Presenters

Karl Pattenden, Barrister, Key Chambers
Karl was called to the Bar in 2015. He practices across numerous areas of law including bankruptcy & insolvency, building & construction, commercial & civil litigation, contract disputes, corporations, consumer protection, employment & industrial, occupational health and safety, property and commercial leasing disputes, personal injuries and workers compensation, and administrative law. Before coming to the Bar Karl was the principal of Pattenden Law – a litigation practice which specialised in bankruptcy and insolvency, building and construction, and commercial and civil litigation. He appeared as counsel on behalf of clients and other solicitors in various jurisdictions including the Federal Court of Australia and the Supreme Courts of the ACT and NSW. Prior to establishing Pattenden Law Karl was an associate and partner of Gillespie-Jones & Co for nine years where he was responsible for the management and supervision of the commercial dispute resolution/litigation practice. In this capacity he supervised and had the carriage of a variety of commercial and common law litigation matters on behalf of clients and appeared as counsel. Before Gillespie-Jones & Co Karl was employed for five years as a solicitor in a large scale plaintiff’s litigation practice specialising in personal injuries, workers compensation and industrial relations. He also served as principal legal officer for one year with the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority where he advised on the prudential supervision of banks, life and general insurance companies and superannuation funds. Before that, Karl was employed for a year in a large defendant/insurance litigation practice. Before becoming a lawyer, Karl was employed by the Department of Defence, Inspector-General’s Division engaged in the review of Commonwealth procurement and outsourcing procedures/contracts together with the management and supervision of multi-disciplined teams investigating matters of significant implication for Defence programs. He was also employed by the Australian Federal Police for a period of fourteen years where he managed, investigated and prosecuted offences throughout Australia.


Aasish Ponna, Principal, Adiem Law
Aasish is an employment lawyer advising government bodies and corporate clients on a broad range of employment and administrative law issues—from routine HR inquiries and workplace disputes to complex matters affecting reputation, industrial relations, workplace health and safety and discrimination matters. He has represented clients in cases including unfair dismissal, general protections, Comcare claims, intricate superannuation issues, and matters under the Members of Parliament (Staff) Act 1984, work health and safety investigations, maternity leave entitlements, and various common law claims. Beyond his legal practice, Aasish serves as a Board Member of the ACT Board of the Medical Board of Australia, where he exercises delegated powers as a decision-maker under the National Health Law across States and Territories. He is also an active Committee Member of the Professional Standards Committee of the ACT Law Society, exercising delegated powers under the Legal Profession Act 2006 (ACT) about complaints made against legal practitioners in the ACT.

Presenters

Karl Pattenden, Barrister, Key Chambers
Karl was called to the Bar in 2015. He practices across numerous areas of law including bankruptcy & insolvency, building & construction, commercial & civil litigation, contract disputes, corporations, consumer protection, employment & industrial, occupational health and safety, property and commercial leasing disputes, personal injuries and workers compensation, and administrative law. Before coming to the Bar Karl was the principal of Pattenden Law – a litigation practice which specialised in bankruptcy and insolvency, building and construction, and commercial and civil litigation. He appeared as counsel on behalf of clients and other solicitors in various jurisdictions including the Federal Court of Australia and the Supreme Courts of the ACT and NSW. Prior to establishing Pattenden Law Karl was an associate and partner of Gillespie-Jones & Co for nine years where he was responsible for the management and supervision of the commercial dispute resolution/litigation practice. In this capacity he supervised and had the carriage of a variety of commercial and common law litigation matters on behalf of clients and appeared as counsel. Before Gillespie-Jones & Co Karl was employed for five years as a solicitor in a large scale plaintiff’s litigation practice specialising in personal injuries, workers compensation and industrial relations. He also served as principal legal officer for one year with the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority where he advised on the prudential supervision of banks, life and general insurance companies and superannuation funds. Before that, Karl was employed for a year in a large defendant/insurance litigation practice. Before becoming a lawyer, Karl was employed by the Department of Defence, Inspector-General’s Division engaged in the review of Commonwealth procurement and outsourcing procedures/contracts together with the management and supervision of multi-disciplined teams investigating matters of significant implication for Defence programs. He was also employed by the Australian Federal Police for a period of fourteen years where he managed, investigated and prosecuted offences throughout Australia.


Aasish Ponna, Principal, Adiem Law
Aasish is an employment lawyer advising government bodies and corporate clients on a broad range of employment and administrative law issues—from routine HR inquiries and workplace disputes to complex matters affecting reputation, industrial relations, workplace health and safety and discrimination matters. He has represented clients in cases including unfair dismissal, general protections, Comcare claims, intricate superannuation issues, and matters under the Members of Parliament (Staff) Act 1984, work health and safety investigations, maternity leave entitlements, and various common law claims. Beyond his legal practice, Aasish serves as a Board Member of the ACT Board of the Medical Board of Australia, where he exercises delegated powers as a decision-maker under the National Health Law across States and Territories. He is also an active Committee Member of the Professional Standards Committee of the ACT Law Society, exercising delegated powers under the Legal Profession Act 2006 (ACT) about complaints made against legal practitioners in the ACT.