Business Law Bundle

Secure all 10 CPD points with two of our bestsellers, delivered live online for maximum convenience! Start with the Contract Law Conference, where you’ll tackle key issues like frustration, termination, liability, indemnities, confidentiality, and e-contracts. Engage in real-time Q&A and discussions with peers (both in person and online) to explore effective solutions and manage risks.

Then, secure your mandatory ethics points with Ethics, Professional Skills & Practice Management for All Lawyers. Learn strategies for managing client data ethically, preparing for commercial mediation, and maintaining financial health in small to medium-sized practices. 

Description

Attend both sessions 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  
These programs are applicable to practitioners from all States & Territories

Contract Law Conference 2025: Risk Minimisation, Regulatory Compliance and Disputes

Friday, 14 March 2025

A jam-packed Contracts Conference. Business risks are real; here you will find the solutions from a well-known panel of experts. Explore unfair contract terms enforcement and the latest cases and decisions along with navigating contract frustration. Examine warranty, indemnity, liability, and insurance clauses. Learn to identify early warning signs of insolvency and risk management through contracts. Gain insight into privacy and data protection requirements and compliance considerations for emerging regulatory issues. Additionally, explore alternative dispute resolution techniques, favourable exit negotiation strategies, and best practices for e-contracting.

Description

Attend and earn 7 CPD units in Substantive Law  
This program is applicable to practitioners from all States & Territories

Session 1: Navigating Contract Disputes

Chair: Simone Rees, Co-Founder and Principal, Buchanan Rees Dispute Lawyers

2.00pm to 2.45pm Privacy, Data Protection and Confidential Information Provisions in Your Agreements

 

  • Privacy obligations including in the event of a data breach
  • Rights to use, disclose and retain data
  • Protecting confidential information and trade secrets 

Presented by Donna Short, Partner, Addisons, Recommended Non-Contentious Intellectual Property Lawyers, Doyle’s Guide 2024

3.30pm to 3.45pm Afternoon Tea
3.45pm to 4.30pm Compliance, Mitigation and Emerging Risks in Australia: What to Look for in Your Contracts?

 

  • Contractual strategies for managing directors’ and officers’ liability: Trends and recent developments
  • Addressing emerging risks (cybersecurity, environmental) through effective contract clauses for board and management compliance
  • Contractual protections for small to medium enterprises, with a focus on the lasting impact of COVID-19
  • Future-proofing contracts to mitigate potential risks and liabilities 

Presented by James Stanton, Senior Associate, MinterEllison

9.00am to 9.50am Unfair Contract Terms in the Wake of the Ruby Princess Decision

 

  • Can we see any trends
  • What lessons can we learn 

Presented by Robert O'Neill, Barrister, Lachlan Macquarie Chambers

9.50am to 10.40am Frustration of Contracts

 

  • Principles of frustration: From Codelfa to Cao
  • When (if ever) does hardship of performance amount to frustration?
  • Frustration and force majeure clauses The Frustrated Contracts Act 1978 (NSW): when does (and doesn’t) it affect the question? 

Presented by Angus Macinnis, Director of Dispute Resolution, StevensVuaran Lawyers 

10.40am to 10.55am Morning Tea
10.55am to 11.45am Navigating Insolvency Issues in Your Contracts: Key Considerations When Another Party Faces Insolvency Risks

 

  • Understanding the key risks to clients contracting with parties who face solvency challenges
  • Early warning indicators of insolvency
  • Strategies to mitigate risk for clients: immediate & future risks 

Presented by Ben Dibden, Partner, Bridges Lawyers, Recommended Commercial Litigation and Dispute Resolution Lawyer, Doyle’s Guide 2024

11.45am to 12.30pm Factors Limiting an Award of Damages for Breach of Contract

 

  • Why damages
  • Expectation principle
  • Proving loss
  • Onus
  • Damages for loss of opportunity and reliance damages
  • Consequential loss
  • What are the factors that limit an award of damages for breach of contract
  • Causation and remoteness
  • Mitigation and imitation of liability clauses
  • Rationale behind these factors providing a vital legal constraint to recovery of damages
  • Distinction between causation and remoteness
  • Discuss the factors in detail and their application in recent case law 

Presented by Luke Buchanan, Co-Founder and Principal, Buchanan Rees Dispute Lawyers; Best Lawyers, Litigation (2014- 2025) & Class Action Litigation (2015- 2023) and Annabel Moore, Solicitor, Buchanan Rees Dispute Lawyers  

Presenters

Simone Rees, Co-Founder and Principal, Buchanan Rees Dispute Lawyers
Simone Rees has a proven track record in guiding corporate clients and high-net-worth individuals through complex commercial litigation and alternative dispute resolution (including arbitration and mediation). Before founding Buchanan Rees, Simone accumulated valuable experience in the commercial litigation team of a national top-tier law firm, advising blue-chip corporate and government clients. Her consistent recognition in "The Best Lawyers in Australia" for Litigation (2021 - 2025) underscores her commitment to delivering a high standard of legal service. Beyond national recognition, she's made her mark as GLE's Dispute Resolution Law Representative in Australia, showcasing her dedication to advancing legal practices on an international scale. Together with Luke Buchanan, Simone founded Buchanan Rees Dispute Lawyers in order to provide a boutique commercial litigation offering, with a focus on technical excellence and outstanding client service.

Angus Macinnis, Director of Dispute Resolution, StevensVuaran Lawyers
Angus Macinnis is Director of Dispute Resolution at StevensVuaran Lawyers, a boutique commercial law firm in Sydney. Alongside his commercial dispute resolution practice, he has taught international sale of goods law at the University of Technology, Sydney, The University of Notre Dame Australia, and presently in the Thomas More Law School at the Australian Catholic University, where he holds the role of Legal Professional Mentor. He has also been invited to present lectures on the CISG for the international law practice course conducted by the International Law Section of the Law Council of Australia, and is a former co-chair of the Section’s International Trade and Business Law Committee.

Ben Dibden, Partner, Bridges Lawyers
Ben is a Partner at Bridges Lawyers, practicing in their Dispute Resolution and Insolvency group. Recognised in the 2024 Doyle’s Guide of leading New South Wales Commercial Litigation & Dispute Resolution Lawyers, Ben acts for a variety of clients involved in commercial transactions and as well as acting in addressing any disputes or litigation that can arise from commercial transactions. His clients include insolvency practitioners, directors and corporations of all sizes.

Christopher Freeman, Barrister, Culwulla Chambers
Christopher Freeman has an equity and commercial dispute practice and has appeared in the Federal Court of Australia and the Equity Division of the Supreme Court of New South Wales for over 25 years. He has also appeared as an advocate in numerous international arbitrations at SIAC and HKIAC. He has given expert evidence on Australian contract law in Courts in Singapore, Thailand and Japan. He is an NMAS accredited mediator.

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.

James Stanton, Senior Associate, MinterEllison
James is an experienced advisor and litigator in MinterEllison's Sydney Insurance and Corporate Risk group, with a focus on entity risk, insurance (front and back end), directors' & officers' duties, and financial services. With over 15 years in risk and insurance, James advises local and international corporates, SMEs and not-for-profit enterprises in relation to corporate risk, litigation defence, policy and contract drafting issues, and statutory compliance. James has been co-author of the International Comparative Legal Guide on Insurance & Reinsurance for several years, and co-edited the Insurance Contracts Act Handbook now in its 10th edition. James also has extensive commercial in-house experience, heading project teams and secondments with several large Australian and international financial institutions including Westpac, Allianz and Swiss Re. He worked extensively with industry clients across the Royal Commission into Misconduct in the Banking, Superannuation and Financial Services Industry, the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety, and recently on the COVID-19 Business Interruption Test Cases in Australia, New Zealand and the UK.

Robert O'Neill, Barrister, Lachlan Macquarie Chambers
Robert O’Neill is a practicing barrister of over 48 years and currently his Chambers are in Lachlan Macquarie Chambers at Parramatta. He has practiced over the years in most jurisdictions but in recent years has mainly practiced in the District and Supreme Courts in both Common Law and Equity. Robert is also a Fellow Certified Practicing Accountant (FCPA).

Luke Buchanan, Co-Founder and Principal, Buchanan Rees Dispute Lawyers
Luke has over 25 years' experience representing blue chip corporations and government clients in large, complex litigation and regulatory investigations, often with a value in the tens or hundreds of millions. Luke's experience spans disputes relating to the Corporations Act (including the provisions applying to financial services licensees), mergers and acquisitions, directors' duties, shareholders' rights, trustee and fiduciary duties, misleading or deceptive conduct, white-collar crime, termination of contracts (including the assessment of damages) and investigations by ASIC, APRA and ACCC. Luke is recognised in "The Best Lawyers in Australia" for Litigation (2014-2024) and Class Action Litigation (2015-2023); the 2022 winner of the International Advisory Experts (now known as Global Referral Group) award for Commercial Litigation and Dispute Resolution Lawyer of the Year in Australia; named by Acquisition International Magazine as Sydney's Leading Complex Litigation & Regulatory Lawyer of the Year for 2023; and a Global Law Experts (GLE) "Recommended Attorney" and the holder of the exclusive GLE Commercial Litigation law position in Australia. Prior to establishing Buchanan Rees Dispute Lawyers, Luke spent over 20 years (including 13 years as a partner) in Litigation & Dispute Resolution at a top-tier, national law firm.

Donna Short, Partner, Addisons
Donna Short is a Partner in the intellectual property group at Addisons, guiding clients through the entire IP lifecycle from innovation to enforcement. Her practice spans contentious and non-contentious matters, with expertise in trade marks, copyright, IP commercialisation, advertising compliance as well as privacy and data protection. Donna’s expertise in the area of privacy includes assisting clients with privacy compliance as well as advising on data breaches and transfer of data across jurisdictions. Donna is ranked in the Chambers Global and Asia Pacific Guides for her work in IP and is recognised as a leading practitioner in Who’s Who Legal: Australia and New Zealand 2024.

Annabel Moore, Solicitor, Buchanan Rees Dispute Lawyers
Annabel is a litigation and dispute resolution lawyer with experience acting across multiple jurisdictions. She applies her technical and strategic skills across the breadth of our commercial litigation practice, and has a depth of knowledge in the areas of negligence and breaches of statutory duty. Annabel also has strong forensic skills which she brings to bear in each of her matters. Prior to joining Buchanan Rees Dispute Lawyers, Annabel worked in a boutique litigation practice specialising in historical and institutional child abuse claims, with a strategic focus on mediated outcomes. She has leveraged the experience she has gained litigating and mediating against corporations and government bodies to become highly valued by our clients.

Joshua Kan, Associate, Norton Rose Fulbright
Joshua Kan is a financial services and regulatory lawyer at Norton Rose Fulbright in Sydney, specializing in insurance matters, financial services regulation, and commercial dispute resolution. His work spans both contentious and non-contentious matters, including advising on complex claims, regulatory obligations, and major commercial transactions, with a deep understanding of the insurance and financial services landscape in Australia. He regularly advises insurers, insurance intermediaries, and government clients on regulatory compliance, risk management, and transactional insurance issues as well as acting in high-value insurance disputes. Prior to joining Norton Rose Fulbright, Joshua was an insurance litigator at a major global law firm, where he gained experience handling professional indemnity, directors' and officers' (D&O), and warranty and indemnity (W&I) claims.

 

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Ethics, Professional Skills & Practice Management for All Lawyers

Thursday, 27 March 2025

Learn strategies for managing client data ethically, preparing for commercial mediation, and maintaining financial health in small to medium-sized practices.

Chair

Peter Roney KC, Callinan Chambers

Ethics & Professional Responsibility
11.45am to 12.45pm Your Ethical Responsibilities Regarding the Data Your Firm or Organisation Holds

 

  • Understand your obligations
  • The ethical duty to safeguard client confidentiality and data integrity
  • Assessing the risk levels associated with different types of data
  • Review best practices for the ethical collection, storage, and sharing of client information
  • Privacy, transparency and accountability 

Presented by Nicole Murdoch, Partner, Thynne + Macartney; Recommended Intellectual Property Lawyer, Doyle’s Guide 2023 

Professional Skills
12.45pm to 1.45pm Preparing Your Client for a Successful Commercial Mediation

 

  • Why commercial mediation demands a different playbook
  • Mastering client expectations: a six-step framework that works
  • Winning the mental game: turning challenges into advantages
  • Developing a strategy: core principles, smart tactics, key decisions
  • Leveraging your mediator: opportunities for strategic advantage 

Presented by Peter TravisCommercial Barrister and Mediator, Gibbs Chambers

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

Practice Management & Business Skills
10.45am to 11.45am Key Practice Management Essentials for Financially Healthy Small to Medium Practices

 

  • Business Plan...a few “really need to haves”
  • Owners’ time management and productivit
  • Business Development and choosing clients well
  • Structure and impact of solicitor: owner ratio
  • Budget/genuine profitability/ credit control/cash flow/liquidity
  • Risk management requirements & similarity to business management best practice
  • The Bottom Line...
  • More “You and Family” time...
  • Better professional satisfaction & financial rewards...
  • Reduced stress...
  • Greatly improved practice value on succession... 

Presented by Rob Knowsley LLB., Legal Practice Improvement Advisor, Lawyers' Mentor, Managing Partner, Knowsley Management Services

 

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Business Law Bundle

Business Law Bundle

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Friday, 14 March 2025,
Thursday, 27 March 2025
CPD Points 10
$990.00
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