Focus on the risks in property transactions, including compliance risks and the disputes that arise. Equip yourself to manage the risks. Whether you act for developers, institutions, or individuals, this program is offering the insights and tools you need. Examine due diligence on those more difficult property transactions, Explore risks in agricultural land transactions, misleading and deceptive conduct plus stamp duty issues. Address regulatory and advisory risks arising from foreign investment, economic pressures and AML/KYC compliance.

Presenters

Chris Naughtin, National Director, Capital Markets – Research, Savills
Chris Naughtin is a property economist, specialising in macroeconomic and capital markets research. Chris started his career as an economist at the Reserve Bank of Australia in 2007, where he worked for 8 years in the Bank’s financial markets and monetary policy departments. He left the RBA to work at an investment consultant, providing advice on asset allocation and investment strategy to some of Australia’s largest superannuation funds. Chris transitioned to a career in the commercial property sector in 2018, firstly at Knight Frank Australia, focusing on macroeconomic and capital markets research, and office market research and forecasting. Currently, Chris works for Savills Australia & New Zealand as the National Director for capital markets research, assisting with research on key macroeconomic and investment market trends in commercial property.

Ian McKnight, Special Counsel, Pobi Lawyers
Ian 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.

Eva Vicic, Partner, McCullough Robertson Lawyers
Eva Vicic is a real estate lawyer specialising in property sales and acquisitions, vendor and purchaser legal due diligence and leasing transactions in respect of large-scale agricultural land holdings and renewable energy projects. Eva has accumulated a wealth of experience within the renewable energy sector, giving her a comprehensive understanding of the project lifecycle and the importance of identifying key issues early to future-proof success. With this foresight, Eva is able to provide her clients with holistic, commercially pragmatic advice that address both client business objectives and legal obligations.

Nick Christiansen, Partner, Sparke Helmore
Nick is Partner in the Commercial Disputes and Corporate Regulatory teams at Sparke Helmore. He is a commercial litigator and regulatory lawyer specialising in commercial and property disputes and consumer regulatory matters. He has a broad commercial litigation practice, including matters in contract, leasing and other real property disputes, equity and trusts, misleading and deceptive conduct, financing and securities disputes and enforcement, and insolvency and corporations law. He acts in property matters for “big 4” banks, private lenders and investment vehicles, government entities, developers, insolvency practitioners, and large-scale lessors and lessees.

Robert Schneider, Consultant, HWL Ebsworth
Robert has extensive experience acting and advising in commercial disputes and has specialised in retail and commercial lease disputes and other property related litigation. Robert has assisted a broad range of clients in the property industry, including owners of shopping centres, owners of other retail properties, owners of commercial properties, large retail and commercial tenants and property developers and investors. Robert regularly chairs and has previously presented at external seminars on commercial and retail leases and other property related seminars. Robert has been listed in Best LawyersTM Australia for Alternative Dispute Resolution in the 2020 and 2021 editions as well as the 2022 and 2023 editions.

Steven Blackburn, Partner, Ashurst Risk Advisory
Steve is an internationally recognized expert in financial crime prevention, risk management, and compliance. He is the Global Chair of Ashurst Risk Advisory's Financial Crime practice, with extensive experience in regulated sectors like financial services, gaming, wealth management, and superannuation. Previously, Steve served as Chief Financial Crime Officer at two multinational banks, leading transformations in anti-money laundering, counter-terrorism financing, and anti-bribery programs. He also served as Chief Risk Officer for Australia's largest gaming and hospitality group, overseeing major risk and compliance reforms. Steve has represented industries before government committees and regulators globally.

Kim Boettcher, Barrister, Frederick Jordan Chambers
Kim is a Barrister at Frederick Jordan Chambers in Sydney. Kim practises in Equity, Common Law, Protective and Guardianship Law, and in the Probate and Succession List. Prior to coming to the Bar, she practised as a Solicitor in commercial and civil litigation law in England and Wales, New South Wales and Queensland. More recently, she was a Solicitor at the Seniors Rights Service, an independent legal centre and regularly attended the UN Open-ended Working Group on Ageing in New York as a civil society representative. Kim was appointed to the NSW Minister of Fair Trading's Retirement Villages Advisory Council in 2013 and also to the Minister's Expert Committee on Retirement Villages Standard Contract Terms and Disclosure Documents in 2011. Kim was a Member of the inaugural Legal Services Council in 2014 and reappointed from 2017-2020. She is a past Treasurer of the International Commission of Jurists Australia and was appointed to the NSW Bar Association’s Succession and Protective Law Committee in 2021, 2022 and 2023.

Hamilton Zhao, Barrister-at-Law, Frederick Jordan Chambers
Hamilton practised as a litigation solicitor for 5 years before coming to the Bar in May 2020. During his time as a solicitor, he worked on contractual and real property disputes, trust claims, personal and corporate insolvency cases (including bankruptcy applications, winding up applications and voidable transactions), partnership and corporations disputes, debt recovery, intellectual property and building and construction matters. He practises and accepts briefs in those areas. Hamilton has recently been recognised as a leading commercial disputes junior counsel in the 2025 Legal 500 Asia Pacific guide.

Sam Darwish, Principal, Civic Lawyers
Sam is the Principal of Civic Lawyers Australia, a full-service commercial law firm based in the Sydney CBD. Sam leads the practice and is a seasoned commercial lawyer with extensive experience in complex litigation and corporate transactions. Sam has a diverse practice, specialising in property, technology and corporations disputes and transactions. He often acts for hotel owners and operators, major retail shopping centre landlords, commercial and retail tenants, property developers and property investment funds. Sam has advised on property disputes relating to leases, hotel management agreements, easements, put and call options, adverse possession, and land sale contracts.