There are huge developments in disputes over reputation and privacy rights. As defamation law continues to dominate headlines and challenge practitioners, courts, legislators and the media alike are grappling with evolving standards of reputation and accountability. Recent legislative reforms have given rise to new privacy rights. This advanced-level program brings together leading practitioners to unpack the most significant recent developments and explore where defamation law and the new legislation is heading. Gain insights into the impact of major recent cases, the operation of the new defamation and privacy reforms and the growing intersection between defamation, privacy and digital publication.

Presenters

Marcus Hoyne, Barrister, Owen Dixon Chambers West
Marcus Hoyne is a seasoned barrister specialising in media and defamation law, with over 25 years’ experience in commercial litigation at both trial and appellate levels. Based in Melbourne, he also practices at the New South Wales Bar and is consistently recognised as a leading junior counsel in Technology, Media and Telecommunications matters by Doyles Guide. Throughout his career, Marcus has represented major Australian media networks, including Nine/Fairfax and News Limited, as well as individual and corporate clients. He is one of the country’s most experienced telecommunications and IT barristers, having handled significant cases that reached the High Court, and has extensive expertise in areas such as intellectual property, trade practices, sports law, and administrative law.


Sophie Dawson, Partner, Johnson Winter Slattery
Sophie is a Media, Entertainment and Technology partner with extensive intellectual property, privacy and disputes experience. Sophie’s copyright experience includes acting for Nine Entertainment in litigation in which it successfully resisted an interlocutory injunction application by another media organisation in relation to a reality television cooking show, acting for two of the world’s leading computer games companies in relation to authorisation by modders of copyright infringement by end-users of popular computer games. She has also acted for IT companies in relation to strategic intellectual property issues arising in contentious matters. Sophie also acted for Samsung in relation to its 3G Telephony patent claim against Apple. Sophie is recognised as a leading TMT: Media lawyer in directories including Legal500 and Chambers AsiaPacific. She is co-author of Thomson Reuter’s Media & Internet Law & Practice and is a member of the advisory board of the UTS Centre for Media Transition.

Clarissa Amato, Barrister, Banco Chambers
Clarissa Amato is an experienced advocate practising in commercial litigation, defamation, intellectual property and media law. She is recommended in Doyles Guide to the Legal Profession for media, technology, and communications matters. She is ranked in the World Trademark Review as one of Australia's leading trademark Counsel, described as "a commercial, defamation, IP and media litigator with an excellent record...". Clarissa has a busy media and entertainment practice, spanning all areas of the law of reputation including copyright, trademark, defamation, breach of confidence, and consumer law. She has particular expertise in developments in the law of defamation and the emerging law of privacy in Australia and England, after having spent a number of years at a high profile practice in London. With more than 10 years’ experience at the NSW Bar, she is an experienced trial advocate and is particularly skilled in obtaining urgent interlocutory relief. In addition to her media and entertainment matters, Clarissa also maintains a diverse commercial practice encompassing contract disputes, cross-border insolvency matters and consumer law claims.


Ian Bloemendal, Partner, Clayton Utz
Ian has 34 years' experience acting in complex litigation and ADR for government and listed companies. Ian's practice areas include financial services, class actions, regulatory investigations, complex or high stakes reputational disputes, including defamation and media issues, commercial and property disputes, technology and/or product liability disputes. Doyles Guide recognize Ian as a Leading Litigation & Dispute Resolution Lawyer and he has been three times voted Queensland Lawyer of the Year by Best Lawyers (twice for Defamation and Media Law (in 2017 and 2020), and for Product Liability law (2018). Ian has been trusted to represent the former Premier of Queensland as well as members of Cabinet from both major parties, senior public officials, professional bodies and senior executives. Ian is Chair of the Law Council of Australia's Federal Litigation Privileges and Immunities Committee.