Step into the complex world of franchising law with leading experts. This is your opportunity to gain practical knowledge and shared experience from the very best. You’ll explore recent cases and key reforms, unpack the application of restraints of trade, and understand the impact of Unfair Contract Terms regulation on franchise agreements. Learn how to navigate franchise disputes with confidence, anticipate risks, and apply strategies that protect your clients and strengthen your advisory role. Don’t miss this chance to gain expertise from leaders in franchise law.  A rare opportunity not to be missed.

Presenters

Andrea Pane, Director and Principal, ACP Lawyers
Andrea Pane is director and principal of ACP Lawyers. Specialising in franchising for over 25 years, Andrea's primary focus has been in the franchising sector, advising and assisting clients across a broad range of industries in the areas of business expansion, protection of intellectual property, compliance with the Franchising Code of Conduct, competition and other relevant laws, business sales and acquisitions and other related contracts and arrangements. Andrea has been recognised as one of Australia's best lawyers for franchise law in the peer-reviewed Best Lawyers© in Australia, and is Chair of the LAWASIA Franchising Committee.

Elizabeth Gore-Jones, Principal, The Franchise & Business Lawyers
Elizabeth Gore-Jones was admitted in 1994 and commenced specialising in franchising law in 2000. She started the law firm "The Franchise & Business Lawyers" in 2012 specialising in providing commercial, business and franchising advice to franchisors and franchisees alike. She is a member of the Queensland Law Society Franchising Committee and throughout her career has been a member of the Franchise Council of Australia, the Queensland chapter of the Franchise Council committee and the Women in Franchising committee together with lecturing at the Bond University PLT course in franchise legal practice. Elizabeth is often called upon to present about franchising law to lawyers, franchisor and franchisee groups and business groups. Elizabeth acts for both franchisors and franchisees and Elizabeth advises Franchisors ranging from large Australia wide franchisors through to the smaller franchise systems. As franchising law becomes more complex, Elizabeth is often called upon to assist law firms in representing their clients.


Glen Pauline, Barrister and AMDRAS Advanced Mediator, Foley’s List
Glen practices as counsel and mediator in commercial disputes including, employment, property and franchising disputes. He has over 30 years of legal practice experience. He has practised as counsel since 2001, as a nationally accredited mediator since 2010, and an Advanced Mediator of the Victorian Bar since 2020 and of the Resolution Institute since 2023. Glen is a current Mediation Panel Member of the Victorian Civil & Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) (since 2020), Victorian Small Business Commission (VSBC) (since 2019), Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman (since 2017) and New South Wales Small Business Commission (NSWSBC) (since 2024). Glen was a Panel Mediator for the Office of Franchising Mediation Adviser (OFMA) from 2014 onwards. He regularly mediates commercial contractual disputes including Franchising, Horticulture and Oil Code disputes, retail and commercial leasing disputes, Property Law Act co-ownership disputes, Water Act and Owners Corporation disputes and employment law disputes. Glen chaired the ADR Committee of the Victorian Bar in 2022 and 2023 and served as Deputy Chair in 2021, is a coach, assessor and past co-instructor in the Lawyers’ Mediation Certificate, Victorian Bar, and a current member of the Law Council of Australia’s Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee since 2023.


Derek Minus, Barrister, Accredited Mediator & Chartered Arbitrator, Mediation & Arbitration Chambers
Derek Minus is a barrister-at-law with a specialist practice as a dispute resolver. He holds accreditation as variously a Mediator, Arbitrator, Expert Determiner and Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner (FDRP). He was an early adopter of mediation in 1992 and is a Nationally Accredited Mediator who has conducted over 4,000 mediations and conciliations across all types of disputes. Derek is also graded a Chartered Arbitrator by The Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (UK). Since 2000, he has acted as an arbitrator with variously; the NSW Local Court, District Court, NCAT, Workers Compensation Commission and for the NSW State government. For the two-year period 2017/2018, he was appointed by the Commonwealth Government as the Franchising Code Mediation Adviser with responsibility for arranging the dispute resolution processes under the Franchising Code of Conduct, a prescribed code under the Competition and Consumer Act 2010. His submissions for improving the operation of the dispute resolution processes in the Franchising Code were adopted by the Commonwealth Parliamentary Joint Committee on Corporations and Financial Services for its publication Fairness in Franchising. He is currently providing an automated process for engaging mediators throughout Australia for the resolution of franchising disputes at: www.franchisingcode.au