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17th Annual Personal Injury Law 2026: Emerging Risks, Claims and Litigation Strategies

Ensure that you are up to speed with the rapidly evolving landscape of psychosocial hazards, workplace injury compensation and complex personal injury litigation. Gain clarity on the new psychological health regulations, expanded dependency compensation and key amendments to the WIRC Act. Examine high-stakes litigation tools such as freezing orders and their strategic use in protecting client assets, emerging challenges in concussion-related claims, including causation and evidentiary hurdles. Focus on essential professional skills, gain guidance on navigating cost agreements, disclosures and the new scale of costs, plus an exploration of emerging ethical hotspots for personal injury lawyers. You will also develop practical strategies for supporting seriously injured clients through sound financial planning and long-term compensation management.

Thursday, 19 March 2026
10.00am to 11.00am Assessment of Economic Loss

 

  • What is income?
  • Is the current income the right income?
  • Personal injury loss assessments for business owners – is the risk the same?
  • What if there’s been a capital loss?
  • What evidence do you need to provide the forensic accounting expert?

Presented by David Ferrier, Director, Forensic Solutions

4.00pm to 4.15pm Afternoon Tea
9.00am to 10.00am Psychosocial Hazard, New Dependency Compensation, and Claimant Rights: New Regulations and Changes to the Workplace Injury Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2013 (WIRC Act)

 

  • Occupational Health and Safety (Psychological Health) Regulations 2025
  • Compensation of close family members for grief and loss
  • Modernisation amendments update

Presented by Joseph Ridley, Principal, Arnold Thomas Becker

Session 2: Ethics, Practice Management and Professional Skills for Personal Injury Lawyers

Chair: Megan Caines, Principal and Director, Polaris Lawyers  

Professional Skills
4.15pm to 5.15pm Financial issues for plaintiffs – what lawyers need to know

 

  • Why financial advice?
  • Financial capacity – black, white and grey
  • Financial considerations for settlements small, medium, and large
  • Relevant rules - Centrelink, NDIS, superannuation

Presented by Jane Campbell, Financial Advisor and Principal, Aeran Pty Ltd

Description

Attend and earn 7 CPD units including:
4 units in Substantive Law
1 unit in Ethics & Professional Responsibility
1 unit in Practice Management & Business Skills
1 unit in Professional Skills
This program is based on VIC legislation

12.15pm to 1.15pm Freezing Orders in Personal Injury Litigation

 

  • When should I seek a freezing order on behalf of a client?
  • How hard is it to get a freezing order?
  • How quickly can I get one?
  • Should I go ex-parte or should I seek one inter-parties?
  • Disclosures
  • What are the ‘usual undertakings’ given by the clients?
  • Some success stories - bringing the litigation to an end quickly (almost always)

Present by Scott Morris, Barrister, Young’s List and Amanda Ryan, Barrister, Lennon’s List

Practice Management and Business Skills
2.00pm to 3.00pm Navigating Cost Agreements and Disclosure in Personal Injury Matters

 

Effective communication and compliance around costs are critical in personal injury matters. Gain practical guidance on how to manage cost agreements, disclosures, and client expectations, minimising disputes while protecting your professional fees and liability for disbursements. You will leave with actionable strategies and insights drawn from recent cases and current best practice.

  • Understanding obligations under cost agreements and disclosure requirements
  • Strategies to manage client expectations and prevent and deal with disputes about legal costs
  • The new Scale of costs for recovery of party/party costs (new regime post 1 January 2025)
  • Lessons from recent cost cases

Presented by Dipal Prasad, Director, Law in Check

11.00am to 11.15am Morning Tea
11.15am to 12.15pm Identifying and Running a Concussion Case

 

  • Challenges with running these matters
  • General updates in concussion

Presented by Jamie Shine, Legal Practice Director, Law & Health Collective

Session 1: Psychosocial Hazards, Workplace Claims and Litigation

Chair: Lisa Paul, Principal Lawyer, Robinson Gill Lawyers; Accredited Specialist in Injury Law

Ethics & Professional Responsibility
3.00pm to 4.00pm Ethical Hotspots for Personal Injury Lawyers

Presented by Nadia Grech, Legal Counsel, Slater & Gordon

Presenters


Jamie Shine, Legal Practice Director, Law & Health Collective
Jamie Shine is a Queensland personal injury lawyer and the Director of The Law & Health Collective, specialising in traumatic brain injury and concussion claims, as well as NDIS appeals. With more than two decades leading teams in complex TBI and catastrophic injury matters, she is a committed advocate for better TBI awareness and outcomes. Jamie serves on the boards of Connectivity Traumatic Brain Injury Australia, Concussion Legacy Foundation Australia and Youngcare. She is a past President of WLAQ and board member of AWL and the 2022 WLAQ Leneen Forde AC Woman Lawyer of the Year.


Megan Caines, Principal and Director, Polaris Lawyers
Meg is a Melbourne-based personal injury lawyer and Principal and Director of Polaris Lawyers, acting exclusively for plaintiffs across Victorian schemes. Meg commenced her career at a large plaintiff firm representing Victorians injured in road trauma and has extensive experience in motor vehicle accident compensation claims. In 2017 Meg joined Polaris Lawyers as part of the founding vision to establish a boutique, innovative personal injury firm. Since the establishment of Polaris Lawyers, it has been recognised as New Law Firm of the Year (2018) and Law Firm of the Year (2019), Dispute Resolution and/or Litigation Team of the Year (2025) at the Australian Law Awards and AI Innovator (Legal Practice) (2025) at AI awards. Individually Megan has been nominated twice for Mentor of the Year and once for Partner of the Year at the Women in Law awards, as well as winning the Leadership Award at the Serious Women in Business award in 2025. At Polaris, Meg leads the TAC practice and is responsible for People and Performance, overseeing team development, capability and professional standards. Meg is an active member of the Victorian Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA) committee and she works closely with the TAC. She is a member of the Protocols Working Group, the Legal Liaison Group, the Legislative Working Group and the JME reference group. Over the course of her career, Meg has developed particular expertise in strategic litigation management, evidentiary preparation and insurer negotiations. As a practice leader, she is committed to principled advocacy, high professional standards and building a sustainable, client-focused model of personal injury practice. Meg is also engaged in broader professional conversations concerning leadership, innovation and the ethical integration of emerging technologies within legal practice.


Scott Morris, Barrister, Young’s List
Scott has practiced in commercial litigation since he was admitted as a lawyer in 1998. He has worked in small firms and for a large Melbourne city firm; at the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission in its Enforcement Division and then at the Australian Taxation Office as a Senior Lawyer before joining the Victoria Bar in 2013. Scott's clients include private, government and statutory bodies, ASX listed entities, motor vehicle manufacturers, liquidators, trustees in bankruptcy, the Australian Taxation Office, State Revenue Office, the Victorian Legal Services Commissioner and clients facing prosecution by the ATO, Australian Competition and Consumer Commission and WorkSafe. Scott is regularly briefed to seek freezing (mareva) orders. He considers them to be an important part of the legal landscape that assist in producing earlier and less expensive resolutions to litigation — particularly in larger or complex matters. During the last 3 years Scott has received briefs to appear for personal injury clients seeking damages against defendants who are not insured (both common law claims and compensation orders under section 85B of the Sentencing Act 1991). He has sought and successfully obtained freezing orders and the orders have brought a swift resolution to the litigation.


Amanda Ryan, Barrister, Lennon’s List
Amanda Ryan is a Barrister on List H who practices in the Common Law jurisdiction.


David Ferrier, Director, Forensic Solutions
David is an experienced forensic accountant and Director of Forensic Solutions Litigation Support. David has prepared many business valuations for a multitude of purposes, including shareholder and family law disputes, and given oral evidence in relation to these valuations in the Federal, Federal Circuit, Family, Supreme and Land & Environment Courts, business valuations for re-structuring purposes and pre-lending requirements. In addition to business valuations, David is also involved in all aspects of litigation support, including personal injury loss assessments, economic loss claims, independent determinations, review of other expert reports, preliminary assessments and consulting expert work. After many years as a partner in a series of full-service accounting firms, David took a leap of faith in August 2015 and started operating independently. David has been a guest presenter on the topic of accounting and valuation for a range of organisations on a range of forensic accounting and valuation matters, including CAANZ, CPA Australia, Legalwise, Leo Cussens and the Law Institute of Victoria.


Jane Campbell, Financial Adviser and Principal, Aeran Pty Ltd
Jane is a nationally recognised expert in the management of personal injury compensation. For more than two decades she has been assisting personal injury lawyers, plaintiffs and their families in the lead up to and post-settlement. Jane is the Principal of Aeran Pty Ltd, an independent financial advice business. Aeran was founded 10 years ago to ensure a client-first approach to financial advice, investments and service for vulnerable people. Our clients are located Australia-wide. Our independence guarantees that the advice is purely in the best interests of clients, not biased or compromised by conflicts of interest. Jane is a Certified Financial Planner and maintains her qualifications as a lawyer. Jane has been a member of the Australian Lawyers Alliance since 1999 and is a longstanding NSW Committee member. She is actively involved in seeking to protect the rights of injured people.

Nadia Grech, Legal Counsel, Slater & Gordon
Nadia is a Law institute of Victoria (LIV) Accredited Specialist in Personal Injury Law. She is currently the chair of the LIV Litigation Lawyer’s Executive Committee as well as the LIV Workers’ Compensation Committee. She is appointed to the WorkSafe Advisory Committee via the Victorian state government and is a member of the Supreme Court of Victoria Rules’ Committee. Nadia is Legal Counsel at Slater and Gordon Lawyers and prior to becoming a lawyer, was a Chiropractor. Nadia is passionate about the rights of an injured worker and creating safer Australian worksites.


Dipal Prasad, Director, Law in Check
Dipal is committing to working closely with, and being the voice for, individuals and businesses who have been charged unreasonable legal costs by a law practice. Reducing costs liability for such individuals and businesses is her priority. Dipal is also committed to educating law practices to comply with all their obligations so they avoid having their fees challenged by their clients. Dipal completed her Bachelor of Laws (Honours) with a Bachelor of Business and Commerce and a Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice in 2012. She obtained a Master of Laws in Corporate and Commercial Law from the University of London in 2020, with academic leadership from University College London and Queen Mary University of London. She is currently completing her MBA from the University of New South Wales. Having worked in building and construction, personal injury, insurance, motor vehicle accident, strata and property law prior to establishing herself in legal costing, Dipal’s litigation knowledge is broad and extensive. Dipal has a strong interest in every facet of legal costing with experience in costs disputes arising from the full spectrum of litigation in Family Court, Federal Court, High Court, New South Wales, Australian Capital Territory, Queensland and Victorian jurisdictions. As part of this interest, Dipal presents lectures on legal costing to law firms and legal organisations and contributes to legal costing academia through writing articles for the ‘Precedent’ journal, and articles for the Blackstone Brief and Australian Lawyer Alliance publications.Dipal is also a Court Appointed Costs Assessor (Supreme Court of Queensland).


Lisa Paul, Principal Lawyer, Robinson Gill Lawyers
Lisa Paul is a Principal Lawyer and a specialist in Personal Injury Law accredited by the Law Institute of Victoria. She specialises in work injury cases but also assists people with public liability and TAC claims. Lisa is a longstanding member of the Law Institute of Victoria's WorkCover Committee and the state committee of the Australian Lawyers Alliance.

Joseph Ridley, Principal, Arnold Thomas Becker
Joseph commenced his legal career in 2010 and since then has practiced exclusively in personal injury matters on behalf of Plaintiff. He started working with Arnold Thomas & Becker as a trainee lawyer in 2010 and is now a Parter of the firm as well as the Practice Manager of Arnold Thomas & Becker’s Werribee office. Joseph practices in WorkCover, TAC, and public liability matters, and continues to work with a dedicated team of personal injury specialists out of Arnold Thomas & Becker’s Werribee office.




This seminar is part of a series

Ethics, Professional Skills & Practice Management for Personal Injury Lawyers (19 March 2026)

Thursday, 19 March 2026

Join leading personal injury practitioners for a focused core units program designed to strengthen compliance, client management and professional judgement in PI practice. Gain practical guidance on cost agreements and disclosure obligations, including strategies to manage client expectations, minimise disputes, and protect your fees and liability for disbursements, with insights from recent cases and the post 1 January 2025 costs regime. Refresh your ethical and professional responsibilities by examining common ethical hotspots that arise in personal injury matters. Conclude with essential financial guidance for plaintiffs, including capacity issues, settlement considerations, and the key rules affecting Centrelink, the NDIS and superannuation.

Professional Skills
4.15pm to 5.15pm Financial Issues For Plaintiffs: What Lawyers Need to Know

 

  • Why financial advice?
  • Financial capacity – black, white and grey
  • Financial considerations for settlements small, medium, and large
  • Relevant rules - Centrelink, NDIS, superannuation 

Presented by Jane Campbell, Financial Advisor and Principal, Aeran Pty Ltd

4.00pm to 4.15pm Afternoon Tea
Practice Management and Business Skills
2.00pm to 3.00pm Navigating Cost Agreements and Disclosure in Personal Injury Matters

 

Effective communication and compliance around costs are critical in personal injury matters. Gain practical guidance on how to manage cost agreements, disclosures, and client expectations, minimising disputes while protecting your professional fees and liability for disbursements. You will leave with actionable strategies and insights drawn from recent cases and current best practice. 

  • Understanding obligations under cost agreements and disclosure requirements
  • Strategies to manage client expectations and prevent and deal with disputes about legal costs
  • The new Scale of costs for recovery of party/party costs (new regime post 1 January 2025)
  • Lessons from recent cost cases 

Presented by Dipal Prasad, Director, Law in Check  

Ethics & Professional Responsibility
3.00pm to 4.00pm Ethical Hotspots for Personal Injury Lawyers

Presented by Nadia Grech, Legal Counsel, Slater & Gordon

Chair

Megan Caines, Principal, Polaris Lawyers

Description

Attend and earn 3 CPD units including:
1 unit in Ethics & Professional Responsibility
1 unit in Practice Management & Business Skills
1 unit in Professional Skills
This program is applicable to practitioners from all States & Territories

 

View series listing

263V17

17th Annual Personal Injury Law 2026: Emerging Risks, Claims and Litigation Strategies

CHOOSE YOUR SESSION AND
DELIVERY MODE BELOW

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Join leading personal injury practitioners for a focused core units program designed to strengthen compliance, client management and professional judgement in PI practice. Gain practical guidance on cost agreements and disclosure obligations, including strategies to manage client expectations, minimise disputes, and protect your fees and liability for disbursements, with insights from recent cases and the post 1 January 2025 costs regime. Refresh your ethical and professional responsibilities by examining common ethical hotspots that arise in personal injury matters. Conclude with essential financial guidance for plaintiffs, including capacity issues, settlement considerations, and the key rules affecting Centrelink, the NDIS and superannuation.

, timezone=Australia/Sydney, hs_object_id=44912003657, event_name=Ethics, Professional Skills & Practice Management for Personal Injury Lawyers (19 March 2026), id=44912003657}]
All Sessions
Thursday, 19 March 2026
9.00am to 5.15pm Australia/Sydney
CPD Points 7
$795.00
Face to Face 20260609 20260319

Interactive On Demand

Register
Register
Claim uncapped CPD units from this interactive program.

*Check your rules on interactive recordings.
Online 20260609 20260319

Interactive On Demand

Register
Register
Claim uncapped CPD units from this interactive program.

*Check your rules on interactive recordings.
On Demand 20260609 20260319

Interactive On Demand

Register
Register
Claim uncapped CPD units from this interactive program.

*Check your rules on interactive recordings.
[{date=19/03/26, venue=InterContinental Melbourne, zoom_event_id=X1DKNlSRTAW9qJO9pjdu1w, seminar_description_for_website=

Join leading personal injury practitioners for a focused core units program designed to strengthen compliance, client management and professional judgement in PI practice. Gain practical guidance on cost agreements and disclosure obligations, including strategies to manage client expectations, minimise disputes, and protect your fees and liability for disbursements, with insights from recent cases and the post 1 January 2025 costs regime. Refresh your ethical and professional responsibilities by examining common ethical hotspots that arise in personal injury matters. Conclude with essential financial guidance for plaintiffs, including capacity issues, settlement considerations, and the key rules affecting Centrelink, the NDIS and superannuation.

, timezone=Australia/Sydney, hs_object_id=44912003657, event_name=Ethics, Professional Skills & Practice Management for Personal Injury Lawyers (19 March 2026), id=44912003657}]
Morning Session
Thursday, 19 March 2026
9.00am to 1.15pm Australia/Sydney
CPD Points 4
$505.00
Face to Face 20260609 20260319

Interactive On Demand

Register
Register
Claim uncapped CPD units from this interactive program.

*Check your rules on interactive recordings.
Online 20260609 20260319

Interactive On Demand

Register
Register
Claim uncapped CPD units from this interactive program.

*Check your rules on interactive recordings.
On Demand 20260609 20260319

Interactive On Demand

Register
Register
Claim uncapped CPD units from this interactive program.

*Check your rules on interactive recordings.
[{date=19/03/26, venue=InterContinental Melbourne, zoom_event_id=X1DKNlSRTAW9qJO9pjdu1w, seminar_description_for_website=

Join leading personal injury practitioners for a focused core units program designed to strengthen compliance, client management and professional judgement in PI practice. Gain practical guidance on cost agreements and disclosure obligations, including strategies to manage client expectations, minimise disputes, and protect your fees and liability for disbursements, with insights from recent cases and the post 1 January 2025 costs regime. Refresh your ethical and professional responsibilities by examining common ethical hotspots that arise in personal injury matters. Conclude with essential financial guidance for plaintiffs, including capacity issues, settlement considerations, and the key rules affecting Centrelink, the NDIS and superannuation.

, timezone=Australia/Sydney, hs_object_id=44912003657, event_name=Ethics, Professional Skills & Practice Management for Personal Injury Lawyers (19 March 2026), id=44912003657}]
Afternoon Session
Thursday, 19 March 2026
2.00pm to 5.15pm Australia/Sydney
CPD Points 3
$420.00
Face to Face 20260609 20260319

Interactive On Demand

Register
Register
Claim uncapped CPD units from this interactive program.

*Check your rules on interactive recordings.
Online 20260609 20260319

Interactive On Demand

Register
Register
Claim uncapped CPD units from this interactive program.

*Check your rules on interactive recordings.
On Demand 20260609 20260319

Interactive On Demand

Register
Register
Claim uncapped CPD units from this interactive program.

*Check your rules on interactive recordings.
[{date=19/03/26, venue=InterContinental Melbourne, zoom_event_id=X1DKNlSRTAW9qJO9pjdu1w, seminar_description_for_website=

Join leading personal injury practitioners for a focused core units program designed to strengthen compliance, client management and professional judgement in PI practice. Gain practical guidance on cost agreements and disclosure obligations, including strategies to manage client expectations, minimise disputes, and protect your fees and liability for disbursements, with insights from recent cases and the post 1 January 2025 costs regime. Refresh your ethical and professional responsibilities by examining common ethical hotspots that arise in personal injury matters. Conclude with essential financial guidance for plaintiffs, including capacity issues, settlement considerations, and the key rules affecting Centrelink, the NDIS and superannuation.

, timezone=Australia/Sydney, hs_object_id=44912003657, event_name=Ethics, Professional Skills & Practice Management for Personal Injury Lawyers (19 March 2026), id=44912003657}]
[{date=19/03/26, venue=InterContinental Melbourne, zoom_event_id=X1DKNlSRTAW9qJO9pjdu1w, seminar_description_for_website=

Join leading personal injury practitioners for a focused core units program designed to strengthen compliance, client management and professional judgement in PI practice. Gain practical guidance on cost agreements and disclosure obligations, including strategies to manage client expectations, minimise disputes, and protect your fees and liability for disbursements, with insights from recent cases and the post 1 January 2025 costs regime. Refresh your ethical and professional responsibilities by examining common ethical hotspots that arise in personal injury matters. Conclude with essential financial guidance for plaintiffs, including capacity issues, settlement considerations, and the key rules affecting Centrelink, the NDIS and superannuation.

, timezone=Australia/Sydney, hs_object_id=44912003657, event_name=Ethics, Professional Skills & Practice Management for Personal Injury Lawyers (19 March 2026), id=44912003657}]
[{date=19/03/26, venue=InterContinental Melbourne, zoom_event_id=X1DKNlSRTAW9qJO9pjdu1w, seminar_description_for_website=

Join leading personal injury practitioners for a focused core units program designed to strengthen compliance, client management and professional judgement in PI practice. Gain practical guidance on cost agreements and disclosure obligations, including strategies to manage client expectations, minimise disputes, and protect your fees and liability for disbursements, with insights from recent cases and the post 1 January 2025 costs regime. Refresh your ethical and professional responsibilities by examining common ethical hotspots that arise in personal injury matters. Conclude with essential financial guidance for plaintiffs, including capacity issues, settlement considerations, and the key rules affecting Centrelink, the NDIS and superannuation.

, timezone=Australia/Sydney, hs_object_id=44912003657, event_name=Ethics, Professional Skills & Practice Management for Personal Injury Lawyers (19 March 2026), id=44912003657}]
[{date=19/03/26, venue=InterContinental Melbourne, zoom_event_id=X1DKNlSRTAW9qJO9pjdu1w, seminar_description_for_website=

Join leading personal injury practitioners for a focused core units program designed to strengthen compliance, client management and professional judgement in PI practice. Gain practical guidance on cost agreements and disclosure obligations, including strategies to manage client expectations, minimise disputes, and protect your fees and liability for disbursements, with insights from recent cases and the post 1 January 2025 costs regime. Refresh your ethical and professional responsibilities by examining common ethical hotspots that arise in personal injury matters. Conclude with essential financial guidance for plaintiffs, including capacity issues, settlement considerations, and the key rules affecting Centrelink, the NDIS and superannuation.

, timezone=Australia/Sydney, hs_object_id=44912003657, event_name=Ethics, Professional Skills & Practice Management for Personal Injury Lawyers (19 March 2026), id=44912003657}]
[{date=19/03/26, venue=InterContinental Melbourne, zoom_event_id=X1DKNlSRTAW9qJO9pjdu1w, seminar_description_for_website=

Join leading personal injury practitioners for a focused core units program designed to strengthen compliance, client management and professional judgement in PI practice. Gain practical guidance on cost agreements and disclosure obligations, including strategies to manage client expectations, minimise disputes, and protect your fees and liability for disbursements, with insights from recent cases and the post 1 January 2025 costs regime. Refresh your ethical and professional responsibilities by examining common ethical hotspots that arise in personal injury matters. Conclude with essential financial guidance for plaintiffs, including capacity issues, settlement considerations, and the key rules affecting Centrelink, the NDIS and superannuation.

, timezone=Australia/Sydney, hs_object_id=44912003657, event_name=Ethics, Professional Skills & Practice Management for Personal Injury Lawyers (19 March 2026), id=44912003657}]
[{date=19/03/26, venue=InterContinental Melbourne, zoom_event_id=X1DKNlSRTAW9qJO9pjdu1w, seminar_description_for_website=

Join leading personal injury practitioners for a focused core units program designed to strengthen compliance, client management and professional judgement in PI practice. Gain practical guidance on cost agreements and disclosure obligations, including strategies to manage client expectations, minimise disputes, and protect your fees and liability for disbursements, with insights from recent cases and the post 1 January 2025 costs regime. Refresh your ethical and professional responsibilities by examining common ethical hotspots that arise in personal injury matters. Conclude with essential financial guidance for plaintiffs, including capacity issues, settlement considerations, and the key rules affecting Centrelink, the NDIS and superannuation.

, timezone=Australia/Sydney, hs_object_id=44912003657, event_name=Ethics, Professional Skills & Practice Management for Personal Injury Lawyers (19 March 2026), id=44912003657}]
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