When economic conditions tighten, contract disputes rise—and the margin for error in termination and enforcement decisions narrows significantly. This practical, litigation‑focused program equips commercial and disputes lawyers with the skills to protect clients when contracts unravel, projects stall, or cross‑border arrangements break down, covering termination for breach, delay and repudiation, robust dispute resolution mechanisms, and the implications of the role of good faith in commercial contracts. You will gain clear, defensible strategies to avoid costly termination mistakes, respond decisively to delay and anticipatory breach, strengthen arbitration and enforcement pathways in cross‑border contracts, and advise with confidence in an increasingly hard‑fought commercial disputes landscape.  

Presenters

Anthony Lo Surdo SC, 8 Wentworth Chambers
Anthony is a commercial silk specialising in banking, building and construction, contract, corporations, insolvency, professional negligence, property and sports law. He is an internationally accredited mediator (IMI) and accredited as a Leading Mediator (AMDRAS) and an Advanced Mediator (Resolution Institute). He has been ranked by Doyles Guide in 2018-2025 as a leading mediator. Anthony is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and registered in the Australian Register of Practicing Arbitrators as a Grade 1 Arbitrator. He is also accredited as an arbitrator in Dubai and PNG and registered by the National Court of Justice of PNG as an international and domestic arbitrator. He was ranked by Doyles Guide in 2019-2025 as one of the country’s leading arbitration Silks. He is a panel member of many of the world’s leading international arbitral institutions and is regularly appointed as an arbitrator both domestically and internationally. Anthony has sat as both a sole and panel arbitrator including as Chair in over 100 domestic and international arbitrations involving complex commercial, disciplinary and governance disputes. Anthony is a leading, internationally recognised, sports law Silk and regularly sits as an arbitrator on international and domestic sport tribunals including the Court of Arbitration for Sport, the Football Australia Appeal Panel and Disciplinary and Ethics Committee and the National Sports Tribunal. He was recognised in the Lexology Index, Australia & New Zealand, 2025 in the category, “Sports & Entertainment” and by the Lexology Global Index, 2025 in the category of “Sports.” Anthony is a part-time Senior Member of NCAT sitting on its Appeal Panel and in the Occupational Division.

Angus Macinnis, Director of Dispute Resolution, StevensVuaran Lawyers
Angus Macinnis is Director of Dispute Resolution at StevensVuaran Lawyers, a boutique commercial law firm in Sydney. Alongside his commercial dispute resolution practice, he has taught international sale of goods law at the University of Technology, Sydney, The University of Notre Dame Australia, and presently in the Thomas More Law School at the Australian Catholic University, where he holds the role of Legal Professional Mentor. He has also been invited to present lectures on the CISG for the international law practice course conducted by the International Law Section of the Law Council of Australia and is a former co-chair of the Section’s International Trade and Business Law Committee.

Annabelle Ballard, Barrister, Svenson Barristers
Annabelle Ballard accepts briefs to appear (led and unled) and advise on a broad range of civil matters. She predominantly practices commercial law, administrative law, and regulatory matters, and has a particular interest in matters with a financial dimension. Since coming to the Bar, she has been briefed to appear in the Supreme Court of Victoria (Costs Court), Federal Court of Australia, Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia, VCAT, ART (formerly the AAT), and various Magistrates’ Courts. She is available to appear in both metropolitan and regional courts. Annabelle’s commercial practice is primarily focused on contract law, residential tenancy matters, commercial leasing, corporate regulatory matters, and legal costs. She also regularly appears unled in commercial matters in the Magistrates’ Court of Victoria and VCAT. A distinguishing feature of Annabelle’s commercial practice is her experience appearing in the Supreme Court of Victoria (Costs Court), in cost matters in the Federal Court, and in the VCAT Legal Practice List. Annabelle offers clients considered, timely and practical advice. She prides herself on clear communication and responsiveness. She is passionate about achieving positive outcomes for clients in a timely and cost-effective manner.

Christopher Freeman, Barrister, Culwulla Chambers
Christopher Freeman has an equity and commercial dispute practice and has appeared in the Federal Court of Australia and the Equity Division of the Supreme Court of New South Wales for over 25 years. He has also appeared as an advocate in numerous international arbitrations at SIAC, HKIAC and CIETAC. He has given expert evidence on Australian contract law in Courts in Singapore, Thailand and Japan.