at Hurlstone. He completed Bachelor of Arts and Law degrees at Sydney University with Honours and was admitted to practice as a Solicitor and Barrister of the Supreme Court of NSW in 1995. Having been employed as an associate and senior associate at Marsdens and Deacons (now Norton Rose Fulbright), Patrick also was Principal In-House Solicitor at Sutherland Council for three years. He founded Duffy Law Group in Sydney in 2000 before resettling in the Macarthur Region in 2003. Patrick became an Accredited Specialist in Property Law through the Law Society Specialist Accreditation Scheme in 2001 and has maintained that accreditation continuously since then. He has served on various Law Society and regional Law Society Committees, including the Government Solicitors Committee from 2000-2003, during which time he helped create, and was then selected to launch, the Government Solicitors Ethics Handbook. Patrick has 20 years’ experience in commercial law, criminal law, litigation, family law, intellectual property, equity, insolvency and corporation law as well as his specialist activities in property and development practice. Patrick regularly volunteers at the Macarthur Legal Centre together with assisted Campbelltown PCYC with the presentation of their Legal System Component in the Traffic Offenders Intervention Program (TOIP).


Michael Gray, Partner - Forensic Technology, eDiscovery and Cyber, McGrathNicol
Michael is a highly respected technology specialist with more than 15 years of experience in Computer Forensics, Technology Investigations, Information Management and Electronic Discovery. He partners with clients to proactively and reactively manage technology and information risk and prides himself on cultivating trusted relationships which are underpinned by a collaborative and personalised focus. He has led a broad range of matters including engagements for Royal Commissions, Class Action and Regulatory proceedings. He provides advice on high quality end-to-end forensic and electronic discovery matters, intellectual property theft and employee misconduct investigations, cyber-fraud and security breaches and remediation works. He has also led the complex IT and technical management for some of Australia’s largest restructuring engagements including large scale transformational/IT change projects. As an expert in his field, he has been engaged as an Independent Forensic Expert in multiple proceedings in the Supreme and Federal Courts of Victoria and New South Wales. Michael works with clients to implement multiple leading edge technologies that help drive efficiencies in order to analyse, manage and resolve matters.


Diane Skapinker, Principal, Skapinker Law
Diane works on her own account as a principal of Skapinker Law as well as consulting to the Ashurst real estate group where she specialises in property developments, strata and community titling, acquisitions, disposals, leasing and the property aspects of telecommunications and infrastructure projects. Diane was formerly an Associate Professor of Law at the University of Sydney lecturing in Real Property, Conveyancing and Equity and is a member of the NSW Law Society’s Property Law Committee and its subcommittee responsible for drafting the NSW standard form contract for the sale and purchase of land. Diane is recognised as a real estate lawyer by Chambers Asia-Pacific, Doyle's Guide and Best Lawyers Australia.


Andrew Grima, Partner, Bartier Perry
Andrew Grima is a Partner at Bartier Perry. Andrew has significant experience and expertise in all facets of retail and commercial leasing, including: assisting and advising both landlords and tenants in their negotiations; drafting leases and other related transactions; assignments, surrenders and enforcement of obligations. Andrew also has extensive experience in major leasing and construction projects. Andrew approaches his legal matters in a practical way -getting to the real issues at hand by bringing clients together to communicate with each other about their concerns. By getting the parties to the table quickly, Andrew finds that they are able to move past the legal fog to identify the real issues.


Paul Watkins, General Counsel, Stewart Title Limited
Paul Watkins is responsible for the management and direction of the Underwriting and Legal Departments, including commercial and residential policy development, regulatory compliance, claims and underwriting supervision and general corporate legal matters. He strives to maintain a strong, experienced and responsive underwriting team that has a deep knowledge of title insurance, as well as local markets and regulations. His claims team is committed to resolving inquiries in a timely, professional and ethical manner. Prior to joining Stewart in 2004, Paul was in private practice, in both small and medium sized law firms, where he gained considerable experience in general insurance, residential and commercial conveyancing, commercial property development, leasing and general property practice. He has been a contributor to a number of Australia legal industry publications discussing the benefits of title insurance. Paul regularly presents to lawyers, conveyancers and lenders on a variety of real estate related issues, including title insurance, title claims and real estate fraud. In 2019, he was named a finalist for "Insurance Lawyer of the Year" at the Lawyers Weekly Corporate Counsel Awards.


Emanuel Oros, Partner, Sparke Helmore Lawyers
Emanuel is a senior commercial lawyer who specialises in property development and leasing matters. His extensive knowledge of all aspects of complex property, finance, environmental, commercial, corporate, leasing and telecommunications matters is highly valued by his clients. In 2022 Emanuel was appointed to PEXA's Member Advisory Council, a leadership group formed to advocate for the nation's practitioners and drive progress across the sector.  In undertaking this Council role, Emanuel will continue to contribute to shaping the future of digital transactions and settlements in Australia. Emanuel's breadth of knowledge and keen negotiation skills make him a valued and sought after team member on property development project teams. Matters that he regularly advises clients on include corporate and tax structuring and finance related matters, retail and commercial leasing, property due diligence, flow through sales and acquisitions of retail, commercial and development sites, general corporate and financial structuring together with attending on general commercial, corporate and finance transactions. He also advises and acts on litigation matters with a focus on corporate, contract disputes and leasing.