Presenters

Ben Kelly, Barrister, List A Barristers
Ben practises in all areas of commercial and public law. In commercial law, he has particular experience in real property, equity and trusts, and corporations law. Ben is also building his practice in construction, insurance, and class actions. In public law, Ben has a focus on administrative law and native title. Ben was a solicitor for seven years, at Clayton Utz and then at the Northern Land Council. At Clayton Utz, Ben practised broadly in commercial litigation and public law. At the Northern Land Council, he acted in native title litigation in the Federal Court of Australia and negotiated mining agreements and commercial leases. Ben was an associate to Justice Claire Harris of the Supreme Court of Victoria and Justice Darryl Rangiah of the Federal Court of Australia. Ben also lectures in the Corporations Law and Torts subjects at the University of Melbourne. Ben holds a Master of Law (with First Class Honours) from the University of Cambridge. He attended Cambridge on a 3VB Chambers Scholarship. Ben also holds a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Laws (with First Class Honours) from the Australian National University. Ben is reading with Timothy Goodwin and his senior mentor is Gabi Crafti SC.


Louise Conwell, Partner, Stary Norton Halphen
Louise Conwell is a Partner and Direction at Stary Norton Halphen and an experienced criminal defence lawyer. As a Law Institute of Victoria Accredited Specialist in Criminal Law, Louise has built a reputation for expertly handling complex and serious criminal matters — with particular expertise in homicide cases involving the intersection of mental health and criminal law. She also acts in a wide range of serious matters, including sexual offences, violent crime, and drug-related charges. Louise appears regularly in the Magistrates’, County and Supreme Courts of Victoria, representing clients at every stage of proceedings, including bail applications, committals, pleas and contested hearings. She also has significant experience in family violence matters and intervention orders. Louise’s career has been shaped by a passion for justice and a strong belief in the presumption of innocence and the right to a fair trial. Her background includes working as an associate to a Judge of the County Court of Victoria and volunteering at various community legal centres. Her practice seamlessly integrates both solicitor work and contested advocacy, reflecting her ability to manage high-stakes cases with skill and composure. Louise is also a regular speaker at legal conferences and professional development events, and is especially recognised for her expertise in defending children and young people charged with serious offences.