Contested estates are growing more complex, with Queensland’s new Trusts Act 2025 adding another layer of challenge. Join an exceptional line-up of senior counsel, accredited specialists and experts as they unpack the year’s most significant developments in Wills and Estates litigation. From capacity and executor disputes to estoppel claims, ethics and client management, this full-day conference delivers the practical insights, strategies and updates you need to navigate complex contested estates with confidence.

Presenters

Dr Simon Zuscak, Clinical Psychologist, Impact Health Psychology
Simon has completed a Bachelor of Applied Psychology with 1st Class Honours, a Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology, and a PhD. He has undertaken the further requirements to use the title Clinical Psychologist and is an accredited psychological supervisor. Simon is an Adjunct Lecturer at the University of Southern Queensland, Honorary Associate at La Trobe University, and has Clinical Privileges at Griffith University where he works as an independent Psychometric Rater of participants in dementia research. Simon has experience working with community mental health, job network members, and the Australian Army (at the rank of Captain). He has been in the private sector since 2007. Simon enjoys working with children, adolescent and family presentations. He is available to travel off-site as the need arises, and undertakes assessments of legal decision-making capacity for contemporaneous or retrospective capacity to appoint Enduring Powers of Attorney, Testamentary Capacity (write a Will), instruct counsel, and other areas. Simon conducts psychometric testing such as for IQ and learning difficulties, is a Government Contracted Doctor – Disability Medical Assessor, and works from a range of regional offices – Gold Coast, Brisbane, Toowoomba, and Lismore (NSW). He is a current Fellow of the Australian Psychological Society (FAPS), the Clinical College of Psychologists (MCCLP), the International Psychogeriatric Association (IPA), and the IPA Testamentary Capacity Interest group. Simon works from the Gold Coast, Brisbane, Toowoomba, and Lismore (NSW) offices.

Chris Herrald TEP, Director, Extension Legal
Chris Herrald provides clients with practical advice based on knowledge gained from her years practising as a Wills & Estates lawyer. She advises her clients in relation to a broad range of estate matters, including estate planning (including wills and testamentary trusts), estate administration (including advising executors, administrators and beneficiaries), contentious and non-contentious estate litigation (including family provision applications, solemn form proceedings, interpretation or rectification of wills), guardianship and administration matters (including enduring powers of attorney, proceedings in the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal and advice to attorneys, guardians and administrators in relation to the exercise of their powers). She is an active member of the legal community and currently serve on three committees – as Deputy Chair of the Queensland Law Society (QLS) Succession Law Committee, as a member of the QLS Elder Law Committee and as the Secretary for STEP Qld Committee.

Chelsea Baker, Legal Practitioner Director, Baker Hastings Lawyers
Chelsea Baker is a Queensland based succession law solicitor practising in complex estate planning, contested administration and estate litigation. She is also appointed as an Independent Administrator by the Supreme Court of Queensland in circumstances where disputes have arisen between parties during the administration of estates. Her experience extends to complex grants of representation, trusts, superannuation, guardianship matters (including investigations into breaches of duties by attorneys) and statutory trustee matters. In the last three years, Chelsea has been recognised as a Rising Star in the Doyle’s Guide category of Wills, Estates & Succession Planning. In 2024 and again in 2025, Chelsea was also a Finalist for Senior Associate of the Year (SME) in the Lawyers Weekly national Women in Law Awards. Most recently, Chelsea was also a Finalist for Queensland Solicitor of the Year in the Queensland Law Society Excellence Awards for 2025. Prior to achieving her Bachelor of Laws, Chelsea completed a Bachelor of Arts (Double Majoring in Criminology) and was previously a Member of the Australian and New Zealand Society of Criminology Inc. Parallel to law, Chelsea enjoys flying light aircraft and previously represented the Australian Women Pilots’ Association (AWPA) as the Secretary of the Queensland Branch from 2022 to 2024. During her tenure as the branch Secretary, Chelsea was interviewed by Channel 7 News for the Sunday Night Flashback on Maude ‘Lores’ Bonney. Chelsea remains a current member of the AWPA which was recently inducted into the Australian Aviation Hall of Fame.

Mark Robertson KC, Level 27 Chambers
Mark Robertson KC conducts an Australia-wide practice specialising in revenue and trust law. Mark is listed as a leading tax KC by Chambers & Partners Asia Pacific and listed as 'Preeminent' by Doyle's Guide. He has appeared for Commonwealth and State revenue authorities, Australia's leading corporate groups, high net wealth individuals, as well as foreign investors in relation to proposed and completed domestic and cross-border transactions.

Sean Powell TEP, Managing Partner, Robbins Watson Solicitors
Sean leads the Dispute Resolution and Litigation Team at Robbins Watson. Sean specialises in estate disputes and estate administration, with a particular emphasis on contested wills. In line with his Succession Law focus, he has completed a Master of Laws, with a specialisation in Wills and Estates. Sean is a full member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP), which means he is internationally recognised as an expert in his field, with proven qualifications and experience. Sean has acted in a wide range of contested succession law matters including but not limited to family provision applications (disappointed beneficiary claims), challenges to the validity of wills (testamentary capacity; undue influence; knowledge and approval; fraud; forgery), informal wills (handwritten wills; suicide note wills; unsigned and unwitnessed wills), superannuation and life insurance disputes, appointment and removal of executors and trustees. Having practised extensively in Queensland and New South Wales, Sean is one of the few Queensland solicitors with substantial cross-jurisdictional succession law experience. As a result, he is highly sought after in estate matters involving people and/or assets on different sides of the border.

Bryan Mitchell TEP, Principal, Mitchells Solicitors
Bryan Mitchell TEP FTI is the managing director of Mitchells Solicitors. He is an Accredited Specialist in Succession Law. Bryan & his firm are recognised leaders in Estate Planning and Estate Litigation in Australia. His practice works almost exclusively in the areas of Wills, Estates, Trusts & Elder Law. Bryan is a regular presenter. He is the recipient of the Society of Trust & Estate Practitioners Australia Masters Award 2023; immediate past Chair of STEP Australia; former Chair of STEP Queensland; Deputy Chair for the Queensland Law Society Succession Law Policy Committee; Deputy Chair of the QLS Succession Law Specialist Accreditation Advisory Committee and member of University of Queensland Law School Advisory Board.

Rob Cumming TEP, Barrister, 19 Inns Chambers
After 35 years as a solicitor, Rob commenced practising as a barrister at the Queensland Bar in May 2017. Rob specialises in a range of estate, trust and disability law issues. He is well versed in dealing with estate litigation, particularly family provision applications, construction, rectification and cy-prŠs applications and solemn form proceedings. Similarly, he is very experienced in guardianship and administration matters and the special requirements for persons with a legal disability. As a solicitor, Rob successfully achieved Queensland Law Society Specialist Accreditation

Scott Whitla, Partner, McCullough Robertson Lawyers
Scott Whitla is a partner with McCullough Robertson Lawyers, heading up its Equity and Private Client group. Prior to practicing as a solicitor, Scott previously worked in the financial services industry with financial planners and business bankers. He is a QLS accredited specialist in Succession Law and his practice areas include interpretation and contesting of wills, equitable claims and family provision applications, tax effective succession planning, estate administration and applications to QCAT.

Karen Gaston, Barrister, George Street Chambers
Karen has experience conducting complex, lengthy litigation usually with the overlay of an emotional family dispute. In particular she has substantial experience running family provision applications, litigation about the validity of wills (sometimes called solemn form probate litigation), applications concerning the construction of wills, Beddoe applications, power of attorney disputes, and equity litigation involving unconscionable conduct and undue influence. Karen is a Queensland Law Society accredited specialist in succession law. Doyle’s Guide recognises Karen as “Preeminent” in the Wills and Estate Litigation Lawyers category in 2020 and 2021. Karen works as a team with a solicitor, to represent a client. She does not accept briefs directly from the general public. Karen can, however, provide a list of referrals to highly regarded solicitors who can assist members of the public directly.

Neal Dallas, Director, Business Depot Legal
Neal Dallas is a Director at Business Depot Legal. He has extensive experience advising clients in the areas of superannuation, tax, estate planning and asset protection. He is recognised in the 2023 Edition of Best Lawyers in Australia in the areas of Superannuation Law, Tax Law, Trusts and Estates, and Wealth Management/Succession Planning Practice.

Professor Philip Morris AM, Psychiatrist, Gold Coast Specialist Rooms
Prof Philip Morris is a highly accomplished and respected psychiatrist with deep expertise in older-adult and addiction psychiatry, supported by international certifications and research roles. His academic and clinical leadership, including in PTSD and veteran mental health, bolstered by excellent patient feedback, suggests he is a very strong choice—particularly for complex cases such as dementia, addiction, or medico-legal assessments. His services are accessible via telehealth, but initial waits can be 1–3 months.

Prue Poole, Director, Cornford-Scott Lawyers
Prue Poole was admitted as a solicitor in 2002 and qualified as the highest achiever in Specialist Accreditation in Succession Law in 2011. Prue is currently a Director of Cornford-Scott Lawyers after being a partner at McInnes Wilson Lawyers for over five years. As an accredited specialist, Prue has experience in all areas of succession law with particular expertise in Estate Administration and Estate Litigation. Prue advises executors, beneficiaries, trustee companies and other law firms on succession matters and is often appointed by the Supreme Court of Queensland as the independent administrator of deceased estates. Prue has consistently been recognised for her expertise in Best Lawyers Australia and Doyle’s Guide.

Darlene Skennar KC, Inns of Court
Darlene Skennar KC took silk in 2017. She has a Bachelor of Laws (Hons) (QIT) and a Master of Laws (QUT). Darlene was the associate to Justice Moynihan of the Supreme Court. Darlene was a part-time tutor at the Queensland University of Technology for a number of years. Darlene has been in full time practice as a barrister since 1989. Darlene has a wide estate litigation experience. Darlene is a former member of the Pharmacists Board of Queensland and the Surveyors Board of Queensland.