Presenters

Alexander Ward AM, Barrister, Edmund Barton Chambers
President of the Law Council of Australia in 2011 and current Part time Member of the AAT General Diviusion, Alexander Ward has 35 years' experience as a solicitor and barrister. He has been the Australian representative on the Commonwealth Lawyers Association since 2008, and was its President (2015 – 2017). He has practised as a barrister at Edmund Barton Chambers in Adelaide since 2002. He practises in civil litigation, with an emphasis on accident cases, fraud cases and cases involving complicated liability issues. Mr Ward commenced his career at Ward and Partners with his father Kevin Ward prior to establishing his own firm Ward and Ward with his wife Amanda in 1993. Mr Ward was President of the Law Society of South Australia in 2004-05 and during this time was a member of several Law Society Committees including those mentoring indigenous law students, and those addressing community relations and professional standards. He is currently a member of the Law Society's Ethics and Practice Committee. He is a legal officer in the Royal Australian Navy and practices in Military and Discipline law, and is chair of the ADF Defence Legal Ethics Advisory Committee.


Debrah Mercurio, Partner, Dentons
Debrah Mercurio is a Partner in Dentons’ Adelaide office, with extensive experience, practising in commercial litigation and dispute resolution, and immigration law. Debrah’s practice in the area of commercial dispute resolution includes experience in risk management, contract, negligence, construction, property, trusts, contested estates, competition and consumer law, regulatory issues and administrative law. Debrah’s immigration practice includes advice on Australian migration law and procedures, preparing visa applications and acting in review proceedings. The unique combination of litigation and migration practices enables Debrah to approach the immigration practice with a keen eye to the key evidentiary requirements and to be able to offer full migration services from applications to Court appeals. Debrah has advised and represented a wide range of clients, from large public companies to family businesses, individuals and government. Debrah's experience includes large and complex litigation and disputes, as well as advisory work, in various industries including construction, wine, energy, manufacturing, mining, professional services and international development.