Ethics, Professional Skills & Practice Management for All Lawyers

Gain practical insights into workplace rights, ethical obligations, and litigation skills. Explore compliance with reforms like the Right to Disconnect and Respect@Work, examine evolving ethical standards in costs and dispute resolution, and address challenges in drafting affidavit evidence with differing judicial perspectives.

Saturday, 15 March 2025
Description

Attend and earn 3 CPD units including: 
1 unit in Ethics & Professional Responsibility 
1 unit in Practice Management & Business Skills 
1 unit in Professional Skills

This program is applicable to practitioners from all States & Territories

Chair:

John Armfield, Barrister, Two Wentworth; Preeminent Wills & Estates Litigation Junior Counsel, Doyle’s Guide 2024

Practice Management
10.45am to 11.45am Understanding Workplace Rights/Liabilities in Your Practice

 

  • Right to Disconnect
  • Respect@Work
  • Psychosocial obligations and liabilities
  • Steps to navigate these reforms and what it takes to remain compliant

Presented by Nick Chadwick, Principal, Chadwick Workplace Law

Ethics & Professional Responsibility
11.45am to 12.45pm Ethics, Costs, Litigation and ADR

 

  • The AGD and Law Council of Australia
  • AMDRAS – Code of Ethics: New wine in old skins or old wine in new skins?
  • Professional ethics and responsibility

Presented by Elizabeth Picker, Barrister, Queens’s Square Chambers

Professional Skills
12.45pm to 1.45pm Affidavit Evidence of Conversations: The Completely Opposite Views of the Federal Court and the NSW Court of Appeal

 

One of the challenges for litigation lawyers is getting evidence in correct form. Examine the common law rules on the form of direct speech evidence and the challenges you might face in light of competing judicial observations about how it should be done.
Presented by David Jury, Partner, HWL Ebsworth Lawyers




This seminar is part of a series

10 Points on a Saturday

Saturday, 15 March 2025

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.

Description

Attend and earn 10 CPD units including: 
7 units in Substantive Law
1 unit in Ethics & Professional Responsibility 
1 unit in Practice Management & Business Skills 
1 unit in Professional Skills
This program is based on NSW legislation

Session 1: Wills & Estates and Family Law

Chair: Geoffry Underwood, Barrister, Sixth Floor Selborne Wentworth Chambers

10.30am to 10.45am Morning Tea
Ethics & Professional Responsibility
11.45am to 12.45pm Ethics, Costs, Litigation and ADR

 

  • The AGD and Law Council of Australia
  • AMDRAS – Code of Ethics: New wine in old skins or old wine in new skins?
  • Professional ethics and responsibility

Presented by Elizabeth Picker, Barrister, Queens’s Square Chambers

2.15pm to 3.05pm Important Property Law Developments You Should Know

 

Join us for a comprehensive session on key property law developments. Discover the latest cases and legal changes impacting the field and your legal practice.
Presented by Philip Bambagiotti, Barrister, Tenth Floor, St James Hall Chambers

3.05pm to 3.55pm Critical Property Tax and Stamp Duty Changes: Catch up and Review


Catch up on the critical changes in property tax over the past year that can have a direct and significant impact on your clients and your practice.

  • Current stamp duty issues for property transactions
  • New land tax issues and the implications
  • Foreign Person Surcharge issues
  • Other important and recent cases, changes and trends

Presented by Oliver Berkmann, Barrister, Ground Floor Wentworth Chambers

5.00pm to 5.45pm Corporate Insolvency and Bankruptcy: Reforms and Current Trends

 

  • Safe harbour plans, small business restructuring vs deed of company arrangements
  • Preferences and changes to the peak indebtedness rule
  • Resulting trusts and insolvency case update

Presented by Stipe Vuleta, Managing Director, Chamberlains

5.45pm to 6.30pm Contract Disputes: Case Law Update

 

  • Indemnities and when they can be enforced
  • Interpretation of dispute resolution clauses
  • Dispute resolution clause enforceability
  • Solatium and the approach of the High Court

Presented by Matthew Graham, Partner, HWL Ebsworth Lawyers

7.30am to 8.30am Estate Litigation: The Past 12 Months


An overview of the past 12 months of decisions in family provision and estate litigation.
Presented by Leah Sewell, Barrister, Chalfont Chambers; Recommended Wills & Estates Litigation Junior Counsel, Doyle’s Guide 2024

8.30am to 9.30am Everything’s Not Awesome – Let’s Build it Together: Construction and Rectification of Wills

 

  • Principles of construction: the meaning of the words on the page in light of the surrounding circumstances
    • Beneficiaries
    • Property
    • Substitution
    • Charity and cy pres schemes
    • Equalisation clauses
  • Principles of rectification
    • Clerical errors
    • Failure to follow instructions
    • Extensions of time

Presented by Craig Birtles, Barrister, Two Wentworth Chambers; Preeminent Wills & Estates Litigation Junior Counsel, Doyle’s Guide 2024

Presenters

John Armfield, Barrister, Two Wentworth
John specialises in estate litigation. Regularly advising and appearing for plaintiffs and estates in relation to matters in the Equity Division of the Supreme Court of New South Wales. John has extensive experience in representing clients at mediations and informal settlement conferences. He has also acted as a court-appointed mediator with respect to family provision claims. His practice has a strong emphasis on probate, family provision applications and will construction. He has also appeared in applications seeking a review of orders allowing commission to executors. John regularly presents papers at legal conferences in relation to wills and succession law.

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 Lawyers
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
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.

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 Lawyers
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.

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, Tenth 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, Chalfont 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.

 

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253N24

Ethics, Professional Skills & Practice Management for All Lawyers

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Session Two
Saturday, 15 March 2025
10.45am to 1.45pm Australia/Sydney
CPD Points 3
$420.00
Face to Face 20250125 20250315

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Venue
Sheraton Grand Sydney Hyde Park

161 Elizabeth Street, Sydney 2000

Directions

Nearby transport options:

Bus Station: Hyde Park, Park St, Stand C

Metro Station: Gadigal Station

Train Station: St. James Station

Parking Information

Parking is not included in your registration. Here are some nearby parking options:

Sheraton Hotel Car Park - Secure car park entry is via Castlereagh Street, it has 8 electric charging stations. Early Bird Parking Rate is $45 if you arrive before 9am and depart before 6pm. Further information can be found here.

201 Elizabeth St Car Park - Located a 2 minute walk away from Sheraton Grand. Entry via Castlereagh Street. Click here for rates.

Wilson Parking Citigroup Centre Car Park - Located a 5 minute walk away from Sheraton Grand. Entry: 271 Pitt St. Click here for rates.