In the courtroom, precision is power. Whether you're preparing pleadings, affidavits or other court documents the quality of your written advocacy can significantly influence outcomes for your clients. This essential seminar is designed to sharpen your drafting skills, enhance your legal writing and ensure your documents meet the high standards that you expect of yourself. Leading barristers will unpack the steps to drafting effective Briefs to Counsel, Pleadings, Affidavits and other supporting Court Documents plus share practical tips, pitfalls and best practices. Whether you're early in your career or seeking a refresher, equip yourself with the tools to draft with confidence, precision and impact.

Presenters

Adam Butt, Barrister, 8 Wentworth Chambers
Adam Butt is an Australian Barrister based in Sydney who specializes in international arbitration, commercial litigation and human rights law. Prior to joining the New South Wales Bar he practiced as a solicitor at Allens Linklaters and as a senior associate in the international arbitration team at Clayton Utz. Adam has acted on numerous international investment and commercial arbitrations with seats in Europe, Asia, Australia, North America and the Caribbean, including several matters as assistant to Hon James Spigelman AC. He acts on complex commercial and human rights cases and regularly leads teams in Federal and state Supreme Courts, in cases both for and against the Crown. He has won major native title and Aboriginal land claim disputes across Australia, in addition to significant claims brought under the Racial Discrimination Act 1975 (Cth). During 2020 to 2023, Adam was a finalist each year in Australia’s Lawyers Weekly Barrister of the Year Award, including winning the Award in 2021. Adam has postgraduate degrees in law and politics from New York University and Cambridge where he placed first in several subjects, and has been a visiting scholar in negotiation at Harvard. He is also admitted as an attorney in New York. Previously, Adam worked with the judges at the ICTY in The Hague, on the trial of Slobodan Milošević, and as a permanent part time assistant to two eminent international arbitrators. Adam is a current member of the NSW Bar Association’s Human Rights Committee. He regularly publishes and presents in Australia and overseas on ADR, expert evidence, contract and civil procedure. He has been a board member of several international ADR bodies in Australia and overseas.

Andrew Bailey, Barrister, Two Wentworth Chambers
Andrew Bailey commenced practice at the Bar in August 2014 after 12 years in practice as a solicitor: initially in Queensland, but principally in New South Wales since 2003, with responsibility for the conduct of matters in Victoria. Andrew accepts briefs in most areas of practice: particularly administrative law, bankruptcy and insolvency, commercial, construction, and equity. In his time as a solicitor, he has had some familiarity with costs litigation on behalf of firms he has worked for. This has developed into a discrete area of Andrew's practice at the Bar. Having an undergraduate degree in psychology, Andrew maintains an academic interest in psychiatric injury as a discrete legal topic.

Ashley Cameron, Barrister, Greenway Chambers
Ashley Cameron has a commercial practice that focuses on building and construction, insurance, equity, property and general commercial litigation. She represents government, individual and corporate clients, working closely with instructing solicitors and in-house counsel to ensure a practical and commercial approach to resolving disputes. Ashley’s excellent research, legal analysis and written and oral advocacy make her an asset, both in and out of court. Before being called to the Bar, Ashley worked in the commercial litigation teams at TressCox Lawyers and HWL Ebsworth as a senior associate. She was also the tipstaff to NSW Supreme Court judge, the Hon Justice Robert McDougall. Her achievements include Doyles Guide Leading Construction & Infrastructure Junior Counsel – New South Wales– Recommended 2021-2024; Ludlows Award 2018 (awarded to the individual who receives the highest overall mark in the NSW Bar exams); and Katrina Dawson Award 2018 (awarded annually to one woman who has passed the NSW Bar exams and is committed to starting practice at the Bar).

Wai Kaey Soon, Barrister, Frederick Jordan Chambers
Wai Kaey was admitted as a solicitor in 2010 and called to the Bar in 2014. His practice encompasses advising and appearing in contract and commercial disputes, insolvency and bankruptcy, complex corporations litigation and insurance law disputes. Wai Kaey has represented individuals, banks, insurance companies and multi-national corporations in a broad range of jurisdictions across Australia, including in New South Wales, Western Australia and Victoria. Prior to being called to the Bar, Wai Kaey gained experience at several large law firms and governmental statutory bodies, including Clayton Utz, Baker & McKenzie and the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC). He holds a Bachelor of Laws and a Bachelor of Science (Information Technology) degree from the University of Technology, Sydney, and a Master of Laws from the University of Sydney.

Bede Haines, Barrister, University Chambers
Bede Haines undertakes a diverse range of work including litigating and advising on property disputes, contractual disputes, trade practices and insolvency matters. His experience includes: representing and advising in respect of property disputes including over sale of land contracts, leases, easements, options, service of notices, contracts and property rights; advising property developers, superannuation funds, corporate trustees, large landholders and significant investors in respect of property rights and property disputes; developing strategy in respect of termination of contracts and bespoke contractual clauses to deal with matters which otherwise may often give rise to litigation; conducting a litigation in the Supreme Court, Federal Court, High Court and other courts and tribunals; providing advice in respect of trade practices issues, insolvency issues and debt issues including debt recovery.