Join leading industry experts for an information-packed afternoon exploring the latest trends, challenges and practical realities in bankruptcy and personal insolvency. Whether you’re advising clients, managing risks, or navigating the complex intersections of bankruptcy and family law, this session series will give you the tools, context and confidence in your bankruptcy mattes and challenges.
Thursday, 19 March 2026
Early Bird Discount ends 19 Dec 2025
3.00pm to 4.00pm Navigating Bankruptcy: Practical Insights into Property Vesting and Clawback Provisions
With the sharp rise in corporate failures in recent years, company directors are increasingly finding themselves exposed to personal liability for the debts of their failed businesses. As a result, a surge in personal insolvencies is imminent. Ivan Glavas will examine the trips and traps of personal insolvency with a focus on the practical application of property vesting and clawback provisions. Drawing on real-world case studies and firsthand experience, Ivan will share valuable insights from the front line - equipping you with the knowledge to better support your clients through these challenging times.
- The state of Insolvencies in Australia
- The ATO’s debt recovery policies, including Director Penalty Notices garnishee notices, and other debt recovery strategies
- The risk areas for directors leading to personal exposure
- When and how property vests in a bankruptcy trustee, and the practical impact on clients during bankruptcy
- Key statutory provisions allowing trustees to recover assets, including unfair preferences, uncommercial transactions, and undervalued transfers
Presented by Ivan Glavas, Principal, Worrells
4.15pm to 5.15pm Bankruptcy in the Family Court
- Section 79 of the Family Law Act
- Section 35 of the Bankruptcy Act
- The impact of “property” within the meaning of the Family Law Act
- The procedures under the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Family Law) Rules 2021
- Standing, joinder and the involvement of creditors in family law matters
- A summary of Trustees Clawback powers under the Bankruptcy Act and Family Law Act
- Costs of being involved in Family Law matters
Presented by Radhika Kanhai, Partner, Moray & Agnew and Michael Tourkakes, Special Counsel, Moray & Agnew
Description
Attend and earn 3 CPD units in Substantive Law
This program is applicable to practitioners from all States & Territories
2.00pm to 3.00pm Unwritten Rules Around Bankruptcy Practice
With over decades of experience dealing with personal insolvency, John Dunne and Ivan Glavas will guide you through the current personal insolvency environment, including what’s new, what’s hot, and what you need to look out for in the current world of personal insolvency. It’s hot and unscripted, so be ready to jump in for what is always a lively and memorable discussion.
Presented by John Dunne, Principal, John Dunne & Associates and Ivan Glavas, Partner, Worrells
4.00pm to 4.15pm Afternoon Break
Presenters
Michael Tourkakes, Special Counsel, Moray & AgnewMichael has over a decade of experience giving him a nuanced understanding of how different areas of law intersect, and this insight gives his diverse range of clients a strategic advantage. Michael acts in high value disputes, including multiparty litigation, corporate deadlocks, contractual and joint venture disputes, unfair preference and voidable transaction claims, and the enforcement of securities and judgments. He has extensive experience includes representing insolvency practitioners, creditors, and debtors in winding up proceedings, statutory demand disputes, and bankruptcy matters, as well as acting in property disputes, and deceased estate claims. Michael has presented at various legal forums on topics such as tax and superannuation issues in liquidations, family law & bankruptcy, commercial litigation, and resolving property disputes through negotiation or litigation. Michael is known for his ability to integrate technical legal expertise with commercial insight. He delivers practical, strategic outcomes in high stakes matters, often resolving disputes through negotiations or targeted court applications to avoid the cost and risk of trial. His legal approach combines empathy, clear communication, and commercial acumen, with a focus not only on achieving successful outcomes but also on delivering solutions that have lasting, practical impact.
Ivan Glavas, Principal, Worrells
Ivan is a Chartered Accountant with over 27 years experience in dealing with Corporate and Personal insolvency related matters across numerous industries. Ivan’s experience includes administering Voluntary Administrations and Deeds of Company Arrangement, Liquidations and Receiverships, Bankruptcy and Personal Insolvency Agreements, Litigation Support, Fraud Investigation and Business Reconstruction advice. Ivan has completed the Advanced Insolvency Course with the Insolvency Practitioners Association of Australia and is a member of the Australian Restructuring Insolvency & Turnaround Association.
Radhika Kanhai, Partner, Moray & Agnew
Radhika is a Partner in Cornwalls’ Restructuring, Turnaround and Insolvency team as well as its Litigation and Dispute practice. She also heads those practice areas in the firm’s Melbourne office. She has over 20 years’ experience in complex court litigation and dispute resolution. Her specific areas of expertise include corporate reconstruction and insolvency, personal insolvency, leasing disputes, contractual breaches and Corporations Act matters. Radhika has also undertaken extensive accredited mediation training, resulting in particular expertise in the area of alternative dispute resolution through negotiation, mediation and conciliation processes. This enables her to achieve the best practical and achievable outcomes for our clients. In addition, Radhika is privileged to have been recognised as a recommended lawyer in Doyles Leading Insolvency and Restructuring Lawyers Guide since 2017, and she is also a Lexology Client Choice recipient and was awarded the Outstanding Female Award 2018 by Women in Insolvency and Restructuring Victoria.
John Dunne, Principal, John Dunne & Associates
John Dunne was admitted as a lawyer in Victoria in 1980. He initially worked as a tax and commercial lawyer following articles, gradually moving into litigation from 1980 to 1982 at John Wilder-Darren Moses. In 1983 John commenced practice as an employee then partner with Phillip Biber acting for a large mercantile agency in Victoria & NSW performing all types of civil litigation with an emphasis on insolvency work and with a significant appearance load as Counsel in the Magistrates Court, County Court, Supreme and Federal courts in Bankruptcy & Winding up matters. John has been a sole practitioner since 1986 up until 2006 with emphasis on high volume Debt Recovery and Insolvency almost exclusively for Creditors. John left Dibbs Abbott Stillman (now Thompson Greer) in December 2008 and resumed private practice as a sole practitioner under his own name with a continuing emphasis on Civil Litigation & Insolvency work.
