This is your chance to master the latest reforms, tackle complex parenting disputes and get across the game-changing Assisted Reproductive Technology and Surrogacy Act 2025. Learn practical strategies for managing third-party joinder and avoiding tax traps in family law settlements. Family law is demanding - even for the most seasoned practitioner - so take this opportunity to strengthen your skills while earning your mandatory CPD. Focus on what matters most: your wellbeing, ethical practice that protects you and your clients and the mediation skills essential for modern family law. Walk away with actionable insights, compliance know-how and the tools to deliver better outcomes while safeguarding your practice.

Presenters

Marty Kavanagh, Principal, Kavanagh Family Law
Marty Kavanagh is the Principal of Kavanagh Lawyers. Marty tutored in ethics at Curtin university for several years in the early 2000s. Marty has a particular interest in Restraining orders; adoption; surrogacy; parental rights and presumptions of parentage; and family law issues relating to the LGBTIQ+ community. From 2012 to 2017 Marty wrote the WA restraining orders commentary for Thompson Reuters. In 2018, Marty was one of the lawyers who assisted GayDads WA in their legal submissions to the government's review of the Surrogacy Act 2008. In 2022 Marty was appointed to the WA Health Minister’s Expert panel on the review of the Surrogacy and Human Reproductive Technology acts. Marty is also the Honorary Consul of Ireland to Western Australia. Just to prove that life isn’t always about backing winners, Marty is a keen Fremantle Dockers fan.

Samantha Baily, Director, Baily Family Law
For the past 22 years, Samantha has practiced exclusively in family law, having worked at two of the largest family law firms in Perth. In establishing Baily Family Law®, she brought with her a potent combination of legal knowledge and real-world experience. As a nationally accredited mediation provider, Samantha can provide clients with a wider range of options to resolve their family law conflict by offering alternative dispute resolution mechanisms such as mediation and arbitration rather than simply advising clients to fight it out in the Family Court like too many family lawyers do. Samantha has extensive experience as an Independent Children’s Lawyer in countless proceedings before the Family Court of WA, and significant experience in high-level child abuse, alienation and risk cases. She is an active member of a number of Legal Aid Panels. Samantha has been recognized as a leading Parenting, Custody and Children’s Matter Lawyer in the annual Doyles Guide every year since 2018.

Philip Hardless, Barrister, Murray Chambers
Philip Hardless accepts briefs in complex parenting and financial matters before the Family Court of Western Australia, as well as in appeals. He is experienced in cases involving 'no contact' and 'alienation' disputes, allegations of sexual abuse, family violence, drug use and addiction. Cases he has appeared in have addressed the impact of such issues on children’s wishes and psychological development. Philip’s practise as a solicitor, before coming to the bar, included company matters, bankruptcy, insolvency, criminal law, estates and family provision claims, contractual disputes, and equitable relief. Philip’s training, including a BA(Psych), LLB and LLM, informs his cross-examination of expert witnesses such as psychiatrists, psychologists, and family counsellors, and he is a member of FLPAWA’s law reform subcommittee. Philip is available to act as a mediator to help resolve disputes outside of court.

Heinrich Moser, Barrister, Stephen Thackray Chambers
Heinrich (Henry) Moser LLM is a Barrister, Accredited Family Law Arbitrator and Nationally Accredited Mediator. He attended Law Schools at the University of Zurich and the University of Western Australia and was admitted to the Supreme Court of Western Australia and the High Court of Australia in 1995. He was a solicitor and partner at Paterson & Dowding between 1995 and 1999 and has practiced as a Barrister since 1999. Heinrich obtained Masters of Laws (UWA) and was accredited as Family Law Arbitrator in 2001 and as Mediator in 2012. He has completed the Advanced Mediation Training at Harvard Law School and has a Certificate in Design Thinking from RMIT., He practices in family and de facto law, estates and probate, family provision, equity and trusts, appeals and other general civil litigation in all Courts. Henry's publications include articles on Family Law, De Facto Law, Estates, Bankruptcy, Superannuation and Personal Injury. He has presented numerous papers and seminars on a variety of subjects. He is the author of the Chapters on Family Law and ADR, WA Law Handbook Online, Sussex Street. He has also co-authored the Section on Children in Halsbury's Laws of Australia. Outside the law, Henry is a qualified intercultural trainer and was a Member and Chair of the Board of AFS Intercultural Programs Australia.

Nicola Jansen, Special Counsel, O’Sullivan & Davies Family Law
Nicola was admitted as a lawyer in 2011 and has practised family law exclusively ever since. She is the current President of the Family Law Practitioners Association and an Accredited Family Law Specialist.

Vincent Tan, Principal, Clairs Keeley Lawyers
Vincent has been a partner at Clairs Keeley since 2019. Vincent is part of the leadership of Clairs Keeley and graduated from the Oxford University Executive Leadership Program in 2021. Vincent has a Masters in Law, as well as a Bachelor of Commerce specialising in International Finance. Vincent is a mediator, family dispute resolution practitioner and specialises in collaborative financial and parenting matters. While he is an experienced Court advocate, Vincent has a keen interest in mediation. Vincent lectures in mediation at The University of Western Australia and Anglicare WA. Vincent has gained great satisfaction in helping clients navigate the difficulties of separation. His ability to quickly and compassionately understand the needs of a client, and work out practical, collaborative solutions has helped thousands of families across Australia in his career. Outside of law, Vincent loves his family, music and the Geelong Football Club. In his spare time, you will find him helping young creative artists around Western Australia share their art with others.

John Hedges SC, Francis Burt Chambers
John Hedges graduated from the University of Western Australia with law degrees in 1980 and was admitted to practise in Western Australia in 1981. He was articled and then employed at Talbot & Olivier until 1982, after which he joined the Aboriginal Legal Service of Western Australia until 1985. In 1987 John travelled to the United Kingdom where he was admitted and worked in the area of commercial litigation. He then returned to Perth where he worked at Dwyer Durack in the areas of family law and crime until 1988. He moved to Sydney in 1988 and practised in the areas of equity and family law until he was called to the Bar in Sydney in 1992. John then returned to Perth and has practised as a barrister at Francis Burt Chambers since 1993, primarily in the area of family law. He has also acted as a prosecutor for the Director of Public Prosecutions for Western Australia. He has been the Convenor of the Professional Standards Committee for the Anglican Archbishop's Panel of Advice on Complaints Against Clergy and Church Workers since 1999. He was a member of the Professional Standards Committee for the Medical Board of Western Australia from 2006 to 2008 and served as a Councillor on the city of Fremantle between 1993 and 1997. John's recreational activities include cycling, trekking, art and classical music.

Vince Bradley, Partner, Klimek & Wijay Family Law
Vince Bradley is a highly respected Partner with over 15 years of dedicated experience in family law and earned his accreditation as a Family Law Specialist in 2019. Vince specialises in complex property matters and high-net-worth clients, often representing third parties. He also has extensive experience and a strong interest in the international dimensions of family law, including international relocation, child abduction under the Hague Convention, and cross-jurisdictional disputes.

Gaurav Chitnis, Partner, Charted Accountant, HLB Mann Judd
Gaurav Chitnis is a Partner and Head of Tax at HLB Mann Judd. He is a Chartered Accountant, CPA, Chartered Tax Advisor, and a lawyer admitted to the Supreme Court. Gaurav has over 20 years of experience as a tax advisor in the SME space and specialises in CGT, Division 7A, business restructures, taxation of trusts and tax residency. Gaurav’s clients are often accountants, lawyers and financial advisors who require specialist tax advice and assistance with ATO rulings, objections and management of audits and tax disputes for their clients. Gaurav is actively involved in the tax profession as a regular industry presenter, lecturer at Curtin University, member of the ATO’s Private Groups Stewardship Group, and WA state councillor for The Taxation Institute.