Presenters

Marlia Saunders, Partner, Thomson Geer
Marlia is an experienced media/entertainment, intellectual property and privacy lawyer who has extensive top-tier law firm expertise and a unique client perspective after working as a senior in-house lawyer for many years. She is a Partner in the Media team at national firm Thomson Geer, where she acts for and advises most of Australia’s major media organisations, social media and streaming platforms, large corporates and government bodies. Marlia specialises in defamation, contempt of court, suppression orders, freedom of information and court access applications, confidential information claims, prepublication advice, copyright, consumer law and privacy matters. She has acted in a large number of high profile media and intellectual property disputes; advised on sponsorship, production and licensing deals; and given prepublication advice in relation to newspaper and online articles, television programs, podcasts and marketing/advertising materials. Marlia is on the Executive Committee of the Communications and Media Law Association and the Copyright Society of Australia, and is the National Chair of the Media & Communications Committee of the Business Law Section of the Law Council of Australia.


Raymond Sun, Senior Associate, Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer
Raymond is a technology lawyer and programmer. He specialises in emerging technologies where he combines his strong technical IT skills with legal knowledge to deliver excellent client experience, especially on technically-complex matters. As an AI developer himself, Raymond is one of the firm’s resident experts on artificial intelligence. Raymond specialises in technology, emerging technology (A.I. and Digital Assets), privacy law and intellectual property. As a skilled developer, Raymond regularly assists on matters which require deep understanding of technical systems and processes. With experience in building artificial intelligence and web3 applications, Raymond advises clients on legal and ethical issues in relation to projects involving artificial intelligence, blockchain (including cryptocurrencies, NFTs and DAOs) and data. Raymond also regularly works with a wide range of clients (both small and large) on digital transformation projects, IT & telecommunication contracts, software licences, privacy and online safety regulation, gambling regulations and export controls.

Rebecca Dunn, Partner, Gilbert + Tobin
Rebecca is a partner in Gilbert + Tobin’s Tech & IP group and an experienced litigator in intellectual property and media law. She specialises in copyright, defamation, trade mark litigation, and Australian Consumer Law, with particular expertise in the online space. Her enforcement work spans national and international clients in the film and music industries, and she has litigated in the Supreme and Federal Courts, including at the High Court of Australia. Rebecca serves as President of the Communications and Media Law Alliance and is a member of several professional societies. She holds a Bachelor of Law (First Class Honours) from the University of Sydney, a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Newcastle, and a Master of Research focused on social media law and democracy.


Kevin Lynch, Partner, Johnson Winter & Slattery
Kevin has over twenty years’ experience in advising media and technology companies in relation to defamation, contempt, privacy, legislative restrictions, broadcast regulation, copyright, contractual matters and trade practices. With the JWS team Kevin provides dedicated defamation and pre-publication advice to prominent online, radio and television clients, including multinational media distributors and publishers. The 2020 edition of the Asia Pacific Legal 500 lists Kevin listed as a leading individual in media and entertainment where he is described as “a valued adviser, bringing exceptional experience, grounded assessment of claims and commercially-based advice across a range of specialised areas”. Chambers and Partners ranks Kevin as a notable practitioner – “an experienced and extremely capable lawyer who takes a very commercial approach to his matters”.


Robert Todd, Senior Consultant, Ashurst Perkins Coie
Robert Todd is one of Australia’s most respected media and communications lawyers, with more than three decades of experience advising major media organisations, broadcasters, publishers and corporations on complex disputes and regulatory issues. Based in Sydney, he is a Senior Consultant at Ashurst Perkins Coie, having previously served as a Partner at the firm for over 35 years. Recognised as a leading authority in media law, Robert has extensive expertise in defamation, media litigation, entertainment law, information technology law and reputation management. Throughout his career, he has acted for some of Australia’s most prominent news and media organisations, earning a reputation as a trusted adviser in high-profile and strategically significant matters. Robert is consistently recognised by the legal profession’s leading directories. He has been ranked by Chambers Asia-Pacific for Media Law for more than 16 years and is acknowledged in The Legal 500 as a leading practitioner in media and entertainment law. He has also been recognised in Best Lawyers in Australia for Defamation and Media Law, Entertainment Law and Information Technology Law. Known for his deep industry knowledge, strategic judgement and practical approach, Robert is a sought-after speaker on emerging issues affecting the media, technology and communications sectors. He regularly provides insights on developments in defamation, digital publishing, freedom of expression, reputation protection and the evolving legal challenges facing media organisations in Australia.


Gina McWilliams, Senior Legal Counsel, News Corp Australia
Gina McWilliams is a highly regarded media lawyer with more than two decades of experience advising on defamation, media regulation, press freedom, privacy, suppression orders and access to information. She is Senior Legal Counsel at News Corp Australia, where she provides strategic legal advice across some of Australia’s leading print and digital media brands and plays a key role in navigating complex and evolving media law issues. Since joining News Corp Australia in 2005, Gina has worked on a number of landmark media law matters, including significant defamation proceedings, suppression and access disputes, and press freedom cases. Her experience spans high-profile matters such as Kostov v Nationwide News Pty Ltd, Hogan v Australian Crime Commission and Smethurst v Australian Federal Police, as well as advising newsroom teams on day-to-day publication risks and emerging legal challenges. Gina holds a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Western Australia and a Master of Laws from the University of New South Wales. She is widely recognised for her expertise in media law reform, freedom of expression and journalist protections, and is a regular speaker on defamation, privacy and digital publishing issues. In 2021, she was part of the team awarded the June Andrews Walkley Award for Women’s Leadership in Media for the influential #LetHerSpeak/#LetThemSpeak campaign.