Presenters

Andrew Allan, Partner, HWL Ebsworth Lawyers
Andrew is a Partner in HWLE Lawyers Canberra office. Andrew is an expert dispute resolution lawyer and works primarily in the context of common law-based insurance schemes and administrative benefit and review schemes. Andrew was recognised as ‘Lawyer of the Year’ for Alternative Dispute Resolution in Canberra in the 2022 edition of Best LawyersTM Australia. He was recognised as ‘Lawyer of the Year’ for Insurance work in Canberra in the 2021 edition. He has also been recognised in the same publication for Government Practice (2017 – 2025), Insurance (2019 – 2025) and Dispute Resolution (2020 - 2025). Andrew’s clients include the Commonwealth Government, the ACT Government, and private insurers (including medical indemnity insurers). Andrew is also an experienced immigration lawyer and assists business sponsors and individuals to obtain Australian visas.

Dr. Ashley Tsacalos, Partner, Clayton Utz
Ashley is a dispute resolution lawyer based in Sydney and a leading adviser to government. He is also a leading authority on the government's "model litigant obligations". Ashley has experience in all forms of dispute resolution, including litigation in various courts and tribunals, as well as mediation and conciliation. He is engaged by both the public and private sector due to his extensive experience in managing complex and often sensitive disputes. He has particular expertise in relation to contractual disputes, intellectual property disputes, negligence claims and other tortious claims as well as applications for merits-based review and judicial review. He regularly provides advice in relation to procurement and tendering issues, governance and probity issues generally as well as risk allocation and insurance. Ashley has acted for a range of individuals and organisations in Royal Commissions, Commissions of Inquiry, Judicial Inquiries and coronial inquiries. Ashley's expertise in administrative law and insurance law provides him with a unique perspective in terms of dispute resolution generally. Ashley established and continues to teach a government law course and an insurance law course at the University of Wollongong where he has also been appointed an Honorary Professorial Fellow.