Time is running out! Seize your last opportunity to fulfill your CPD requirements before the clock strikes 12 midnight on 31 March. Join a power-packed day with 10 targeted sessions across property, contracts, succession, privacy, business and more. Designed to deliver essential updates and help you secure all your mandatory CPD including ethics, professional skills and practice management units in just one day, this is your all-in-one solution to wrap up the CPD year with confidence.

Presenters

Jim Johnson, Barrister, Frederick Jordan Chambers
Jim Johnson was admitted to the Bar in August 1991 having practised as a solicitor since 1975. Jim has lectured extensively in relation to insolvency topics over the last 30 years including interrelationship and crossover between deceased Estates and bankruptcy and family law and bankruptcy. Whilst he retired from practice in July 2024, he continues to write commentate and lecture on insolvency subjects. His practice was generally regarded as personal and corporate insolvency that brings into play most areas of general commercial securities and conveyancing practice. He is also researching the introduction of AML/TF commencement in July 2026.

Michael Bersten, Barrister, Michael Bersten Barrister
Michael Bersten has been in legal practice for 37 years and since 2018 as a Barrister. Michael specialises in tax and related corporate, commercial, trusts and financial crime matters. Michael’s current clients comprise mainly business and private wealth clients. Michael is also a sessional Lecturer in the UNSW Business School ATAX Masters Program. Michael is the NSW Deputy Chairman of the Law Council Tax Committee and a member of the Australian Bar Association tax committee. Michael has been regularly voted by clients as a Tax Controversy and Disputes leader in the International Tax Review Survey. Michael was a tax and legal partner from 2004 -2018 at PwC and before that a partner at Deloitte from 2001-2004. Michael founded their tax controversy and dispute resolution practices. Before that Michael Bersten was head of the ATO Tax Counsel Network and chaired the GAAR Panel amongst other senior roles. Michael was a Deputy Australian Government Solicitor (1996-1999) and national head of the tax and customs practices. Michael is ranked as a leading Tax Law Barrister with Doyle’s Guide, New South Wales, 2022 Connect with Michael via LinkedIn.

Daniel Emmerig, Barrister, 9 Wentworth Chambers
Daniel accepts briefs to advise and appear in all areas of law, with a particular focus on commercial and corporate law. Prior to coming to the Bar, Daniel was an Associate in the Disputes and Investigations team at Allens. Daniel has experience in a range of areas including commercial law, class actions, corporations and insolvency, civil penalty proceedings, superannuation, and environment and planning law. Daniel also has experience acting in regulatory matters, including investigations and proceedings conducted by ASIC, APRA, ATO, the AFP and the former Department of Planning and Environment. Daniel is also currently studying a LLM in International Corporate and Commercial Law at King's College London.

Lauren Gidley, Legal Practitioner Director, Glass Goodwin
Lauren Gidley was admitted as a solicitor in July 2010. She holds a Masters of Applied Law, majoring in Wills and Estates, and in October 2017, she became an Accredited Specialist in Wills & Estates Law. Lauren has been working in the wills and estates area for over 15 years. She worked in various positions at the NSW Trustee and Guardian and a private trustee company, before moving into private practice in 2013. In March 2015, Lauren joined Glass Goodwin. She was appointed as a Senior Associate on 1 July 2017 and was named as a Rising Star in the Doyle's Guide - Wills & Estates Litigation, Sydney in 2017.

John Snelgrove, Principal, Snelgrove Herman Lawyers
John is a Principal of Snelgrove Herman Lawyers, Sydney, an Accredited Specialist in Business Law, and a Notary Public. He has 40 years’ experience advising a diverse client base of Australian and overseas clients with varied property, commercial and corporate interests. He is a director of client and other companies and has practical commercial experience. He advises on business structures and restructuring; intellectual property, licensing and franchising; real estate and business acquisitions/disposals/financing; and FIRB applications. His focus is on fostering long term client working relationships with the aim of providing an holistic approach to the delivery of legal services. John is an avid supporter of community programmes for disadvantaged youth and pro bono legal services. He is a member of the Rotary Club of Sydney and has for many years sat on its Youth Services Committee. He is actively involved in the not-for-profit sector through a philanthropic foundation as well as the arts community with a particular interest in emerging artists.

Anna Cruckshank, Barrister, PG Hely Chambers
Anna Cruckshank is the managing director of Aubrey Brown Lawyers, and an Accredited Specialist in Business Law. Anna has practised on the Central Coast for over 30 years and is also a Public Notary and has trained as a mediator. Anna works closely with businesses ranging from small, medium and large enterprises across many industries including pharmaceutical, medical, registered clubs, construction, childcare, hospitality and not for profits. She is also very experienced in property and development, often advising businesses on expansion and development opportunities. In addition to her legal practice, Anna is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and holds several board positions including President of the Central Coast Regional Advisory Council with Business NSW, Central Coast Leadership Forum and is a member of the Central Coast UDIA Committee.

Jacqui Gilligan, Director – Private Business Tax & Advisory, Grant Thornton
Jacqui is a trusted advisor who takes a holistic approach to client service by working closely with business owners and finance teams to understand their financial goals and partnering with them to achieve this through tailored accounting and tax advice and meaningful reporting. Jacqui has over 15 years’ experience providing accounting and tax compliance requirements, taxation and business advisory services to a diverse range of clients including high wealth individuals, family & privately owned medium sized business and professional practices. Her industry experience includes legal, food and beverage, technology, real estate and construction, and retail.

Lisa To, Partner, Bartier Perry
Lisa provides clear advice across tax law, superannuation, trusts and estate planning to reach her clients’ goals. She has over 20 years’ experience providing expert advice to accountants, law firms, financial advisers and private banks in Australia and in Asia on various complex and sensitive estate planning, succession planning and taxation matters. She specialises in resolving family, property and tax disputes involving ATO’s Next 5000 ($50 million+), and applications for concessions and exemptions under FIRB, Federal and State taxes impacting cross border clients. With constant regulatory and legislative changes in tax law and superannuation in Australia, Lisa delivers strategies to maximise opportunities for clients and their stakeholders while at the same time minimising the risk of review by the ATO or state revenue authorities. Her passion for influencing legal policy means she is engaged with evolving legal issues, from new developments in state taxes to examining the ATO’s current auditing focus. Lisa won the 2022 and 2024 Lawyers Weekly taxation partner of the year award. Year on year, she has been recommended by Doyle’s Guide as a leading tax lawyer and recognised for wills & estate and succession planning. Lisa regularly presents and chairs leading industry events in Australia and Singapore.

Geoff Farland, Barrister, University Chambers
Geoff accepts briefs in all aspects of commercial law, equity and appellate work. He has a particular interest in property and town planning matters. He appears regularly in the Real Property List of the Supreme Court. Geoff was called to the Bar in 2014. Before becoming a barrister, Geoff had over 30 years’ experience as a solicitor in private practice, principally in the areas of property law and town planning. While a solicitor, Geoff served on the Property Law and Environment & Planning Committees of the Law Society of NSW. At the Bar he continues his passion for helping people and solving problems. His website Farland.com.au provides more details.

Steven Brown, Chairman, Etienne Lawyers
Steven Brown is highly experienced lawyer with an extensive knowledge in all aspects of commercial law, with an intimate knowledge of the Corporations Law and the Australian Securities Exchange business and listing rules, being involved in corporate structuring, compliance, corporate takeovers, company floats, the preparation of prospectuses, employee share schemes and advising on directors' duties, and insolvency and securities law and practice. Steven currently lectures: in the Masters of Banking Law Course conducted by Macquarie University; in the Master of Finance for FINSIA in the areas of securities and insolvency and contract law and law, regulation and ethics; and for the Property Investors Association of Australia in security law and practice. Steven has published a number of articles on commercial subjects. He has lectured for the Australian Institute of Company Directors from 1989-2008, lectured in the Master and Doctorate courses at UTS in corporations, finance and securities law from 1989-1995, and is currently lecturing in the College of Law Masters course in commercial drafting and business structuring.

Elizabeth Picker, Barrister, Queen’s Square Chambers
Among her qualifications, Elizabeth holds a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) and a Mediation Diploma from Bond University. She is also an Accredited Mediator - Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner (FDRP) and an Accredited Arbitrator. In previous roles, she has worked as a solicitor of the Supreme Court of Queensland (1994-1999), Solicitor of the High Court of Australia (1996-, 2007), Solicitor of the Supreme Court of NSW (2000-2007) and is now a Barrister of the Supreme Court of NSW 2007 (to date). Her area of practice at the Bar is principally in Dispute Resolution (in any areas suitable for Mediation/Arbitration/FDR) and in the Family Law jurisdiction in both financial (property and maintenance) and parenting (child) matters. Elizabeth also has a steady practice in areas of Equity including Wills and Probate & Family Provision matters.

Michael Willmott, Barrister, 13th Floor St James Hall
Michael Willmott is a practising member of the New South Wales Bar and took silk in 2003. He is also admitted in the ACT and in England where he is a Member of the Inner Temple. He is the author of the entry on Contempt of Court appearing in Court Forms & Precedents and of Contested Will Applications published by Blackstone Press. He practices extensively and exclusively in the areas of Trusts, Wills, Probate and family provision matters Michael frequently lectures to professional groups, Trustee Companies, Law Society Accredited Specialists and Charitable Organisations on Wills, Estates and Trusts. He is the Bar Representative on the Supreme Court Probate Users Committee chaired by the Chief Judge in Equity and Probate Judge and a member of the Society of Estate & Trust Practitioners. He is a member of the Board of Studies at the College of Law.


Olga Ganopolsky, General Counsel – Privacy and Data, Macquarie Group
Olga Ganopolsky is Macquarie Group’s General Counsel – Privacy and Data, specialising in data protection with extensive experience in complex privacy policy challenges, law reform, and the ongoing management of legal and strategic issues. Her work frequently involves implementing new technologies and navigating privacy requirements within an increasingly complex, co-regulatory, and at times contentious environment. Most recently, her focus has included the implementation of the EU AI Act, Data Sovereignty, Tranche 1 reforms under the Privacy Act 1988, and reforms under Security of Critical Infrastructure Act and related cybersecurity regimes. Much of Olga’s work focuses on cross-border matters reflecting the global nature of data protection and privacy and the broader digital environment.

Kirsten Taylor-Martin, Partner, Private Business Tax & Advisory at Grant Thornton, National Head of Family Business Consulting
Kirsten is a highly experienced family business advisor with a specialization in developing Governance Structures and Succession Plans to ensure the continued growth of family businesses across generations. Her approach is rooted in understanding the unique goals of both the family and the business, tailoring the most suitable structure and reporting mechanisms to achieve these objectives. Her area of expertise encompass Family Office, Family Governance, Tax Restructuring, Superannuation and Commercial advice. Kirsten is an Accredited Specialist Advisor member with Family Business Australia and holds the distinction of being a fellow with the international organization Family Firm Institute. She is a regular international speaker on various aspects of family business and has authored numerous publications. Kirsten also hosts the “Keeping it in the Family” podcast series. Her contributions have earned her media recognition, as she has been featured in outlets like AusBiz, 2GB Radio and SkyNews for her valuable insights and contribution to the family business field, including her work on family business survey.

Robert O’Neill, Barrister, Lachlan Macquarie Chambers
Robert O’Neill is a practicing barrister of over 48 years and currently his Chambers are in Lachlan Macquarie Chambers at Parramatta. He has practiced over the years in most jurisdictions but in recent years has mainly practiced in the District and Supreme Courts in both Common Law and Equity. Robert is also a Fellow Certified Practicing Accountant (FCPA).

Tiana Dumanovsky, Associate, Bartier Perry
Tiana advises on a range of complex tax matters including with respect to income tax, GST, Stamp Duty, and Land Tax. Tiana also provides strategic and tailored estate and business succession planning to clients, and has successfully submitted ACNC registration applications, ATO private ruling applications, and applications for concessions and exemptions under State taxes. She has experience providing advice to accountants, financial advisers, family offices and high wealth individuals and their families.