Consider the new reforms, the new cases. Strengthen your trial preparation. Explore the ethical and professional challenges that arise when acting in unpopular causes. Gain a clear understanding of the major procedural, evidentiary and strategic reforms and developments now shaping criminal practice including the reform of the Evidence Act and the expanding scope of sexual offences. Gain clarity on navigating freezing orders, changing plea applications and disputing forensic evidence. All in one day and with expert guidance you can trust.

Presenters

Joel Grinceri, Barrister, Murray Chambers
After graduating with a Bachelor of Laws in 2005, Joel completed one year of legal training before being admitted to practice law in 2007. Joel has spent his legal career almost exclusively in criminal law as a trial advocate having practised as both a Federal and State Prosecutor for 16 years. He joined the Commonwealth DPP in 2008, and then joined the West Australian DPP in 2012 where rose to the level of a Senior State Prosecutor and Practice Manager for one of the three trial divisions. In his capacity as a Practice Manager for the West Australian DPP, Joel supervised a team that consisted of approximately 35 State Prosecutors and 20 Paralegals. His team managed one-third of all the District Court and Supreme Court prosecutions within Western Australia. Since 2008 Joel estimates that he has either directly managed or been involved in thousands of criminal prosecutions and has appeared as trial counsel in matters of all levels of complexity in the Children’s Court, Magistrates Court, District Court, and Supreme Court for a wide variety of charges, including homicides, sexual offences, drug trafficking, armed robberies, people smuggling, violent assaults, extortion, stealing, burglary, and white-collar crimes. Joel has also appeared as counsel in the Court of Appeal. Having had the advantage of working as a Federal and State Prosecutor for 16 years, Joel now brings his wealth of experience to assist and defend people who have been charged with criminal offences. Joel is thorough, hardworking, and dedicated to achieving the best outcome.

Jessikah Niesten, Lawyer, Timpano Legal
Jessikah Niesten LLB (Hons) is a criminal defence lawyer at Timpano Legal and sessional academic at Curtin Law School. Jessikah is completing a PhD and her research centres around the operation of oversight mechanisms in relation Taser misuse and the rule of law in Western Australia. She also has an interest in criminal law and justice; and in law reform and policy.

Tom F Percy KC, Albert Wolff Chambers
Tom Percy KC was admitted to practice in 1978 after graduating from UWA. He was elected to the WA Bar Association in 1984 and took silk in 1997. He practices primarily in the area of Criminal trials and appeals. He is a former National Director and State President of the Australian Lawyers Alliance. He won the WA Civil Justice Award in 2006, The WA Law Society Community Service Award in 2007 and the WA Lawyer of the Year award in 2013. He is currently Head of Chambers at Albert Wolff Chambers in Perth.

Mark Trowell KC, Barrister, Albert Wolff Chambers
Mark Trowell joined the independent Bar in Western Australia in 1989 after having been admitted to practice eight years earlier. He was appointed Queen's Counsel in 2000. He, together with Tom Percy QC, founded Albert Wolff Chambers. Despite some time in commercial and common law, he was ultimately attracted to the challenge of the criminal law and has since practiced exclusively in that jurisdiction. He has for the most part acted as defence counsel not only in WA, but also NSW, and from time to time also prosecutes for the DPP (WA). Mark has appeared as counsel at two Royal Commissions, and several notorious CCC inquiries. He is co-chair of the Criminal Law Standing Committee of LAWASIA. He was also involved in negotiations at the International Tribunal of the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) in Hamburg on behalf of the owners of a foreign vessel seized by the Australian Customs for allegedly poaching the prized Patagonian toothfish in the Southern Ocean near Antarctica. In December 2006, Mark Trowell was appointed by the Australian Government to undertake a review of the legislation governing the Australian Crime Commission (ACC). His report was later tabled in the Federal Parliament.Since 2004, Mark has attended as an international observer at controversial criminal trials in Thailand, Malaysia and Sri Lanka on behalf of several organisations, including LAWASIA, the International Commission of Jurists, the Geneva-based Inter-Parliamentary Union, the Australian Bar Association, the Law Council of Australia, Commonwealth Lawyers Association and Paris-based Union International des Advocats. He is the author of two best-selling books on the recent criminal trial and appeals in the Malaysian courts concerning the former deputy prime minister and opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim, which attracted international attention.

Shirley Casey, Barrister, Francis Burt Chambers
Shirley is a Barrister at Francis Burt Chambers. Prior to joining Francis Burt Chambers, she was a Barrister at Albert Wolff Chambers. Shirley has worked mainly in criminal defence and represents clients in all courts throughout WA. Shirley was regarded in Doyles Guide as a leading criminal barrister 2024.

Gavan Cruise, Barrister, Francis Burt Chambers
Gavan Cruise accepts briefs in all areas of commercial law. Before joining the Bar, Gavan was a senior associate at Bennett where he acted for clients on a wide range of commercial matters involving contracts, shareholders, directors, trusts, leases, property, intellectual property and insurance. He also has experience in regulatory proceedings, workplace health and safety investigations and prosecutions, construction disputes, the administration of trusts and deceased estates, search orders and injunctions. Gavan has had conduct of matters in the Federal Court, the Supreme, District and Magistrates Court (WA), the State Administrative Tribunal (WA), the Supreme Court of the ACT, as well as international and domestic arbitrations. Gavan was the Associate to the Honourable Justice Tottle of the Supreme Court of Western Australia for 2 years and holds a Bachelor of Laws with honours and a Bachelor of Economics. He joins Francis Burt Chambers as a pupil.

Katherine Dowling, Partner, Curt Hoffmann Barrister & Solicitors
Katherine graduated in 2007 with a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) and Law from the University of Western Australia. She commenced her legal career at an international law firm, working in commercial civil litigation. She quickly realised, however, that she enjoys advocacy and working with ordinary people so started practicing in criminal law after completing her restricted practice. Katherine provides advice and representation in all areas of criminal and traffic law. She has r extensive experience in the Supreme, District and Magistrates Court jurisdictions. She is counsel in jury trials, pre-trial applications and sentencing hearings. She has also assisted and briefed other prominent barristers. Katherine has outstanding communication and interpersonal skills and prides herself on her ability to establish excellent working relationships with her clients and peers to ensure that matters are resolved in a professional, practical and cost-efficient manner. She has been repeatedly recognised as a leader in her field of criminal law, evidenced by her nomination in Doyles Guide from 2018-2023. In addition to her legal work, Katherine has sat as an adjudicator for disciplinary hearings on the Football West Tribunal, the WACA Tribunal & the Rugby WA Judiciary, was a committee member of the Criminal Lawyers Association from 2020.

Helen Prince, Barrister, Equus Chambers
Helen Prince wasn’t always a barrister. She started life as a youth worker in the northern suburbs working with “at risk youth”. Primarily Indigenous young people. As a youth worker, Helen spent a lot of her time at the Childrens Court and Magistrates Court assisting clients and working with lawyers. Helen has more than 30 years’ experience in practice including 25 years’ experience at the bar practising primarily as a criminal defence barrister. She regularly represents accused in the Supreme Court, District Court and Magistrates Court. She has appeared in many complex and lengthy trials. She also appears before the Court of Appeal. She is a founding member of Equus Chambers. Helen’s interest in evidence, including expert evidence and DNA, has seen her teaching evidence and advocacy at Murdoch University.

Jeremy Scudds, Barrister and Solicitor, Porter Scudds
Jeremy Scudds is a senior barrister and solicitor and social worker, with extensive experience in the area of criminal law. He has also previously worked in the areas of personal injury law and commercial litigation. He worked in government and private practice prior to setting up practice as a sole practitioner. He now is the principal of a legal firm with a number of criminal lawyers. He has a excellent knowledge and understanding of needs of the firm's clients. Jeremy was admitted to practice as a Barrister and Solicitor in the Supreme Court of Western Australia and High Court of Australia in 1984. By way of connection with the community, Mr. Scudds has worked as a social worker and union official. In the past, he has been the "Night Line Lawyer" for Radio Station 6PR (2 years), the Honorary Solicitor for the W.A. Council of Social Services [WACOSS] (10 years) and Incest Survivors Association (2 years), University Lecturer, the Legal Practitioner on the Real Estate Agents Supervisory Board (3 years), a member of various Law Society Committees, and a Trustee with the Perth Theatre Trust (5 years). He is currently a member of The National Association of Criminal Defence Lawyers (USA) Forensic Society of Australia & New Zealand and WA Criminal Lawyers Association. Mr Scudds also has been involved in the administration of various sports in Australia.

Sam Pack, Barrister, Francis Burt Chambers
Sam has a broad practice which includes public law, criminal law, and industrial and employment law. From 2016 to 2022, Sam was employed at the State Solicitor’s Office where he acted as counsel in a wide range of civil and criminal matters at both the trial and appellate level, including complex regulatory prosecutions, criminal appeals, judicial review applications, merits review applications, civil disputes, and coronial inquests. In 2022, he appeared twice as junior counsel in the High Court in constitutional matters. Immediately before joining the Bar, Sam practiced extensively in public sector industrial relations and employment law. He has also previously undertaken a secondment at the Corruption and Crime Commission. Sam holds a Master of Law with First Class Honours from the University of Cambridge and a Bachelor of Laws with First Class Honours from the University of Western Australia, where he has tutored in public law, torts, equity, and trusts.

Shash Nigam, Director, Nigams Legal
Shash Nigam is the Director at Nigams Legal Pty Ltd Barristers & Solicitors. He holds both Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Laws degrees and is a barrister and solicitor of the Supreme Court of Western Australia and the High Court of Australia. Expertise Shash specialises in criminal law, criminal confiscations and criminal injuries compensation matters. He has acted in numerous high profile trials and appeals over the years.

Bernard Standish Barrister, Geoffrey Miller Chambers
Bernard Standish was first admitted in Queensland in 1993. After practicing in Queensland and the ACT, he relocated to Western Australia in 2011. He has over 30 years post-admission experience, primarily in criminal law. He has worked as an in-house lawyer with Legal Aid, Queensland and as a prosecutor in the ACT and Western Australia. He was called to the Western Australian Bar in May 2018. Bernard is available to provide advice on, and to appear in all Courts in Western Australia, at trial or on appeal, in relation to any alleged State or Commonwealth offences.