One missed warning sign in a complex conveyancing transaction can expose you to disputes, failed settlements, client claims, disciplinary scrutiny and serious practice risk. With tighter digital processes, caveat traps, off-the-plan and strata complications, contract termination issues and the expanding AML/CTF regime, conveyancers and property lawyers can no longer afford to rely on “business as usual”. This practical, risk-focused program will show you where transactions are most likely to go wrong, how to protect your clients and your practice and what you need to do now to keep matters moving safely, compliantly and commercially. Attend to leave with the strategies, drafting insights and practice safeguards you need to manage complex conveyancing work with confidence and avoid being caught out when the next difficult matter lands on your desk.

Presenters

Allison Benson, Principal- Strata and Community Title Lawyer, Benson Legal
Allison is a strata & community titles lawyer who has provided general advice, acted in disputes, including building defect disputes, and worked with clients in preparing and enforcing by-laws and strata management statements since 2008. Allison acts on behalf of owners corporations, associations and lot owners in respect of providing advice and acting in strata and community association disputes of all types. She is a Fellow of the Australian College of Strata Lawyers and has a blog Thoughts From a Strata Lawyer at www.allisonbensonau.com

Elly Ashley, Partner, Holding Redlich
Elly specialises in property development including advising in relation to strata and community schemes, preparing and developing appropriate governance title and subdivision structures and drafting master off-the-plan sales contracts and coordinating the sales process. Elly’s expertise includes acting for a number of major property developers to assist with residential and mixed-use development projects by advising in relation to the establishment of a strata scheme or community scheme, conversion and termination of strata schemes, compliance with the strata scheme and community scheme laws, drafting and negotiating section 88B instruments, by-laws and management statements for both strata and community schemes, site due diligence and acquisitions including acquisitions of crown land and rural land.


Sian Jones, Partner, Colin Biggers & Paisley
Sian has over 20 years’ experience in commercial litigation, focusing primarily on property litigation and advisory since joining Colin Biggers and Paisley in 2017. As an experienced litigator, Sian has been involved in numerous disputes concerning breaches of contract including option agreements, development management agreements, property class actions, negligence, Australian Consumer Law claims, shareholder and partnership disputes. Sian enjoys working closely with a diverse range of clients from property developers to landowners, option holders, faith-based organisations and community housing providers. Sian has been a committee member of the Urban Development Institute of Australia Seniors Living and Alternative Housing since 2021. Sian holds a Master of Law and Legal Practice from the University of Technology Sydney. Sian was admitted to practice in the Supreme Court of New South Wales in April 2006, the Federal Court and High Court of Australia.


Vikram N Misra, Barrister, Clarence Chambers
Vikram Misra was admitted as a solicitor in 2012 and called to the NSW Bar in 2015. He maintains a broad commercial practice and is regularly briefed in matters relating to property law and construction law. Vikram has completed a Graduate Diploma in Taxation Law at the University of Sydney in 2015 and a Master of Laws majoring in construction law and contract law at the University of Melbourne in 2016. Vikram is the author of “Security of Payment in the NSW Building & Construction Industry (7th Ed)” (Thomson Reuters). He is also the sole contributing author to “Jacobs, Commercial Damages” (Thomson Reuters) and “Jacobs, McCarthy & Neggo, Injunctions: Law and Practice” (Thomson Reuters). Vikram is also a contributing author to Commercial Arbitration Law and Practice (Thomson Reuters) in the following sections: Domestic Arbitration, International Arbitration, Security of Payment (NSW) and Security of Payment (SA). Vikram is currently a casual academic at Western Sydney University in the subject "Building Law".


Dominic Maley, Partner, Maclarens Lawyers
Dominic Maley was made a partner of Maclarens Lawyers in 2015. He is a Casual Academic at WSU, where since 2017 he has been the sole lecturer in Professional Practice and Building Law, and more recently he has taken up positions at the university teaching Building Law (under grad), Construction Law (post grad) (Course Coordinator), and the Expert Evidence modules of Construction Claims. He is also a Casual Academic at UTS, where he is the Course Coordinator in the following subjects: Property Transactions, Contractual Documentation, and Construction Law. Dominic has built up a large practice in option contracts, conveyancing, easements, retail and commercial leasing, and property law related litigation.


Katherine Shamai, Partner, Grant Thornton
Katherine is a governance, compliance, internal audit and risk management expert with over 17 years' experience supporting federal, state and local government agencies, not-for-profits, ASX-listed and private companies. She specialises in governance reviews, risk assessments, internal control reviews, and drafting policies and procedures. Her expertise spans Board maturity assessments, governance structures, succession planning, internal audit programs, compliance reviews against legislation and agreements, enterprise and project risk assessments, and anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing (AML/CTF) services from advisory to independent reviews. Katherine has led AML/CTF risk assessments for government agencies, designed compliance programs for the National Disability Insurance Agency, developed internal audit programs for public and not-for-profit entities, and conducted Board governance reviews for major national organisations. She’s also managed reviews of third-party suppliers for multinationals and led analyses of legislative misapplications at public sector agencies. Katherine’s blend of industry and professional services experience ensures her recommendations are both pragmatic and effective.


Judy Bliss, Director, Bliss Conveyancing and Current NSW State Representative in the Pexa Advisory Board
Judy Bliss is a Licensed Conveyancer and the Principal of Bliss Conveyancing, helping people across New South Wales buy and sell property with confidence. She has more than twenty years in conveyancing, and more than four decades across the law and the courts before that, including as a Clerk of the Local Court, a Coroner, and a Registrar who mediated disputes between parties. That background means Judy is calm under pressure, careful with the detail, and straight with her advice, which is exactly what you want when a lot is at stake. She also represents NSW on the PEXA Advisory Council and was elected to the Board of the Australian Institute of Conveyancers NSW Division in 2025, so she is helping shape the profession, not simply working in it. She presents regularly for Legalwise Seminars.


Julia Yassa, Principal Solicitor, Yassa Legal
Julia is a property lawyer with over 11 years’ post admission experience. She has developed expertise in the areas of commercial and retail leasing, licence agreements, easement drafting and property acquisitions/disposals. Julia’s clients benefit from her ability to negotiate complex property transactions while maintaining a commercial approach in line with her clients’ risk appetites. Always easy to work with, Julia cuts through complexity and focuses on positive outcomes. Clients Julia has acted for include state owned corporations such as Sydney Water Corporation, Endeavour Energy, local government authorities, private clients and property developers.


Derek Hand, Partner, Robinson Solicitors
Derek Hand is a partner at Robinson Solicitors, a boutique firm in Sydney specialising in construction, infrastructure, projects and property law. Prior to joining the firm he practised for 21 years at the NSW Bar, working mainly on construction and infrastructure disputes, an area in which he was consistently recognised in the Doyles Guide and Best Lawyers Australia as a leader in NSW and across Australia.