Need to update your litigation skills? Attend one or all 3 across lunch and navigate the challenges in your litigation practice. Empower yourself to manage disputes strategically and uphold professional standards under pressure. From navigating modern litigation practice through to AI capabilities, managing client exceptions or mastering procedure, these skills are critical for delivering results, protecting clients' interests and managing a successful practice.
Description
Attend the full series and earn 3 CPD units in Professional Skills
This program is applicable to practitioners from all States & Territories
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.
Artificial Intelligence for Litigation Lawyers
Thursday, 19 February 2026
The judiciary is addressing the growing use of AI in their courtrooms. It is time for you to do so also. Discover how AI is transforming litigation from research and discovery to courtroom strategy, while addressing the ethical and professional responsibilities that come with its use.
Professional Skills
1.00pm to 2.00pm Artificial Intelligence for Litigation Lawyers
- Explore the transformative role of artificial intelligence (AI) in litigation practice
- A practical understanding of how AI tools are being used in legal research, discovery, case strategy and courtroom advocacy
- Address the ethical and professional responsibilities associated with AI use in litigation
Presented by Nina Fitzgerald, Partner, Ashurst; Best Lawyers Australia, Managing IP Stars
Description
Attend and earn 1 CPD unit in Professional Skills
This program is applicable to practitioners from all States & Territories
Chair
Nick Perkins, Counsel, Ashurst
Presenters
Nick Perkins, Counsel, AshurstNick Perkins is a counsel in our technology, media and telecommunications practice. Nick has acted for clients in a range of defamation litigation matters and regularly advises clients in relation to pre-publication and other media regulatory issues. He also acts for clients in a variety of intellectual property and contractual disputes and has experience advising on marketing and consumer law issues. Nick has worked on a broad range of commercial matters in the media, technology and telecommunications sectors. His experience includes working on a range of content licensing arrangements across various media platforms, drafting IT customer agreements and advising on telecommunications contracts.
Nina Fitzgerald, Partner, Ashurst
Nina focuses on all aspects of contentious and commercial intellectual property law including patents, trade marks, copyright, designs, Australian Consumer Law and passing off. Nina has clients across a variety of industries including pharmaceutical and life sciences, technology, luxury brands and finance. Nina regularly acts in precedent setting litigation including highly technical patent matters. She advises on all aspects of disputes including pre-action strategy, freedom to operate advice, oppositions in the Registry, interlocutory injunctions, mediations, trials, appeals and damages claims. She has also acted in a number of intellectual property arbitration proceedings. On the commercial side, Nina advises a broad range of clients on their advertising and IP protection. Nina also advises her life sciences clients on the regulation of therapeutic goods. Nina regularly assists with assignment and licensing of IP rights as well as collaboration and contracting agreements concerning IP rights. Nina is a recognised practitioner in several independent legal directories and named in the Best Lawyers – Australia and IAM Patent 1000 ranks. She was the founding Chairperson of Women in Law Hong Kong and is the co-author of several Hong Kong Chapter Practical Law Global Guides published by Thomson Reuters. Nina is an expert in the interaction between AI and IP and is a thought leader in the legislative changes required to accommodate developments with AI. Nina is admitted as a Lawyer in Hong Kong and Australia.
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Managing Client Expectations
Thursday, 26 February 2026
Most complaints come down to communication and managing client expectations. Choose to ignore this essential skill at your peril. Learn practical strategies for setting realistic expectations, handling difficult conversations, and maintaining trust – an essential skill for every litigation lawyer navigating client relationships.
Description
Attend and earn 1 CPD unit in Professional Skills
This program is applicable to practitioners from all States & Territories
Professional Skills
1.00pm to 2.00pm Managing Client Expectations
- Who is the client and whose expectations are you managing?
- First impressions: how to be honest, realistic, and still get the business
- Does what you’re doing match what your client thinks you’re doing?
- How to break bad news without overly discouraging the client
- Handling client disappointment and over-enthusiasm
- War stories and real-world examples
Presented by Jason Neo, Special Counsel, Longton Blackwell
Chair:
Darrell Kake, Partner, Longton Blackwell
Presenters
Darrell Kake, Partner, Longton BlackwellDarrell is a partner at Longton Blackwell and has been exceeding client expectations in commercial litigation matters for many years. Darrell is accredited by both the Law Society of NSW and the Queensland Law Society as an accredited specialist in commercial litigation. He is a member of the NSW Law Society’s Specialist Accreditation Commercial Litigation Advisory Committee and was previously the equivalent in Queensland. Darrell is an adjunct lecturer in the College of Law’s specialist Masters of Law (LLM) in Commercial Litigation and was an infantry officer in the Australian Army Reserve for over 20 years. Darrell believes that honesty, transparency, two-way communication and an obsession with record keeping bordering on OCD are key traits for legal practitioners seeking to perfect their client expectation management game.
Jason Neo, Special Counsel, Longton Blackwell
Jason Neo is accredited by the Law Society of NSW as a specialist in family law and is especially experienced in representing clients involved in high conflict and complex property settlement cases. One of Jason’s recent cases involved assets located in 3 countries worth more than $200 million and allegations of non-disclosure and financial impropriety over a period of more than 20 years by both parties. In addition to property settlement cases, Jason also accepts instructions and is experienced in appearing for clients in parenting and criminal law cases. In his criminal law practice, he has appeared for clients in contested hearings in the Local Court of NSW and in trials in the District Court of NSW and Western Australia. Jason completed his Bachelor of Laws (with Distinction) at Murdoch University in Western Australia and his Graduate Certificate in Legal Practice (with Merit) at the Australian National University. While undertaking his studies, Jason represented Murdoch University in national and international mooting competitions and worked in internship roles in a number of law firms and Courts in Singapore, Perth and Sydney, including as a judicial intern at the Supreme Court of Singapore. Originally from Singapore, Jason is fluent in English, Mandarin, Cantonese and Taiwanese. He is also conversant in Bahasa Malaysia. Due to his language capacity, Jason takes pride in being able to serve clients from different communities who speak little or no English in an efficient and cost-effective manner.
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Privilege, Confidential & Without Prejudice Communications
Thursday, 12 March 2026
Ensure that you are always correctly keeping your communications privileged, confidential and that they are without prejudice. getting it wrong can certainly cost you and your client dearly. Be guided through the circumstances for each, the limitations and the implications.
Description
Attend and earn 1 CPD unit in Professional Skills
This program is applicable to practitioners from all States & Territories
Professional Skills
1.00pm to 2.00pm "This Letter Is Privileged, Confidential and Without Prejudice": Belt-and-braces, Or Sword-and-shield?
- Explore the differences between these three concepts and when it is appropriate to rely on each
- When does privilege apply? How is it different from confidentiality?
- How is privilege defeated? How is confidentiality overcome? Do these circumstances differ?
- When is it appropriate to label a communication 'without prejudice'? And when can the content of a 'without prejudice' communication be revealed?
- Are there other professional limitations on revealing the content of communications?
Presented by David Townsend, Barrister, 3rd Floor Wentworth Chambers
Chair:
Lachlan Menzies, Barrister, 8th Floor Wentworth Chambers
Presenters
Lachlan Menzies, Barrister, 8th Floor Wentworth ChambersLachlan Menzies is a commercial litigator with more than 20 years’ experience. His practice combines large matters in collaboration with Senior Counsel, and a full range of matters unled. As well as litigation, he is briefed for transactional advice and drafting including direct briefs from in-house counsel. A strong position, control, and success in Court are built on precision in pleadings, affidavits, written submissions and associated legal research. Close cooperation with instructing lawyers and a positive client connection are maintained through practical advice, and meetings and calls in conference. Lachlan is adept at Information Technology in legal practice and holds a degree in computer science. Lachlan mainly practises in State and Federal jurisdictions in New South Wales, and also acts in Victoria and Queensland. Lachlan is a lecturer in the Master of Applied Law courses at the College of Law, appointed in 2009.
David Townsend, Barrister, 3rd Floor Wentworth Chambers
Dr David J. Townsend was called to the Bar in 2020 and practices in a broad range of commercial, equity and administrative law. Before being called to the Bar, he worked in the litigation departments of Gilbert + Tobin and Allens Linklaters specialising in complex litigation, class actions, consumer protection and commercial arbitration. David completed BA and LLB (Hon I) at the University of Sydney, and BCL, M.Phil and D.Phil at St John’s College, University of Oxford. His doctoral thesis focused on regulation of cross-border trade in Australia and the European Union. Alongside his studies, he served as President of the Oxford University Student Union. David is the author of numerous conference papers on commercial law, equity and insolvency, including the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on substantive law, procedure and remedies. David accepts briefs to appear in all jurisdictions, although his practice is primarily based in Sydney. David has been appointed a member or office-holder of various professional committees of the NSW Bar Association over the years since his commencement at the Bar. Away from the law, David is a keen kayaker, steel drummer and woodcarver.
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