Unlock the secrets of estate planning, administration and disputes. In one dynamic day, you’ll gain practical strategies for estate planning for blended families, risk management insights to protect against family provision claims and cross-border know-how for clients with global assets and complex structures, duties, breaches and remedies when considering estate executors, case law updates that will shape your advice tomorrow, and real-world war stories to help you anticipate the unexpected. You will navigate through the maze of estate disputes including gifts to charities and estoppel. Be guided by the recognised experts as they share proven approaches, pitfalls to avoid, and tips that will assist your practice and safeguard your clients. If you advise on estates, this is the knowledge your clients expect you to have—don’t miss it.

Presenters

Peter Nevin, Partner, Taylor Smart
Peter Nevin is a Partner in the Commercial Litigation practice group of Taylor Smart Lawyers and Notaries. Admitted to practice in 1995, Peter's areas of expertise are wills and estate disputes, commercial litigation and employment law, with a particular interest in wills and estate litigation. He has acted as Counsel for executors, beneficiaries and claimants in relation to Family Provision Act claims, will disputes, capacity matters, estate administration disputes, and other contentious wills and estate matters, and was named by Doyle's Guide as a recommended wills and estate litigation lawyer in Western Australia in 2016 and 2017. Peter is a full member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners.

Sally Bruce, Partner, Jackson Macdonald
Sally Bruce joined Jackson McDonald in January 2008 and currently holds the position of Partner with that firm. For the past 20 years, Sally has practised predominantly in the areas of succession planning, estate, litigation, trusts, deceased estates and guardianship and administration. Sally is a member of the Law Society of WA and the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners. She is also a member of the Elder Law and Succession Committee of the Law Society of WA and a member of the National Elder Law and Succession Committee of the Law Counsel of Australia.

Chris Bailey, Barrister, Francis Burt Chambers
Chris practises predominantly in commercial and public law. Prior to being elected to the bar, Chris conducted disciplinary prosecutions for the Legal Practice Board and spent over a decade practising in commercial litigation at Williams & Hughes, including acting as trial counsel. His specific areas of interest includes wills and estates litigation, insurance, and professional negligence. Chris commenced his career as an Associate to the Hon Justice Buss and the Hon Justice Owen at the Supreme Court of Western Australia.

Janene Bon, Special Counsel, Hall & Wilcox
Janene practices in the areas of Estate Planning, Business Succession, Trusts, Superannuation, Probate and Estate Administration. She has worked extensively within the banking, financial and legal sectors. Janene has assisted many high profile and successful individuals, families and businesses and provided charitable and not-for-profit organisations with legal advice and assistance with their bequest programs. Janene is an experienced public speaker, having presented to the accounting, financial and legal professions, clients, professional organisations and business groups.

Lee-Ann Cartoon, Principal, Succession Solutions
Lee-Ann Cartoon is an experienced tax and succession planning lawyer. She has worked throughout Australia and the UK advising clients ranging from global financial institutions and multinational energy and resource companies to high net wealth individuals. Lee-Ann's experience has given her an appreciation of the importance of approaching any matter commercially, logically and with the client's end goal front of mind. Lee-Ann has developed a particular interest in complex estate and succession planning and regularly advises and presents across these areas. Lee-Ann is a Member of the STEP WA State Committee, Chair of the STEP WA Membership and Promotion Sub-Committee and Member of the national STEP Membership and Promotion Sub-Committee. Lee-Ann has been recognised in Doyle's Guide since 2021 in the category of "Leading Wills, Estates & Succession Planning Lawyers - Western Australia".

McLane Edinger, Partner, Hall & Wilcox
McLane specializes in estate, will, and trust disputes, as well as complex estate administration and financial elder abuse. He has acted on several high-profile, large-scale estate disputes in the Supreme Court of Western Australia and the Court of Appeal, including cases involving multi-jurisdictional estates. He also advises clients on will construction, validity, and interpretation, and provides guidance to legal personal representatives and trustees on estate and trust administration, including applications for directions under the Trustees Act 1962 (WA) and Administration Act 1903 (WA). McLane is recognized in Doyle’s Guide to the Australian Legal Profession (2023 and 2024) for his work in Wills & Estate Litigation in Western Australia.

Lisa Monaco, Associate Director, Birchstone Legal
Lisa’s professional background includes a couple of years of family law practice in regional Western Australia. However, Lisa soon realised that she preferred death over divorce. Since that time, Lisa has specialised in estate planning, and its necessary companion, deceased estates. She routinely works with high net-worth individuals and their family groups to develop their succession strategies.

Robert Nash, Barrister, Francis Burt Chambers
Robert Nash has been admitted to legal practice since 1987. He has practiced as an independent barrister for over 20 years at Francis Burt Chambers, is an accredited mediator, and is a member of STEP. In recent years his practice at the Bar has been primarily providing advice and acting as counsel in the areas of succession, estate administration, trusts, real property, and military discipline law. He is the Chairperson of the Racing Penalties Appeal Tribunal of Western Australia and was formerly the Head of Panel of the WA Navy Legal Panel.

Donnelle Hestelow, Partner, Mills Oakley
Donnelle specializes in delivering tailored estate planning and administration solutions for private individuals, families, and businesses. She advises on all aspects of estates, with a particular focus on crafting comprehensive, multi-generational estate plans. Renowned for her ability to navigate sensitive situations, Donnelle excels in guiding families through incapacitation or loss, resolving disputes, and ensuring equitable outcomes. Her expertise includes advising executors and beneficiaries on contested estates, trust management, and succession planning. Trusted by top-tier accountants, financial advisors, and lawyers, Donnelle is frequently referred high-stakes matters involving Australia’s most prominent families, corporate boards, and successful professionals. Donnelle holds a Bachelor of Laws (First Class Honours) and Bachelor of Commerce (Professional Accounting, First Class Honours) from Murdoch University. She is a STEP member, holds a Diploma of Financial Planning, and is recognized as a Leading Wills, Estates & Succession Planning Lawyer by Doyle’s Guide. Known for her discretion, meticulous approach, and client-first ethos, Donnelle’s work consistently earns her trust and accolades in the legal and business communities.

Teressa Maines, Associate, Mills Oakley
Teressa is an Associate at Mills Oakley in the Private Advisory Team. She assists clients in estate planning and estate administration. A full member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP), Teressa holds a Master of Laws (Applied Law) in Estate Planning and Wills and Estates. She was recognised as a Wills, Estates & Succession Planning Law Rising Star by Doyle’s Guide in 2022 and 2024.