Presenters

David Vilensky, Solicitor and Managing Director, Bowen Buchbinder Vilensky Lawyers
David is a corporate lawyer with a particular focus on mining and resources, mergers and acquisitions, telecommunications, corporate advisory, contractual disputes, specialist contract drafting and complex corporate transactions. David has more than 35 years experience in negotiating, advising on and drafting a broad range of commercial agreements including mergers and acquisitions, shareholder and management agreements, exit agreements, licence agreements, the sale and purchase of mining tenements, joint ventures and share sale agreements. He also advises on capital raisings, corporate governance, due diligence and corporate transactions generally and acts for both private and public companies listed on the Australian Securities Exchange. He regularly advises on directors’ duties and compliance with ASX Listing Rules including continuous disclosure. David is also an experienced public company director and currently sits on the boards of 3 ASX listed companies including one as its Chairman. David is also experienced in dispute resolution including mediations and arbitrations and in the resolution of commercial and contractual disputes. Over the years David has had articles published in various journals on subjects such as directors’ duties, the Trade Practices Act and law firm practice management issues such as ethical billing practices and value pricing on which subject he has frequently delivered papers at seminars in Australia and New Zealand. David has been a strong advocate of the value pricing model for law firms and was largely instrumental in replacing the billable hour model at BBV with a fixed fee model where fees are fixed and agreed with clients in advance and where time is not money.


Melissa Ferreira, Special Counsel, HWL Ebsworth Lawyers
Melissa Ferreira is a Special Counsel in Perth, specializing in dispute resolution, insolvency, and securities enforcement. With expertise in both contentious and non-contentious matters, she works closely with boards, in-house teams, and professional advisors to manage complex restructuring, enforcement, and commercial litigation issues. Melissa advises on Safe Harbour and turnaround planning, debt-for-equity swaps, and other restructuring strategies for distressed capital providers. She also represents insolvency practitioners, creditors, and stakeholders, including government departments, in contested insolvency processes and complex litigation. Melissa’s experience includes advising AGC Group on a successful restructure and acquisition by Altrad, representing Kipoi Holdings in complex insolvency proceedings involving USD$110 million in debt, and providing restructuring advice to a significant shareholder and creditor of Sun Cable in voluntary administration. She has also supported government agencies and significant creditors across sectors such as oil and gas, mining, construction, and health, navigating the complexities of insolvency law and enforcement strategies. Her industry recognition includes being listed in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch for Litigation (2025), named a Rising Star in Commercial Litigation and Insolvency Law by Doyles Guide (2023-2024), and shortlisted for Senior Associate of the Year by Lawyers Weekly (2023).

Presenters

David Vilensky, Solicitor and Managing Director, Bowen Buchbinder Vilensky Lawyers
David is a corporate lawyer with a particular focus on mining and resources, mergers and acquisitions, telecommunications, corporate advisory, contractual disputes, specialist contract drafting and complex corporate transactions. David has more than 35 years experience in negotiating, advising on and drafting a broad range of commercial agreements including mergers and acquisitions, shareholder and management agreements, exit agreements, licence agreements, the sale and purchase of mining tenements, joint ventures and share sale agreements. He also advises on capital raisings, corporate governance, due diligence and corporate transactions generally and acts for both private and public companies listed on the Australian Securities Exchange. He regularly advises on directors’ duties and compliance with ASX Listing Rules including continuous disclosure. David is also an experienced public company director and currently sits on the boards of 3 ASX listed companies including one as its Chairman. David is also experienced in dispute resolution including mediations and arbitrations and in the resolution of commercial and contractual disputes. Over the years David has had articles published in various journals on subjects such as directors’ duties, the Trade Practices Act and law firm practice management issues such as ethical billing practices and value pricing on which subject he has frequently delivered papers at seminars in Australia and New Zealand. David has been a strong advocate of the value pricing model for law firms and was largely instrumental in replacing the billable hour model at BBV with a fixed fee model where fees are fixed and agreed with clients in advance and where time is not money.


Melissa Ferreira, Special Counsel, HWL Ebsworth Lawyers
Melissa Ferreira is a Special Counsel in Perth, specializing in dispute resolution, insolvency, and securities enforcement. With expertise in both contentious and non-contentious matters, she works closely with boards, in-house teams, and professional advisors to manage complex restructuring, enforcement, and commercial litigation issues. Melissa advises on Safe Harbour and turnaround planning, debt-for-equity swaps, and other restructuring strategies for distressed capital providers. She also represents insolvency practitioners, creditors, and stakeholders, including government departments, in contested insolvency processes and complex litigation. Melissa’s experience includes advising AGC Group on a successful restructure and acquisition by Altrad, representing Kipoi Holdings in complex insolvency proceedings involving USD$110 million in debt, and providing restructuring advice to a significant shareholder and creditor of Sun Cable in voluntary administration. She has also supported government agencies and significant creditors across sectors such as oil and gas, mining, construction, and health, navigating the complexities of insolvency law and enforcement strategies. Her industry recognition includes being listed in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch for Litigation (2025), named a Rising Star in Commercial Litigation and Insolvency Law by Doyles Guide (2023-2024), and shortlisted for Senior Associate of the Year by Lawyers Weekly (2023).