It's all about the outcome. This is your chance to hear from 3 experts providing tips and strategies on ways to ensure that you are equipped to maximise a personal injury claim. Sharpen your legal skills on assessing and pleading a claim and learn tips to ensure that your knowledge of financial and accounting principles contribute to a better outcome for your client. Understand the latest in assessing damages in cases on unlawful detention.

Presenters

Miguel Belmar Salas, Barrister, Green’s List
Since coming to the Bar in 2002, Miguel Belmar has developed a practice in all aspects of land use law including: Town planning; Local government; Compulsory acquisition; Planning scheme amendments; Prosecutions/enforcement; and Environment protection. Miguel has appeared for, and advised local councils, water authorities, objectors and proponents. He also writes the blog http://townplanningbarrister.wordpress.com that provides case summaries and commentary on land development matters decided by VCAT and the courts. Miguel is also experienced in conducting matters involving contractual disputes both in a commercial and workplace context. This has included representing clients appearing before disciplinary tribunals. He is also has significant experience in conducting common law proceedings arising from transport and workplace accidents. He is a member of the Victorian Football Federation Tribunal that hears and determines matters involving infringements of the rules of soccer. Miguel is also a member of the Victorian Bar Student Engagement Committee as well as the Bar's Equality & Diversity Committee. In 2010 he became a nationally accredited mediator and he conducts mediations in his chosen fields of practice.

Michael Barnes, Senior Legal Counsel, Carroll & O’Dea
Michael’s depth of experience, ability to get to the heart of an issue and communication skills put him at the top of employment & industrial law and personal injury. Michael is recognised in the profession as a leading practitioner in these practice areas and is accredited by the NSW Law Society in employment & industrial law and personal injury. He has served on a variety of committees of the Law Society, including as part of the peer review process by which solicitors become accredited specialists in employment and industrial Law. He has been a partner at Carroll & O’Dea Lawyers since 2013 where he has a busy practice handling matters from a diversity of clients from all areas of New South Wales. Key Professional Achievements: Michael completed a Bachelor of Economics and a Bachelor of Laws in 1975 and 1977 (respectively) from the University of Sydney. He completed a Masters of Laws at Sydney University while working in legal practice.

Kain Elsmore, Director - Forensic Commercial, Vincents
Kain has been a director in the forensic division at Vincents since 2016, and started his accounting career with them in 2007. Throughout his career, Kain has specialised in the preparation of forensic accounting reports for litigation in personal injury matters. Kain has prepared reports in various jurisdictions throughout Australia, and his practice relates to dust disease matters, medical negligence, dependency / nervous shock claims and institutional abuse. Having previously been a Chef in the United Kingdom and Australia, Kain studied for his Bachelor of Commerce in Brisbane and subsequently attained a Graduate Diploma of Chartered Accounting.

Tony Kerin, Partner, Grope Hamilton Lawyers
Tony is a partner at Grope Hamilton Lawyers and has been a lawyer since 1985. Tony has practiced over broad areas of law until the later 1990's when he began to specialise in personal injuries litigation, WorkCover, criminal and employment law. He has worked as a managing partner of leading plaintiff law firms Johnston Withers in the past for the best part of 30 years and also helped Maurice Blackburn set up its office in Adelaide, in recent times. With management behind him, Tony has returned to practice as a solicitor and barrister and has held the position of State President of the Australian Lawyers Alliance SA Branch for 9 years, National Director for a similar period and National President in the years 2012 and 2013. Tony has acted for a number of institutional and sexual abuse clients and continues to be passionate about the practice of the law for individuals in particular.