Crime is big news in Victoria at the moment with increased criminal behaviour, new bail offences, reform in consent in sexual offences, changes to the Criminal Procedure Act regarding committals, changes to the youth justice system, and more. Navigate through these reforms plus essential skills. Master consent complexities and tackle the intersections between intervention orders, migration law and criminal law. Develop practical strategies for cross-examining child witnesses and stay alert to the current state of forensic science and its impact on your cases.

Presenters

Joseph Adamo, Senior Associate, Emma Turnbull Lawyers
In 2022, Joseph joined our team of leading criminal defence lawyers after having several years’ of experience at a leading family law firm. Joseph was promoted in 2023 to Senior Associate at Emma Turnbull Lawyers and recognised in 2024 as a Rising Star in the Doyle’s Guide listings for Victorian Criminal Defence Lawyers. Joseph is a solicitor advocate that appears in all Victorian Courts on a daily basis. He is admitted to practice in the Supreme Court of Victoria and has signed the High Court roll of Practitioners. An experienced courtroom advocate, Joseph has an established reputation for his thorough preparation and strong advocacy for clients appearing in Family Violence and Personal Safety Intervention Order contested matters. He has followed his interest in criminal justice advocacy by joining our specialist team of criminal defence lawyers. Joseph is committed to ensuring that his clients receive excellent representation, and he will leave no stone unturned when defending his clients. As a very diligent criminal defence lawyer, Joseph prides himself on providing sound advice and ensures each of his clients are guided through the Court process.

Tanya Skvortsova, Barrister, Stawell Chambers
Tanya Skvortsova is a trial advocate who came to the Bar in 2018. She most frequently appears for individuals accused of sexual misconduct in the criminal jurisdiction, in disciplinary matters and in civil proceedings. Prior to coming to the Bar Tanya worked for various prosecutorial agencies and the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse. She holds a Master of Science (Criminal Justice) from the University of Alabama, with a specialist focus on sexual offending.

Emma Turnbull, Director, Emma Turnbull Lawyers
Emma Turnbull is a Director and founding partner of Emma Turnbull Lawyers Pty Ltd. She holds a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) and a Master of Laws (LLM) from Monash University. Emma is an Accredited Criminal Law Specialist with the Law Institute of Victoria A passionate and forceful advocate, Emma appears regularly in all courts across the Victorian criminal law jurisdiction. This includes appearing as Counsel and instructing solicitor in Supreme and County Court trials, mental impairment trials, County Court and Magistrates’ Court plea hearings and bail applications. She is an industry leader and a forceful advocate for change and development of criminal law practice. Emma has been acknowledged annually as a leading criminal defence lawyer in Doyle’s Guide (as has her firm), she has been a finalist in the Australian Law Awards and Partner of the Year awards, and most relevant to the topic today she is speaking to – Emma won the national Lawyers Weekly 2024 Wellness Advocate of the Year award.

Manny Brennan, Partner, Emma Turnbull Lawyers
Manny Brennan is a partner at Emma Turnbull Lawyers having been with the firm since 2015. He holds a law degree Honours and is an accredited criminal law specialist. A talented and experienced advocate, Manny appears in all Court jurisdictions, having developed a niche expertise in the preparation and defence of indictable crime matters. Manny has expanded his advocacy work in recent years with appearances on behalf of witnesses in Royal Commission Public Hearings, supplementing this important advocacy work with detailed and complex written submissions. Having represented a broad range of clients facing criminal prosecution as well as representing a large number of survivor witnesses in recent Royal Commissions, Manny has first hand experience in dealing with stress and trauma in his criminal law practice.


Anna Davey, Director, Forensic Foundations International
In 1988, Anna was employed by the then State Forensic Science Laboratory as part of a small team formed to introduce DNA profiling to Victoria for criminal casework. By 1994, she was Team Leader and had developed an interest in education and training in forensic science. In 1997, Anna moved from casework to lead the ‘Quality Management, Education and Information Services’ team. From 2000 – 2004, Anna held the position of Executive Officer of the National Institute of Forensic Science and in 2004, was appointed Deputy Director. In 2008, Anna Davey founded Forensic Foundations International, a specialised service providing flexible fit-for-propose forensic program for expert and legal practitioners. These services involve training, consultancy, case review and auditing. Anna operates in all areas of the forensic sciences, focusing on quality management, the interface between science and the legal system, and forensic science based R&D. She brings an unequalled depth of knowledge and experience to these subjects. Anna is the immediate past Vice President (Australia) of the Australian and New Zealand Forensic Science Society (ANZFSS) and is Secretary of Victorian Chapter of the Australian Academy of Forensic Science.

Paul Galbally, Partner, Galbally O’Bryan
Paul Galbally is a partner at Galbally & O'Bryan as well as an Accredited Criminal Law Specialist. He has been retained in some of the country's largest and complex criminal law proceedings which for the most part have involved white collar crime. He acted on behalf of a co-accused in the Elliott foreign exchange trial. He was retained in the Pro-Image proceeding and recently acted on behalf of Glenn Wheatley and is currently retained by Mr Andrew Lindberg, the former CEO of AWB, in regard to a civil penalty proceeding brought by ASIC and Mr Martin Kemp, a former director of ABC Learning Centres Ltd.

Melinda Walker; Accredited Criminal Law Specialist
Melinda was admitted to practice in 2000, commenced sole practice in 2003 and has conducted her practice coming on 23 years. She has now been involved in the services of Law for over 31 years in various capacities. She attained Accredited Criminal Law Specialisation in 2014 and was Co-Chair of the Executive Committee for the Criminal Law Section of the Law Institute of Victoria (“LIV”) 2017-2021. In 2017 Melinda was appointed the Chair of the Bail Reform Committee on behalf of the Law Institute of Victoria to make submissions to the Honourable Justice Coghlan who presided over the Bail review. She was also LIV representative at the Bail Reform Project, Criminal Justice Strategy & Coordination – Bail Reform Implementation Working Group convened by the Department of Justice & Regulation 2017-2018 to identify priorities for the development of the “Coghlan Recommendations” and consider proposals for action and appeared before the Coroners Court inquest into the death of Veronica Nelson as a member of expert panel on bail law. Melinda has extensive experience and knowledge of all jurisdictions and have appeared as counsel and instructor in all courts. I have represented many Indigenous clients and appeared in Koori Court both in the Magistrates’ Court and County Court jurisdictions. She has now been involved in the services of Law for close to 30 years in various capacities. This includes paid and volunteer work. Melinda is an active participant in law reform in the areas of bail, family violence, sentencing, youth, policy and procedure.


Dr Felicity Gerry KC, Crockett Chambers
Dr Felicity Gerry KC is an international barrister at Crockett Chambers, Melbourne, Libertas Chambers London, and Professor of Legal Practice at Deakin University. Labelled “The International Dynamo”, Felicity has been recognised for her work across jurisdictions on career defining cases including in the UK Supreme Court on #jointenterprise law, the High Court of Australia on rights to second appeal, a due diligence memorandum on investment listing on SGX for Justice for Myanmar, which led to the $82m divestment of the Golden City scheme and for her role in saving a trafficked woman from death row in Indonesia. She is leading the legal petition for Christine Keeler to receive a posthumous pardon after the fallout of one of Britain’s biggest ever political scandal, The Profumo Affair, in the 1960s. Her successful petition for mercy for Zak Grieve, a young Indigenous man in Australia, has been described as “rock star lawyering”. Admitted in the International Criminal Court (ICC) & Kosovo Specialist Chambers (KSC) in The Hague, in England & Wales and Australia (Victoria & High Court Roll) and has had ad hoc admission in Hong Kong and Gibraltar. Currently defending at the ICC on the Al Hassan team and the Kosovo Specialist Chambers leading the Bahtijari team and has led for the defence in major terrorism and homicide trials. Felicity holds a PhD on human trafficking and is regularly called upon to handle complex and sensitive matters at trial and on appeal. She has appeared on all major news channels and is an expert on issues relating to women and law, technology and law and reform of justice systems. She is currently Senior Anti-Human Trafficking Expert Consultant and Trainer for Lawyers Without Borders.


Jim McGarvie, Partner, Stary Norton Halphen
Jim McGarvie is a Partner at Stary Norton Halphen. He has a diverse range of experience in all areas of criminal law, including appearing in contested hearings, committals and trials.