Monday, 2 March 2026
Chair
John Harris, Founding Partner, O’Connor Harris & Co
Description
Attend and earn 1 CPD unit in Professional Skills
This program is applicable to practitioners from all States & Territories
Professional Skills
Effective Contract Negotiation
Nick Topfer specialises in developing and negotiating ICT contracts. Over many years of practice, Nick has supported Government entities to negotiate contracts from the very small to the very large (including whole-of-Government arrangements and multi-billion dollar contracts for telecommunications and ICT services). This includes negotiating with the more difficult global ICT vendors. This session will cover:
- Preparation and negotiation strategy
- Managing legal vs commercial issues
- Implementation and other relevant issues (e.g. ethics in negotiations)
Presented by Nick Topfer, Special Counsel, Public Sector Team, Maddocks
Presenters
John Harris, Founding Partner, O’Connor Harris & CoJohn Harris is a founding director of O’Connor Harris and Co Solicitors and has been a practicing solicitor for over 40 years in Canberra. John studied at the Australian National University, graduating in 1976. The majority of his time is spent working in Commercial law, Property law, Family law and Building and Construction law, however he is not limited to these areas. He enjoys the wide variety of work that O’Connor Harris allows him to undertake, and the constant challenges. John actively participates in a wide range of hobbies and interests, including rowing, skiing, fishing, reading, cooking and spending time with his thirteen grand-children, as well as being a father to six children. He is also a keen motorist with a particular interest in British sports cars. He is a member of the ACT Rowing Association, the Triumph Motor Club and the Master Builders Association. When John has spare time, he enjoys weekends in the mountains tending to his gardens and woodworks.
Nick Topfer, Special Counsel, Maddocks
Nick advises government agencies on complex ICT procurements and disputes. He has drafted bespoke contracts and contracts based on SourceIT, ProcureIT and ASDEFCON templates. He has also advised on RFT documentation and procurement strategy, compliance with law and policy and evaluation and negotiation processes. Nick has experience drafting and advising on performance based contracts, design and review processes and agile development processes. Having previously worked in the Commonwealth Government (in the Attorney General’s portfolio) and on secondment with the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources, Nick is well positioned to help government clients achieve appropriate resolution of issues in line with policy and Commonwealth objectives. Given his breadth of experience advising on IT procurement and negotiating with major vendors, Nick will be able to provide efficient and proactive legal services.
