Take a deep dive into managing medical negligence claims with this essential seminar covering major reforms, landmark decisions and practical risk insights. Begin with an overview of new Aged Care Act and its implications for providers, practitioners and claims. Examine the High Court’s significant judgment in Stewart v Metro North Hospital and Health Service, exploring how it reshapes damages principles in catastrophic injury litigation. Gain critical guidance on medical indemnity insurance, including mandatory requirements, available cover and the key traps that can expose practitioners and advisers to unexpected liability. Develop your understanding under the guidance of leading experts who will equip you with the knowledge needed for confident, contemporary practice.

Presenters

Abhi Mukherjee, Barrister, Greens List
Abhi Mukherjee is a barrister on Greens List. Prior to joining the Victorian Bar in 2013, Abhi was a barrister in London for over 10 years practising in personal injury, medical negligence, inquests and medical disciplinary work. Following his move to Melbourne, Abhi has continued to specialise in these areas. In addition, he has been involved in judicial review proceedings mostly involving medical panels. Examples of Abhi's recent medical negligence cases include the onset of severe disability occasioned by compartment syndrome after robotic surgery; the psychiatric consequences to parents following a neo-natal death and the delayed diagnosis of cancer. Abhi has appeared in a number of coronial inquests which have involved deaths following care in intensive paediatric units; post-surgical deaths and those involving patients released from psychiatric units. Abhi has a particular interest in the management of expert evidence in the course of civil litigation and in the workings of the Civil Procedure Act 2010.

Christopher Lees, Barrister, Owen Dixon Chambers
Christopher practices across general commercial law and public and administrative law. He specialises in health and medical law. His commercial practice encompasses contractual disputes, property disputes, insolvency proceedings, trust disputes, consumer protections and director duties. Christopher has experience in data and privacy compliance and regulation. His practice in health and medical law encompasses advice on commercial healthcare disputes including medical regulation, medical malpractice proceedings, disciplinary proceedings and data and privacy compliance. Christopher has experience working in the regulation of private health insurers, private hospitals and aged care. He also accepts briefs in Coroners Court proceedings and NDIS review proceedings. Before coming to the Bar, Christopher worked as an associate solicitor at S. Moran & Co Solicitors in Sydney and as in-house counsel at nib Health Funds and Honeysuckle Health (a subsidiary of nib Health Funds and Cigna Health Insurance). Christopher also worked as an intern with the Prosecution for the Khmer Rouge Trials and as a volunteer solicitor at Redfern Legal Centre. Christopher holds a Juris Doctor and Bachelor of Arts from the University of Melbourne. Christopher is currently completing his Master of Laws at the University of Melbourne, specialising in health and medical law. Christopher is reading with Renee Sion. His senior mentor is Ian Freckelton AO KC.


Lani Carter, Special Counsel, Sparke Helmore Lawyers
Lani Carter, Special Counsel, is an experienced insurance litigator, specialising in Professional Indemnity and Health. Lani leads the aged care practice at Sparke Helmore Lawyers and was appointed to act for aged care facilities in the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety in 2018/2019. Since that time, has provided advice and representation to facilities including in coronial inquests. Lani has been recognised in Best Lawyers in Litigation and is recommended by Doyle’s Guide for her professional indemnity work and was listed as a Rising Star in Insurance by Doyle’s Guide.

Emily Hart, Principal Solicitor, Arnold Thomas & Becker Lawyers
Emily Hart is a Principal Lawyer and the head of Arnold Thomas and Becker’s Medical Negligence Team. She is an accredited specialist in personal injury law and has worked exclusively in medical negligence for over 15 years. In 2025 she was recognised by the Doyle’s Guide as one of the two preeminent Plaintiff medical negligence lawyers in Victoria. She is also Deputy Chair of the Health Law Committee at the Law Institute of Victoria. She has a particular interest in obstetric, coronial and mental health matters.


Joel Harris, Barrister, Greens List
Joel Harris is a Barrister at the Victorian Bar and is a member of Greens List. Joel maintains a broad common law practice, encompassing: personal injuries, insurance law, medical and professional negligence claims and administrative law. Joel has appeared in a range of matters including damages trials in the County and Supreme Courts, serious injury applications, statutory benefits hearings (WorkCover, Comcare and TAC) and VCAT reviews. He appears in mediations and statutory settlement conferences. Joel is also Consultant and Reporter for the Australian Torts Reports. Joel was called to the Bar of England and Wales in November 2016 and is a member of The Honourable Society of Middle Temple. In London he worked for the Medical Protection Society managing a range of medical negligence claims including delayed treatment, misdiagnosis, surgical error and failure to warn brought against Dentists, General Practitioners, Surgeons and Consultants.

Samuel Pearce, Principal Lawyer, Maurice Blackburn Lawyers
Samuel Pearce is a Principal Lawyer of Maurice Blackburn’s medical negligence department in Victoria. He is a Law Institute of Victoria Accredited Specialist in Personal Injury Law and has been recognised by the Doyle’s Guide as a Leading Lawyer (Recommended) in Medical Negligence. Samuel has achieved significant results for individuals who has suffered injuries as a result of poor health care, treatment and/or advice. He has also represented the families of patients who have died following poor medical treatment in coronial investigations and Inquest hearings. Samuel is a member of the Law Institute of Victoria’s Public Liability and Medical Negligence Committee and the Australian Lawyer’s Alliance Victoria Committee.