Are you grappling with the significant October 2025 SOPA reforms and the growing risks surrounding unfair contract terms and time bar clauses? Then this is for you. Led by leading barristers, this commercially focused session will equip you with actionable drafting strategies, strengthen your dispute preparedness and help you confidently navigate risk in a rapidly shifting legal environment.  

Presenters

The Hon Michael Whitten KC, Arbitrator, Mediator, Owen Dixon Chambers West
The Hon Michael Whitten KC practises in civil and commercial litigation. He is the former Lord Chief Justice of Tonga. For more than 30 years, he has appeared in courts, tribunals and arbitrations throughout Australia and overseas. Between September 2019 and August 2023, Michael served in country as the Lord Chief Justice of the Kingdom of Tonga and President of the Tongan Court of Appeal. During that term, he heard and determined over 1,300 cases across all areas of law with over 300 judgments published and/or cited on PACLII.  In 2024, Michael was appointed an Acting Judge of the Supreme Court of Samoa. Prior to moving to Tonga, Michael specialised in all aspects of building and construction disputes including associated insurance actions. He is a co-editor of the 4th, 5th and 6th editions of ‘Brooking on Building Contracts’. Alternate dispute resolution remains an important part of Michael's practice.


Natalie Blok, Barrister, Ah Ket Chambers
Natalie is a Melbourne-based barrister with a diverse practice in public law, environment, planning, and employment law. Her clients include government agencies, water authorities, ministers, councils, developers, individuals, and objectors. With experience in judicial and merits review, regulatory matters, inquests, and investigations, Natalie is a skilled advocate who regularly appears both led and unled in courts, tribunals, planning panels, and boards of inquiries in Victoria. Water law, environmental law, and waste regulation are key areas of focus for Natalie, who is particularly passionate about the intersections of regulation, policy, and sustainability. She welcomes briefs that explore these critical issues. Natalie is also an accredited mediator (AMDRAS), having completed the Victorian Bar’s Lawyer’s Mediation Certificate in 2025. Natalie holds a Master of Public and International Law from the University of Melbourne.


Nicholas Andreou, Barrister, Aickin Chambers
Nicholas practises primarily in commercial, construction, corporations and defamation law. Nicholas has appeared in many of the leading judgments in Victoria which consider the Building and Construction Industry Security of Payment Act 2002. Nicholas regularly appears in VCAT and the County Court representing builders, subcontractors, developers and owners alike. Nicholas enjoys particularly technically complex disputes involving structural and geotechnical engineering issues. Nicholas has appeared in the Court of Appeal on matters concerning the Domestic Building Contracts Act 1995.