Don’t leave yourself exposed to costly disputes and enforcement risks in your leasing transactions. Attend this conference to strengthen your ability to draft watertight lease clauses, manage disclosure risks and navigate breaches and terminations with confidence. Gain the latest insights into case law, regulatory reforms including the impact of AML legislation on commercial leasing and planning developments that are reshaping commercial and retail leasing across Australia. Gain strategies to avoid litigation, manage compliance risks including ACCC action, and protect your client’s position at every stage of the lease lifecycle. 

Presenters

Anthony Lo Surdo SC, Eight Wentworth Chambers
Anthony Lo Surdo SC was called to the Bar in 1996, having previously practiced as a solicitor since his admission as a legal practitioner in 1987. He was appointed as Senior Counsel in 2011. He practices from chambers in Sydney, Melbourne and Darwin and through his association with Arbitra International is known in London, Washington DC, Abu Dhabi and internationally. Anthony has enjoyed a broad practice both at trial and appellate level spanning diverse areas including banking, contract, commercial, corporations, equity, professional indemnity, insurance, insolvency, property and sports law. He was described by Doyles Guide to the Australian Legal Profession in 2015-2020 as one of the country’s leading insolvency and reconstruction Silks. Anthony is an exponent of all forms of ADR and especially mediation, arbitration and expert determination. He is also adept at facilitating expert conclaves. He is an internationally accredited mediator and an advanced and nationally accredited mediator. He has been ranked by Doyles Guide in 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025 as a leading mediator. Anthony is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and registered in the Australian Register of Practising Arbitrators as a Grade 1 Arbitrator. He is also accredited as an arbitrator in Dubai and PNG and registered by the National Court of Justice of PNG as an international and domestic arbitrator. He was ranked by Doyles Guide in 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025 as one of the country’s leading arbitration Silks. He is a panel member of many of the world’s leading international arbitral institutions and is regularly appointed as an arbitrator both domestically and internationally. Anthony has sat as both a sole and panel arbitrator including as Chair in over 100 domestic and international arbitrations involving complex commercial, disciplinary and governance disputes. Anthony is a leading, internationally recognised, sports law Silk and regularly sits as an arbitrator on international and domestic sport tribunals including the Court of Arbitration for Sport, the Football Australia Appeal Panel and Disciplinary and Ethics Committee and the National Sports Tribunal. He was recognised in the Lexology Index, Australia & New Zealand, 2025 in the category, “Sports & Entertainment.” Anthony is a part-time Senior Member of NCAT sitting on its Appeal Panel and in the Occupational Division. Further information about Anthony’s ADR expertise can be accessed here or at www.silkmediator.com.

Anthony Herro, Principal Solicitor, Herro Solicitors
Anthony Herro is a recognised expert in retail and commercial leases. Anthony is Recognized in The Best Lawyers in Australia™ 2025 for his work in Leasing Law. Anthony is ranked “leading” in the Doyle’s Guide for 2024 and 2023 in the category “Leading Leasing Lawyers NSW” and was ranked recommended in 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022. He is Principal Solicitor of Herro Solicitors, a boutique CBD law firm specialising in Retail and Commercial Leases. Anthony is an accredited Mediator with National Accreditation and is a Mediator with the Office of the Small Business Commissioner. If you have any questions regarding anything in the seminar or this paper, please feel free to telephone Anthony on (02) 9247 0100.

Michelle Segaert, Partner, Dentons
Michelle is a Corporate Partner with more than 25 years’ experience in advising on corporate and financial services matters. Michelle is Dentons Australia’s Sector Leader for PE/VC and Co-Leader of Australia’s Investment Funds practice. Michelle advises on corporate structuring and investments and has a significant investment funds practice advising mid-market fund managers in the establishment of property, credit, carbon, crypto, venture, water and private equity funds. Michelle also advises financial services businesses in financial services regulatory matters including fintech, consumer and commercial credit, licensing, digital assets, payments systems, financial crime and financial advice. Michelle regularly advises clients on their anti-money laundering (AML) programs and obligations under the AML/CTF Act.

Andrew Fernon SC, Senior Counsel, University Chambers
Andrew Fernon was called to the NSW Bar in 2000, having been previously admitted to practice in 1988 in both NSW and the ACT. He read with David Hammerschlag (now the Hon. Hammerschlag, Chief Judge in Equity, Supreme Court of NSW). Andrew has been a member of University Chambers since 2001, taking silk in 2020. Andrew maintains a broad practice; however he has particular interest and expertise in commercial, corporations, equity, insolvency, leasing / strata / real property. Andrew also appears in family law disputes, particularly involving issues of property, equity and insolvency. He has considerable experience in appellate work in all areas of his practice. Andrew appears in all courts and tribunals in all jurisdictions. Whilst based in NSW, he has had considerable recent experience appearing in Queensland.

Jessica Diep, Managing Partner, Maclarens Lawyers
Jessica is a Partner in Maclarens Lawyers Corporate and Commercial Team and has 20 years’ experience dealing with an extensive range of commercial and property law matters including; mergers and acquisitions, contract negotiations, commercial and retail leasing, leasing disputes and property procurement (including through options). Her passion for her work and her ability to protect her clients' interests, is reflected in the number of long-term clients Jessica has gained and the referrals she receives from her clients and colleagues. Jessica lectures at UTS with the Faculty of Law and has been a continuing legal education presenter for 4 years.

Mark Bonanno, Senior Lawyer, Canterbury-Bankstown Council
Mark Bonanno is an Accredited Specialist in Property Law who has almost a quarter of a century of experience. His practice concentrates mainly on planning and development. Mark has acted for developers in high rise residential developments from acquisition to sale, including Land & Environment Court litigation to support proponents. He has also acted for several banks undertaking mortgage certification work for Bendigo & Adelaide Bank, Mortgage One and other lenders. Mark has also appeared for several NSW Councils in Class 1, 2, and 4 matters, and undertaken Class 5 prosecutions. Currently Mark is a Senior Lawyer at City of Canterbury Bankstown.

Sian Jones, Special Counsel, Colin Biggers & Paisley
Sian has about 19 years experience in commercial litigation, focusing primarily on property litigation and advisory since joining Colin Biggers and Paisley in 2017. As an experienced litigator, Sian has been involved in resolving numerous disputes using alternative dispute resolution procedures and the Courts. Sian primarily acts for property developers, land owners, directors, and authorised representatives providing strategic advice and legal representation on matters involving contracts, easements, caveats, options, development management agreements, the Australian Consumer Law and professional negligence. Sian has been a committee member for the Urban Development Institute of Australia Seniors Living and Alternative Housing since 2021. Sian holds a Master of Law and Legal Practice from the University of Technology Sydney. Sian was admitted to practice in the Supreme Court of New South Wales in April 2006, the Federal Court and High Court of Australia.

Sam Darwish, Principal, Civic Lawyers Australia
Sam is the Principal of Civic Lawyers Australia, a full-service commercial law firm based in the Sydney CBD. Sam leads the practice and is a seasoned commercial lawyer with extensive experience in complex litigation and corporate transactions. Sam has a diverse practice, specialising in property, technology and corporations disputes and transactions. He often acts for hotel owners and operators, major retail shopping centre landlords, commercial and retail tenants, property developers and property investment funds. Sam has advised on property disputes relating to leases, hotel management agreements, easements, put and call options, adverse possession, and land sale contracts.