Presenters

Carolina Soto, Barrister, Black Chambers
Carolina Soto was called to the Bar in 2018 and maintains a practice in criminal and family law. She has appeared unled at trial level in a broad range of jurisdictions including the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia, Supreme, District, Local and Children’s courts across NSW. She appears at the Mental Health Review Tribunal and acts within the Guardianship division of NCAT. Carolina’s practice also extends to international jurisdictions, including Vanuatu where she was called to the Bar in Vanuatu in 2023 and appeared in the Court of Appeal thereafter. Carolina often appears across both family and criminal jurisdictions and it is the intersection between these two disciplines that enables her to provide effective advice and representation of clients in complex parenting matters where criminal allegations are made, or issues of risk are involved. She has expertise and interest in domestic violence jurisprudence and has presented widely on such topics. She lectures extensively in criminal law, children and the law, human rights law, trial practice and procedure at the University of New England, Western Sydney University and the University of New South Wales. She is currently an advocacy instructor at the College of Law and recently completed the Pathways to Politics Program for Women at the University of New South Wales. Prior to being called to the Bar, Carolina practised as a criminal Legal Aid lawyer for a decade, worked as the Associate to His Honour Judge Williams in the District Court and interned at the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Geneva, Switzerland.


Elleni Zacharia, Associate, Hugo Law Group
Elleni has a deep understanding of criminal law and procedure, advocacy, and strategy through exposure to a wide range of criminal matters. She has practised exclusively as a criminal defence lawyer throughout her legal career, working on numerous high-profile and complex matters, including murder and sexual assault. She regularly appears in all jurisdictions across NSW in applications, hearings, sentences, trials, and appeals, and also has interstate experience in Queensland. Achieving the best outcome for clients is Elleni’s paramount concern. As a passionate and persuasive advocate, she relishes scrutinising and challenging the merits of the prosecution’s brief of evidence. In complex matters, she works effectively alongside barristers to achieve successful outcomes. Elleni will guide clients through what can be a daunting legal process with expertise, empathy, and an unwavering dedication to defending their rights. This year, her success as a criminal defence lawyer was recognised with a nomination as a Finalist in the Lawyers Weekly 30 Under 30 Awards in Criminal Law.