Sure, it’s a Saturday — but by the end of the day, you’ll have all 10 of your CPD points sorted for the year without interrupting your working week. Join us for this comprehensive full-day conference featuring 12 key updates across major practice areas, including wills and estates, family law, business law, ethics, professional skills and practice management. Hear directly from a Family Court Judge, senior counsel, leading practitioners and an insolvency expert as they unpack the latest developments, cases, and reforms shaping legal practice in 2026.

Presenters

Mark Squire, Practice Group Leader – Wills and Estates, Vinden Lawyers
After conducting his own city practice for many years, Mark is now a director and the Practice Group Leader- Wills and Estates at Vinden Lawyers Pty Limited. In this role, Mark is able to practice substantially in estate planning with a particular interest in blended family issues. Mark is a former part-time lecturer at UTS and is a regular presenter to legal and other professional groups, mainly for Legalwise.

John Armfield, Barrister & Mediator, Two Wentworth Chambers
John specialises in estate litigation. Regularly advising and appearing for plaintiffs and estates in relation to matters in the Equity Division of the Supreme Court of New South Wales. John has extensive experience in representing clients at mediations and informal settlement conferences. He has also acted as a court-appointed mediator with respect to family provision claims. His practice has a strong emphasis on probate, family provision applications and will construction. He has also appeared in applications seeking a review of orders allowing commission to executors. John regularly presents papers at legal conferences in relation to wills and succession law.

Her Honour Judge Gillian Eldershaw, Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia
Her Honour Judge Eldershaw is a Judge of the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Division 2) in the Sydney Registry. Her Honour was appointed to the Court in April 2022 after many years in practice, of which 14 years were at the NSW Bar specialising in family law and employment-related disciplinary matters, investigations and public inquiries. In 2004, Her Honour graduated from the University of Sydney with First Class Honours in Law and, for the next few years, was a solicitor at Allens Arthur Robinson (as it then was), where she worked as a commercial litigator. In conjunction with her judicial duties, Her Honour was a Member of the NSW Independent Liquor and Gaming Authority which oversaw the licensing of Crown Casino after the 2021 Bergin Review and other Royal Commissions, and the Inquiry into the Star Casino.

Dr Susan Bennett, Principal, Sibenco Legal & Advisory
Susan is a corporate governance and privacy lawyer who works with Boards, senior executives and cross-functional multi-disciplinary teams on governance and data-driven technology transformation projects to minimise risks, comply with regulatory requirements and deliver on organisational objectives. Recognised for her global thought leadership in information governance, Susan brings deep corporate expertise to enable robust governance to be implemented to safely achieve the benefits derived from new technologies while simultaneously reducing risks through integrated and holistic governance in response to the growing legal and regulatory compliance challenges. These include privacy, cybersecurity, AML and emerging AI and ESG regulations, which require that technology systems be properly integrated and monitored, and that data is accurate and reliable for internal decision-making and external reporting, and that it is adequately protected and disposed of when no longer needed. Susan’s PhD thesis is on Privacy and Data Protection: the interaction of meta-regulation and information governance. Susan’s articles and publications are available on the Sibenco and InfoGovANZ websites – www.sibenco.com and www.infogovanz.com.

Jeremy Morris SC, Barrister, Jack Shand Chamber
Jeremy Morris was called to the Bar in 1995. He previously worked for 4.5 years at Abbott Tout Russell Kennedy, initially as a commercial solicitor, then in commercial litigation. Since he came to the Bar, he has had a varied practice including appearances at inquests, criminal proceedings, common law personal injury cases, medical negligence cases, commercial cases, tax debt recovery proceedings and disciplinary proceedings for solicitors and medical practitioners. He spent four years on a New South Wales Bar Association Professional Conduct Committee and has served as a member of Bar Council. He has lectured for the New South Wales Bar Association to barristers seeking to sit the Bar examinations. He is on the Common Law Committee of the New South Wales Bar Association. He also has acted as tutor in the Bar Association Practice Course.

Geoffry Underwood, Barrister, Sixth Floor Selborne Wentworth Chambers
Geoffry Underwood is a barrister practising from Sixth Floor, Selborne Wentworth Chambers, 174 Phillip Street Sydney. He practises principally in the area of Equity, Estate and Family Provision advising and litigation. He has been involved in Estate Litigation on a regular basis for over 20 years. He has many interests outside the law including family, travel, golf and classical music.

Ken Schurgott, Director – Solicitor, Schurgott & Co Lawyers
Ken Schurgott is a Solicitor - Director of Schurgott & Co Lawyers specialising in taxation matters (including State Taxes, stamp duty, payroll tax and land tax) and with extensive experience in business structuring, business sales and acquisitions, asset protection, succession planning and trust and estate law. Ken is very experienced in tax dispute matters, negotiations for settlements, mediations and conciliations and litigation. He regularly appears before the AAT and NCAT and instructs counsel in matters before the Courts. Ken has been heavily involved in consultations with the ATO and Treasury on matters involving trusts. Ken was a member of the Board of Taxation Working Group on 2011 Report on the Taxation of Collective Investment Vehicles which led to the introduction of the AMIT regime. He was National President of The Tax Institute in 2012.

Megan Norris, Barrister, Culwulla Chambers
Prior to being called to the Bar in 2025, Megan worked as a solicitor at Legal Aid NSW for over 10 years. Megan was a solicitor advocate and appeared in complex interim hearings and final hearings. Megan has been practicing in both family law (parenting and property) and the care and protection jurisdiction since 2011. She has a strong passion for advocacy representing both parties and children. Megan regularly appears on Circuit in Dubbo, Orange, Wagga Wagga and Albury.

Peter Dombkins, Director, PWC
Peter is an award-winning expert in legal transformation, legal technology and legal project management, and has led complex legal transformation programs for some of Australia's largest companies and law firms. Peter is also a leading national voice on legal professional competencies and education, particularly in legal operations and legal project management. Peter has 16 years' international experience in organisational transformation and capability development, with over a decade in the legal sector - including as a practicing lawyer specialising in major projects. Peter is the first Legal Project Manager to be peer-accredited by the Australian Institute of Project Management (AIPM), and is a Chartered Project Professional (ChPP) with the UK Association for Project Management. Peter is also a nationally accredited AIPM project management assessor, and is Australia's first Adjunct Associate Professor in Legal Transformation, at the University of NSW Faculty of Law. Peter is Vice President of the Australian Society for Computers and Law, and is the Managing Editor of that society's journal.

Emma Beechey, Barrister, New Chambers
Ms Beechey practises in commercial litigation, with specialisations in domestic and cross-border insolvency, banking and financial regulation. She regularly acts for local and foreign insolvency practitioners, major financial institutions, corporations, investors and regulators in complex commercial and insolvency matters. She appears in all Australian courts, principally in the Federal Court and the Supreme Court of New South Wales at both trial and appellate levels. She has appeared unled in significant cases at both first instance and on appeal. Her recent briefs have included appearing in the High Court (led) and in the NSW Court of Appeal (unled) for Garuda Indonesia in a successful claim of foreign state immunity; appearing for SMBC in relation to the Forum Finance fraud; and appearing unled in the NSW Court of Appeal in Caron v Jahani (No 2) (2020) 102 NSWLR 537, one of the leading Australian decisions on tracing into a deficient trust fund. Her cross-border insolvency briefs have included acting for Thai Airways, Garuda Indonesia, Exactech Inc, Astora Women’s Health, and the liquidators of GetSwift and Caledonian Bank. Ms Beechey also acts for financial regulators including ASIC and APRA, including in cryptocurrency-related matters and superannuation matters. She has a detailed understanding of cryptocurrencies, DeFi, smart contracts, blockchain technology and NFTs. Ms Beechey is recognised annually in each of the Australian ranking guides. She is a Fellow of INSOL International and the lecturer for the Australian module of the INSOL Foundation Certificate in International Insolvency Law.

Penny Thew, Barrister, State Chambers
With over 25 years’ experience in advocacy, advising and dispute resolution, Penny is recognised by Legal 500 and Doyle’s Guide as leading in her areas of expertise, including all aspects of employment and discrimination law. Further details about Penny’s experience can be viewed here: https://statechambers.net/penny-thew/

Philip Bambagiotti, Barrister, Tenth Floor St James Hall Chambers
Philip Bambagiotti is a barrister / arbitration counsel based in Sydney, Australia. He has over twenty years' experience as an advocate specialising in Commercial and Construction Law matters. This experience also extends to the provision of representation in Alternative Dispute Resolution matters. He practices in all aspects of commercial law, including: contract disputes, tort disputes, Building & Construction disputes (including Home Building Act matters), Security of Payments disputes and adjudications, Arbitration law, Trade Practices law, Corporations Law, Insurance, Environmental Law, Planning & Local Government Law, Property and Strata matters, appeals and judicial review as well as Occupational Health & Safety, International Sale of Goods matters and Taxation appeals.

David Jury, Partner, HWL Ebsworth Lawyers
David has practised in building and construction industry for 25years and has particular expertise in adjoining land owner issues including proceedings under section 88K of the Conveyancing Act. David’s clients include, Contractors, Developers and specialist subcontractors. David provides advice on tendering, project delivery, contract administration and dispute resolution including processes under the Building and Construction Industry Security of Payment Act.

Alice Ruhe, Managing Principal – Queensland. SMB Advisory
Alice has practised in the Insolvency and Corporate Recovery Industry for over 20 years and is a Registered Trustee in Bankruptcy and a Registered Liquidator. Having experience in all forms of corporate and personal insolvency administrations, Alice is a fellow of Chartered Accountants Australia & New Zealand, a member of the Australian Restructuring Insolvency and Turnaround Association (ARITA) and the Turnaround Management Association (TMA). Alice was honoured to have received the "WIRQ" Award for 2021. Alice acts as Trustee in Bankruptcy and Liquidator in a number of complex and litigious matters, often at the request of creditors or other authorities. With extensive experience in investigations into voidable transactions, recovery of property and referrals of misconduct, Alice has been involved in numerous legal proceedings resulting in positive recoveries and returns to the respective Bankrupt Estates and Liquidations, for the benefit of creditors. Alice has had experience dealing with external administrations involving the building, hospitality, information technology, accounting, legal, medical, retail and various other industries. A true believer in providing clear and relevant communication to stakeholders, Alice acknowledges that more often than not things are not always quite as they seem.

Natasha Novo, Barrister, New Chambers
Natasha accepts briefs in all areas of law. She has experience in both commercial and public law. Before coming to the Bar, Natasha was an Associate at the High Court of Australia to the Hon Justice Jagot and at the Federal Court of Australia to the Hon Justice Abraham. Natasha practised as a solicitor at Corrs Chambers Westgarth and at the Australian Government Solicitor. In those roles, Natasha advised and acted for large commercial organisations, government bodies and group members in representative proceedings. Natasha has experience in a broad range of areas including competition law, class actions and regulatory law as well as criminal law, acquisitions and takeovers, conflict of laws, insurance and insolvency. Natasha holds a Bachelor of Laws, from which she graduated with Honours, and a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Sydney.

Diane Skapinker, Principal, Skapinker Law
Diane works on her own account as a principal of Skapinker Law as well as consulting to the Ashurst real estate group where she specialises in property developments, strata and community titling, acquisitions, disposals, leasing and the property aspects of telecommunications and infrastructure projects. Diane was formerly an Associate Professor of Law at the University of Sydney lecturing in Real Property, Conveyancing and Equity and is a member of the NSW Law Society’s Property Law Committee and its subcommittee responsible for drafting the NSW standard form contract for the sale and purchase of land. Diane is recognised as a real estate lawyer by Chambers Asia-Pacific, Doyle's Guide and Best Lawyers in Australia 2026.