Financial literacy is an essential skill for today’s in-house lawyers. This practical and engaging workshop unpacks the fundamentals of accounting and financial reporting, giving legal professionals the tools to understand how financial statements are prepared and how to interpret them with confidence. Through clear explanations and real-world examples, Carissa and Shannon will explore how different accounting methods affect reported results, how to identify red flags and gaps in information, and how financial data can inform sound legal and commercial decision-making.
Friday, 20 February 2026
Early Bird Discount ends 19 Dec 2025
Description
Attend and earn 2 CPD units in Professional Skills
This program is applicable to practitioners from all States & Territories
Professional Skills
9.00am to 11.00am Understanding Financial Statements for In-House Counsel
For in-house lawyers, financial literacy is no longer optional — it’s essential. Financial statements underpin almost every aspect of corporate decision-making, from assessing commercial risk and negotiating contracts to advising on director duties, solvency, and compliance. Yet many lawyers only scratch the surface of what these documents reveal.
Whilst financial statements may seem simple on first glance, there is far greater detail beyond the key pages we immediately turn to. In this interactive and practical workshop, Carissa and Shannon will demystify the numbers and explain how to interpret financial information with confidence. Using real-world examples, they’ll show how financial statements can both illuminate and obscure the true performance and position of a business — and how in-house counsel can use this understanding to provide sharper, more commercially attuned advice.
- What are the fundamental basics of accounting?
- What are “debits” and “credits”?
- How financial statements are prepared and the key documents behind them
- Interpreting profit & loss statements and balance sheets, and shortfalls in information you may encounter
- How selecting differing accounting methods will impact reported financial performance and position
Meet your presenters:
Carissa Lacey, Director, Forensic & Litigation, Vincents; Chartered Accountant and an accredited Business Valuation Specialist
Shannon Walker, Director, Forensic & Litigation, Vincents; Chartered Accountant and an accredited Business Valuation Specialist
Presenters
Carissa Lacey, Director, Forensic & Litigation, VincentsCarissa Lacey is a Director at Vincents. Carissa has over 13 years’ experience specialising in forensic accounting, business valuations, and financial analysis for economic loss assessments and class actions. Carissa is a Chartered Accountant and an accredited Business Valuation Specialist. Carrisa undertook training in Collaborative Practice in 2016. Carissa frequently delivers accounting and business valuation training to various law firms to bridge the gap between accounting expertise and its practical application in legal proceedings.
Shannon Walker, Director, Forensic & Litigation, Vincents
Shannon Walker is a Director at Vincents with over 13 years of accounting experience, the last 9 years of which have been specialising in business valuations and forensic accounting. Shannon is a Chartered Accountant and accredited Business Valuation Specialist with CAANZ. Shannon enjoys discussing all things accounting, and regularly presents training sessions both on the fundamentals of accounting and the business valuation process.
