Wednesday, 11 March 2026
Description
Attend and earn 1 CPD unit in Professional Skills
This program is applicable to practitioners from all States & Territories
* This interactive online recording includes questions and quizzes requiring critical thinking about the topics, so you have no annual limits to the number of points/hours you can claim with this format of learning. Please verify with your CPD rules
Chair
Cathy Dowsett SC, Young’s List
Professional Skills
Clause and Effect: Interpretation Beyond the Statute Book
Unpack the core principles of statutory interpretation and how these principles translate into practical strategies for interpreting contracts and commercial documents.
Through an exploration of established interpretative frameworks and recent judicial developments, you will gain actionable insights into resolving ambiguity and how to navigate complex contractual provisions with confidence and precision.
Presented by James Smart, Partner, Maddocks, and Amy Kelly, Special Counsel, Maddocks
Presenters
Cathy Dowsett SC, Young’s List
Cathy Dowsett SC practices in employment, discrimination, administrative law and regulatory proceedings. She has an appellate and trial practice. Cathy is regularly briefed in employment, equal opportunity and discrimination matters, primarily by employers, in matters arising in both the Federal and State jurisdictions. Her administrative law practice encompasses judicial review and merits review proceedings in relation to commonwealth workers compensation, veterans’ entitlements, the National Disability Insurance Scheme. Cathy also has Royal Commission and Board of Inquiry experience.
James Smart, Partner, Maddocks
James heads up the Victorian State Government sector at Maddocks and acts for a wide range of Victorian government departments and agencies. He has over 28 years experience advising the government sector and has drafted a large number of significant government contracts. James advises on statutory interpretation, governance, regulatory and compliance issues on a daily basis and assists a number of Victorian regulators to carry out their statutory functions. He also has specific expertise in the commercial and governance issues associated with the establishment of new government entities.
Amy Kelly, Special Counsel, Maddocks
Amy completed her articles of clerkship with Maddocks in 2006 and has recently returned to Maddocks following a period spent in house, most recently in the role of General Counsel at the Emergency Services Telecommunications Authority (ESTA). In her time at ESTA, Amy was responsible for providing legal advice in respect of a range of issues, including general contract and commercial advice, complaints and FOI, privacy and records management, governance, policy and government engagement, and litigation. Amy was also responsible for the Board Secretary function and in the management of matters relating to Office of the Chief Executive. In that capacity, Amy has extensive experience working with internal and external stakeholders including senior executives and Board members and understands the importance of providing clear, frank and fearless advice to her clients. During her time at Maddocks, Amy has worked with a variety of clients including local government, state government departments, statutory bodies, individuals, private business and large corporate entities.
