Presenters

James Mack, Barrister, Level 22 Chambers
James Mack is a barrister at Level 22 Chambers practicing in commercial and government law. He has particular expertise in building and construction disputes in NCAT, District Court and NSW Supreme Court. He enjoys running hearings, cross-examining and winning cases.


Cynthia Cochrane SC, Level 22 Chambers
Cynthia Cochrane SC specialises in patent law and commercial cases, with particular experience in competition and consumer law, business restraints of trade, insolvency and corporate governance. Cynthia Cochrane SC appears regularly in the Federal Court and Patent Office. She has a depth of appellate experience, including High Court experience over more than 15 years. She also appears in commercial and corporations matters in the NSW Supreme Court. Cynthia successfully resisted the appointment of a provisional liquidator In the matter of Glad Indigenous Pty Ltd [2023] NSWSC 1499 (Williams J).


Alice Ruhe, Managing Principal, SMB Advisory
Alice has practised in the Insolvency and Corporate Recovery Industry for over 20 years and is a Registered Trustee in Bankruptcy and a Registered Liquidator. Having experience in all forms of corporate and personal insolvency administrations, Alice is a fellow of Chartered Accountants Australia & New Zealand, a member of the Australian Restructuring Insolvency and Turnaround Association (ARITA) and the Turnaround Management Association (TMA). Alice was honoured to have received the "WIRQ" Award for 2021. Alice acts as Trustee in Bankruptcy and Liquidator in a number of complex and litigious matters, often at the request of creditors or other authorities. With extensive experience in investigations into voidable transactions, recovery of property and referrals of misconduct, Alice has been involved in numerous legal proceedings resulting in positive recoveries and returns to the respective Bankrupt Estates and Liquidations, for the benefit of creditors. Alice has had experience dealing with external administrations involving the building, hospitality, information technology, accounting, legal, medical, retail and various other industries. A true believer in providing clear and relevant communication to stakeholders, Alice acknowledges that more often than not things are not always quite as they seem.