Be risk ready for your property transactions. Property lawyers are facing an increasingly complex landscape, with climate risk obligations redesigning disclosure, insurance and development approvals, owners corporation disputes escalating, and growing pressure from tax and GST changes. This focused lunchtime series, CREATED for busy practitioners, explores the most pressing property law issues shaping Victorian practice and gives you the practical strategies to manage escalating legal and tax risks effectively, provide stronger client advice, and protect your practice against hidden dangers.
Description
Attend and earn 3 CPD units in Substantive Law
If you register for the full series as a live online product after the date of an individual session, you will be sent the recording for the sessions that have passed. Alternatively, you can register for individual sessions by following the links below.
Responding to Climate Risk: Property Law Challenges in Disclosure, Insurance and Development
Wednesday, 8 October 2025
Description
Attend and earn 1 CPD unit in Substantive Law
This program is applicable to practitioners from all States & Territories
Chair:
Richard Brooks, Consultant, Ashurst; Recommended Leasing Lawyer, Doyle’s Guide 2024
1.00pm to 2.00pm Responding to Climate Risk: Property Law Challenges in Disclosure, Insurance and Development
With more than four decades at the forefront of property and strata law, Ian McKnight draws on his extensive experience advising owners corporations, developers, regulators and property professionals to explore the growing challenges that climate risk poses for disclosure, insurance and development approvals. Gain the benefit of his hands-on knowledge to navigate this evolving area with confidence and ensure your clients are prepared for the legal risks ahead.
Presented by Ian McKnight, Special Counsel, Pobi Lawyers
Presenters
Ian McKnight, Special Counsel, Pobi LawyersIan McKnight is a Practice Group leader and widely regarded as a doyen of strata law in New South Wales. His standing has been earned over the course of a 43 year career bestriding property law and strata management. Unique amongst property lawyers, Ian is a genuine specialist. Strata and community title law is not a part time pursuit, it forms the core of his day-to-day legal practice. He brings firsthand experience of the strata challenges to his advice from his time as a director of a corporate strata management firm. A sought after keynote speaker, Ian provides regular education sessions to the Real Estate Institute of Australia and on occasion to Strata Community Australia. He publishes widely on the subject of strata law. Ian counts among his clients strata managing agents, owners corporations, developers, building managers, property professionals, real estate investors and regulators.
Richard Brooks, Consultant, Ashurst
Richard Brooks is a consultant in Ashurst's real estate practice. Richard has a broad real estate practice, including acting for REITs and other institutional property owners, developers and corporate and government real estate occupiers, and acting on real estate aspects of financing, M&A, infrastructure and energy and resources projects. Richard is experienced in acting on commercial property leasing (for landlords and tenants), sale and lease backs, real estate investment and real estate development. Richard is listed in Best Lawyers Australia 2025 in Real Property Law, Leasing Law and Government Practice.
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Owners Corporations and Risk: Insurance, Liability and Section 23A(3)(a)
Wednesday, 22 October 2025
Essential for property and litigation lawyers advising on owners corporation disputes. Don’t miss this short, sharp examination of insurance, liability and Section 23A(3)(a) so that you can respond effectively to these claims.
Description
Attend and earn 1 CPD unit in Substantive Law
This program is based on VIC legislation
1.00pm to 2.00pm Owners Corporations and Risk: Insurance, Liability and Section 23A(3)(a)
Section 23A(3)(a) of the Owners Corporations Act 2006 (Vic) enables an owners corporation to recover insurance costs from a lot owner where the loss or damage arises from that owner’s act or omission.
Examine how these claims are being handled in practice and how solicitors acting for lot owners can respond effectively.
- Understanding the scope and limits of liability under s 23A(3)(a)
- What owners corporations must prove to recover costs
- Evidence and documentation required to defend or settle claims
- Strategies for advising and protecting lot owner clients early in the process
- Practical insights from recent matters
Presented by Julia Moroz, Special Counsel, Bugden Allen I Major, Complex Litigation Specialist
Presenters
Julia Moroz, Special Counsel, Bugden AllenJulia Moroz is a highly accomplished Special Counsel with extensive experience in commercial litigation. She has a strong track record of advising on complex, high-value disputes across a range of sectors, including construction, real property, and insurance. Julia has previously worked for a top-tier international law firm, where she gained deep expertise in handling technically and commercially challenging matters. She has acted in significant litigation across Western Australia, Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland, and Tasmania, representing corporate clients, government bodies, and both local and international insurers, reinsurers, and brokers. Her expertise spans contractual disputes, professional negligence, property damage, regulatory disputes, and subrogated recovery actions. She is particularly experienced in advising on large-scale litigation involving technical liability and multi-party proceedings. Julia is known for her strategic thinking, precision in handling complex legal issues, and ability to navigate commercial risk with clarity and confidence. Her litigation practice covers the full lifecycle of disputes—from pre-action advice and negotiation through to trial and resolution—and she works closely with expert witnesses, counsel, and stakeholders to ensure a cohesive, outcome-driven approach. Clients trust Julia for her responsiveness, commercial acumen, and ability to deliver clear, pragmatic advice in high-pressure environments.
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Real Property, Land Subdivision, and Changes of Mind: The Tax and GST Pressure Points
Wednesday, 19 November 2025
Your comprehensive guide to property duties and taxes in Victoria, and all in just one-hour. You will cover land tax, stamp duty, GST and the vacant residential land tax. The property lawyer’s essential viewing.
1.00pm to 2.00pm Real Property, Land Subdivision, and Changes of Mind: The Tax and GST Pressure Points
- Expansion of the Vacant Residential Land Tax (VRLT) across all Victoria from January 2025
- Updated Land Tax thresholds and progressive rates
- Fiscal and regulatory impacts
- Stamp duty issues
- GST issues
Presented by Neil Brydges, Principal, Sladen Legal
Description
Attend and earn 1 CPD unit in Substantive Law
This program is based on VIC legislation
Chair:
Richard Brooks, Consultant, Ashurst; Recommended Leasing Lawyer, Doyle’s Guide 2024
Presenters
Richard Brooks, Consultant, AshurstRichard Brooks is a consultant in Ashurst's real estate practice. Richard has a broad real estate practice, including acting for REITs and other institutional property owners, developers and corporate and government real estate occupiers, and acting on real estate aspects of financing, M&A, infrastructure and energy and resources projects. Richard is experienced in acting on commercial property leasing (for landlords and tenants), sale and lease backs, real estate investment and real estate development. Richard is listed in Best Lawyers Australia 2025 in Real Property Law, Leasing Law and Government Practice.
Neil Brydges, Principal, Sladen Legal
Neil is a Principal Lawyer in the business law area, with a particular focus on taxation advice and disputes. Taxation law is a complex area. Neil’s aim is to provide technical expertise to clients, commercially applied and in a friendly and approachable manner. Neil’s practice involves advice, audits, disputes, and transactions. The client mix includes both family groups and business enterprises. Neil also regularly assists professional advisors, including tax agents, accountants and financial advisors, to understand complex legal issues and help them to better assist their own clients. Neil is a Chartered Tax Advisor with The Tax Institute and accredited as a specialist in taxation law with the Law Institute of Victoria. Since 2019 Neil has been named one of Australia’s “Best Lawyers” in the practice of tax law by “Best Lawyers”. Neil has also been recognised in Doyles Guide as a tax lawyer since 2021.
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