Join The Hon. Justice Michael Slattery AM AM (Mil) RAN and leading barristers and specialists for a full-day of insight into the key challenges in estate disputes and litigation. Gain practical guidance on executor disputes, updates on estoppel claims and Family Provision claims plus valuable strategies on assessing capacity in elderly and vulnerable clients. Gain expert tips and traps for ethical quagmires, your necessary professional skills and practice management — including managing multiple claims, navigating privilege and ensuring efficient estate administration. Essential for wills and estates practitioners seeking up-to-date case law, practical strategies and insights from the Bench.

Presenters

Renee Bianchi, Barrister, 13th Floor St James Hall Chambers
Renée Bianchi was admitted as a solicitor in 2008 and commenced practice as a barrister in 2013. She graduated from the University of Newcastle with a Bachelor of Biomedical Science (Honours) in 2004 and a Bachelor of Laws/Diploma of Legal Practice in 2007. Since being at the Bar, Renée has built up a diverse practice in equity, common law, and commercial matters. She particularly specialises in wills and estates, general commercial law, and professional negligence. Doyle’s Guide has listed her in its Wills and Estates Litigation Leading Lawyers list since 2016, as Preeminent Junior Counsel in this area in NSW and Leading Junior Counsel in Australia since 2024. Renée is currently President of Australian Women Lawyers, Chair of the B Miles Women’s Foundation, and Co-Vice Chair of the Women Barristers Forum. She is also a member of the Law Council of Australia’s Equal Opportunity Committee and NSW Bar Association’s Succession and Protective Law Committee. She is a Past President of NSW Young Lawyers and the Women Lawyers Association of New South Wales, and a Past Chair of the Young Lawyers Committee of the Law Council of Australia. Renée is a member of the NSW and ACT Bar Associations.

Michael Bennett, Barrister, 13 Wentworth Chambers
Michael Bennett is barrister practicing from 13 Wentworth Chambers in Sydney. He practices in the following areas: Tax planning (including Superannuation, Estate Planning and Structuring); Federal and State Tax litigation; Commercial litigation; Bankruptcy and Insolvency litigation. From 2006 to 2011, before coming to the Bar, Michael was a solicitor in two boutique SME tax and commercial practices. He was a Judges Associate before that. Michael lectures in tax law in the UNSW Masters of Laws Program. Michael was a Lieutenant in the Royal Australian Navy Reserves (Legal Officer). Michael frequently writes for the Tax Institute or other professional bodies and gives presentations for various bodies on the areas in which he practices.

Ian Davidson SC, Barrister, Eight Selborne Chambers
Ian Davidson is a Senior Counsel who practises primarily in Equity, Commercial, Administrative, Wills & Probate and Alternative Dispute Resolution. After graduating from ANU with a B Ec and LLB (1st class Honours and University Medal), Ian was Associate to Sir Anthony Mason from 1980 to 1981. He was awarded the R.G Menzies Scholarship to Harvard Law School (LLM 1982). After working with law firms in Boston and Washington DC and being admitted to the New York Bar, Ian practised as a solicitor in Sydney before being called to the NSW Bar where he has practiced from Eight Selborne Chambers (www.eightselborne.com.au) since 1991. Ian has chaired the NSW Bar Association’s Succession and Protective Law Committee since 2024 and from 2015-2018 was Chair of that Bar’s Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee, a director of the Australian Centre for International Commercial Arbitration and a member of the NSW Supreme Court ADR Steering Committee. He is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, a member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners, the Banking & Financial Services Law Association and serves on the Financial Services Committee of the Business Law Section of the Law Council of Australia.

Michelle Painter SC, Barrister, 9 Selborne Chambers
Michelle practices primarily in commercial law, involving all manner of commercial disputes, as well as equity and trusts, and family provision and probate. She also has extensive experience representing directors and corporations in regulatory enforcement matters. Michelle has been a barrister since 1998 and took silk in 2013. She has been involved for many years with the NSW Bar Association’s Bar Practice Course, where she presents on the art (and the slog) of cross examination.

Paul Evans, Partner, Makinson d’Apice Lawyers
Paul is a Partner at Makinson d’Apice with over 30 years’ experience in the Private Clients area. An Accredited Specialist in Wills and Estates Law, he is also a member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners. Paul frequently speaks at seminars on Wills and Estate Law, providing continuing legal education for solicitors and other professionals. Paul qualified as a Solicitor in England in 1992 and in NSW in 1994. He holds Arts and Law degrees from the University of Sydney. His expertise includes wills and estate planning, disputes to wills, protecting assets for future generations, and estate administration. During his 18 years in London, Paul specialised in inheritance tax mitigation and worked with charities such as Save the Children Fund and The King Edward’s Hospital Fund for London.Before joining Makinson d’Apice in 2011, Paul worked at National Australia Trustees Limited (part of NAB Private Wealth) as Manager Northern States, Estate Planning. Paul has extensive experience assisting a wide range of clients, including high-net-worth individuals, and creating tailored solutions for blended families. Paul regularly appears in Doyles Guide in the areas of estate litigation and Wills, Estates & Succession Planning.

Asheetha Jelliffe, Partner, Bridges Lawyers
Asheetha was admitted to practice in 2003. She has over 20 years' experience in Wills and Estates Law and became an Accredited Specialist in 2011. She is appointed by the Law Society of NSW as a member of the Advisory Committee for Specialist Accreditation in Wills and Estates, as is the Head Assessor of that committee. Although her main area of practice is in contested estate litigation, including testamentary capacity matters, family provision cases and other trust and estate administration suits, she has utilised that experience in her growing estate planning practice. She also has experience in Elder Law related issues and applying for 'out of the ordinary' grants of probate and letters of administration. Asheetha has been appointed as a Court Appointed Administrator for estates. She is a regular presenter at seminars and workshops in the areas of Wills and Estates law. Asheetha is a member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners. Asheetha has been listed in the 2024 Doyles Guide's lists of Preeminent Estates Litigation Lawyers and Leading Wills Estates & Succession Planning Lawyers in NSW.

Patricia Muscat, Barrister, 13 Wentworth Chambers
Patricia was called to the Bar in 2019 and practices from 13 Wentworth Chambers, primarily in probate, family provision, protective and equity litigation. Since being called to the Bar, she has been named in the Doyle’s Guide each year as a recommended, leading, or preeminent wills and estates litigation junior counsel. She has appeared in a number of noteworthy cases including litigation concerning the Benz Estate ([2022] NSWSC 534 and [2022] NSWSC 668) and Soulos Estate ([2022] NSWSC 1507 and [2023] NSWCA 243). Prior to being called to the Bar, Patricia was an Associate at Uther Webster and Evans and, in 2014, was the tipstaff to Hallen J (then, the Family Provision List Judge) in the Supreme Court of NSW.

Justin Brown, Barrister, 13 Wentworth Chambers
Justin has been listed since 2017 in the Doyle’s Guide as Recommended Junior Counsel in the area of Leading Wills & Estates Litigation Junior Counsel. He is recognised for the depth and breadth of his advocacy skills, understanding of complex legal issues and strategic thinking. Justin is also a lecturer in succession law at the University of Sydney and has been a guest lecturer in the courses offered by the College of Law in the Master of Applied Law (Wills and Estates). He regularly appears for executors, trustees and beneficiaries of deceased estates at both trial and appellate level, primarily in the Supreme Court of New South Wales, as well as in the High Court in Nobarani v Mariconte [2018] HCA 36. Justin possesses considerable advocacy experience and provides sound legal advice in both contentious and non-contentious matters. He has completed LEADR’s Mediator’s Course and regularly appears as counsel for clients at mediations. Justin holds a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Western Sydney and a Masters of Applied Laws specialising in wills and estate. Prior to being called to the Bar in 2013, Justin practised as a solicitor and was instructed in several leading cases in wills and estate litigation.

Carmel Lee, Barrister, 6 St James Hall Chambers
Carmel Lee is a barrister with a broad practice encompassing commercial law and equity, conflict of laws (private international law) and public interest litigation. She has a strong reputation for her ability to problem-solve, frame solid arguments, think on her feet, and translate complexity into clear, compelling arguments. Carmel is known for efficiently resolving disputes, whether through litigation or alternate forms of resolution. She works in equal partnership with her legal team and encourages an ongoing dialogue with solicitors and her clients. Carmel has lectured in Conflict of Laws at the University of Sydney, in Advocacy and Strategic Litigation at Macquarie University, and in Evidence Law at University of Technology, Sydney (UTS). She has also lectured in Legal Ethics at the University of New South Wales and UTS.

Dr Jane Lonie, Consultant Clinical Neuropsychologist, Dr Jane Lonie
Dr. Jane Lonie is a Consultant Clinical Neuropsychologist with over twenty five years of experience in the assessment and management of cognitive dysfunction in adults and older adults. She is author of over twenty peer reviewed articles in the areas of dementia and capacity and is a co-author of the most recent edition of LexisNexis - Estate Planning: A Practical Guide 2025 (Chapter 8 Responding to Changes in Cognition). Dr Lonie maintains a special interest in provision of medico-legal opinion in matters relating to legal capacity. She regularly provides assessment and reports in matters of questionable testamentary capacity, guardianship disputes, financial management orders, capacity to instruct, give evidence or appoint powers of attorney. During her twenty five years of experience in specialist Neuropsychological practice, Dr. Lonie has provided assessments and reports for in excess of 3,500 patients. Dr. Lonie has substantial experience in assessment, report writing and court appearance for the purposes of provision of expert opinion relating to areas of expertise: Assessment of Cognitive function (Adults and Older Adults); Assessment of testamentary capacity (contemporaneous and retrospective) ; Guardianship disputes/ application reports; Financial management Capacity; Assessment of capacity to grant/revoke Powers of Attorney; Return to work assessment ; Total and Permanent Disability insurance claims; Neuropsychological function in criminal matters; Capacity to give evidence and under the Workers Compensation and Motor Accident Authority Schemes. Dr Lonie is one of a handful of appointed SIRA & Council-directed health assessors and assessors of neuropsychological impairment.

The Hon. Justice Michael Slattery AM AM (Mil) RAN

Tony Ross, Barrister, 13 Wentworth Chambers
Tony accepts briefs in all areas of law. Prior to coming to the Bar, Tony served in the Australian Defence Force for 16 years, predominantly as an Army Officer. He is now in the active reserves. In 2022, Tony was Tipstaff to the Hon. Justice M.J. Slattery AM AM (Mil) RAN of the Supreme Court of New South Wales (Equity Division). Tony received his Juris Doctor from the Australian National University and his Bachelor of Business from the University of New South Wales at the Australian Defence Force Academy. Tony has broad experience working in the Defence and National Security community. His writing on foreign interference has been published in the Federal Law Review. Tony received the Christopher Gee QC Memorial Prize for Advocacy and Evidence for the May 2024 Bar Practice Course.

Gerard Basha, Partner, Barter Perry
Gerard Basha is the head of Bartier Perry’s private clients team. He is recognised as a leader in his field and his clients benefit from his wide-ranging experience and specialist legal advice. Gerard has advised and been involved as an expert court witness in succession law cases. He is an Accredited Specialist in Wills and Estates Law and a Notary Public, Chair of the NSW Wills and Estates Law Accredited Specialists Practice Group, and a Registered Trust and Estate Practitioner with the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP). Doyle’s Guide to the Australian Legal Profession has recognised Gerard as a leading wills & estates litigation lawyer in both NSW and Australia from 2016 to 2022 and as a leading wills & succession planning lawyer from 2017 to 2022.