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.


Sonja Gasser, Principal Solicitor, ACT Government Solicitor
Sonja has worked as a solicitor for the ACT Government Solicitor for 15 years. She is currently a Principal Solicitor in the Regulation practice area – which involves supervising a team of solicitors on advice and litigation in areas such as planning, revenue, licencing, and environment – and previously led the Information Privacy and Access practice area. She also spent several years working as an in-house solicitor for the Commonwealth. Sonja is committed to volunteering, having spent many years contributing initially from the bottom and working up into management roles in community legal centres federally and in Victoria, and within the ACT State Emergency Service, and is currently on the board of a number of community groups. Sonja won the ACT Public Service Award for Excellence in the Leadership category, won the ACT Volunteer of the Year Awards in the emergency service category, and was a finalist for the ACT Woman Lawyer of the Year Awards for the government category.

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.


Sonja Gasser, Principal Solicitor, ACT Government Solicitor
Sonja has worked as a solicitor for the ACT Government Solicitor for 15 years. She is currently a Principal Solicitor in the Regulation practice area – which involves supervising a team of solicitors on advice and litigation in areas such as planning, revenue, licencing, and environment – and previously led the Information Privacy and Access practice area. She also spent several years working as an in-house solicitor for the Commonwealth. Sonja is committed to volunteering, having spent many years contributing initially from the bottom and working up into management roles in community legal centres federally and in Victoria, and within the ACT State Emergency Service, and is currently on the board of a number of community groups. Sonja won the ACT Public Service Award for Excellence in the Leadership category, won the ACT Volunteer of the Year Awards in the emergency service category, and was a finalist for the ACT Woman Lawyer of the Year Awards for the government category.