Presenters

Brian Healey, Partner, K&L Gates
Brian Healey is a partner in the firm's Real Estate practice. He has more than 20 years of experience dedicated to servicing clients in agribusiness and primary industries across Australia. Focusing on agricultural property, water rights and investment in agribusiness, he has advised on some of Australia's most prominent rural transactions in all Australian states in areas as diverse as cattle, cotton, dairy, wheat, horticulture, permanent row crops and vineyards amongst others. Clients benefit from his knowledge and timely services which, when coupled with practical industry knowledge, result in a commercial approach to closing transactions. He recognises that not all transactions are the same nor are the key drivers of the parties and that legal services and transaction support must be matched and delivered to his clients' needs. Brian is recognised as a Preeminent Agribusiness Lawyer and Leading Agribusiness Lawyer in Doyle's Guide 2016 to 2021 and was recognised by his peers as one of Australia’s leading Agriculture and Rural Affairs lawyers in the 2017 to 2022 editions of the Best Lawyers in Australia publication including recognition as Agribusiness Lawyer of the Year for Queensland in 2022.

Christiana McCudden, Partner, Gilbert + Tobin
Christiana is a Partner in Gilbert + Tobin's Disputes and Investigation group in Melbourne. Christiana advises and represents clients in a variety of commercial and corporate disputes with extensive experience acting in large complex State and Federal Court proceedings, involving multiple parties. Christiana has acted for clients in respect of a broad range of issues and legal matters including breach of directors duties, contract disputes, warranty claims, negligence and tortious actions, unconscionable conduct and misrepresentation cases plus regulatory or statutory investigations/applications. Separately to her work in private practice, Christiana worked for a period as the Deputy CEO of the Hope Vale Aboriginal Council in the Cape York region of Queensland and was also part of the Victorian Law Reform Commission team during 2006 to 2007 which worked on the Civil Justice Review pursuant to terms of reference from the Victorian Government.