Wills and estates practice continues to grow in complexity, bringing new risks, disputes and challenges for practitioners. Designed specifically for wills and estates lawyers, this conference brings together leading barristers, accredited specialists and senior practitioners to examine the issues that matter in practice and provide practical strategies you can put to work immediately. Stay across recent cases, complex executor issues, incapacity and inheritance disputes, taxation reforms, ethics and emerging practice risks. Gain practical insights from some of the profession’s leading practitioners, sharpen your approach to complex matters and complete your CPD requirements in one focused day. 

Presenters

Dr. Daniel Morgan, Barrister, Chancery Barristers + Mediators
Dan Morgan was admitted as a barrister in 1998 and practises almost exclusively in succession and trusts. He also has a Ph.D. in constitutional law from The University of Queensland, with a particular focus on parliamentary law. Dan is the author of articles published in the Australian Law Journal, Australian Institute of Administrative Law Forum, LexisNexis Estate Planning News and is presently the editor of the probate commentary in Queensland Civil Practice. Dan is also currently the chairman of the Newstead House Trust. Previously he has held appointments as a research scholar at the Centre for Public, International and Comparative Law at The University of Queensland, as a Director of the Brisbane Powerhouse, and as Chairman of the Arts Law Centre of Queensland.

Dr. Katrina Kluss, Barrister, More Chambers
Katrina practices predominantly in the areas of estate and trust litigation, insurance and administrative law. She was recognised in the 2019 Doyle’s Guide as recommended junior counsel in the area of estate litigation. Katrina regularly appears in contested applications, trials, mediations and conferences. She is a member of the Society for Trust and Estate Practitioners, the Australian Insurance Lawyers Association and the Australian Society of Legal Philosophy. Katrina also provides pro bono services to Law Right and the Animal Law Institute. Katrina holds degrees in Law (Hons) and Psychological Science, and a PhD in Law. She is presently completing a Master of Applied Law (Wills and Estates) at the College of Law.

Katie Worsnop, Principal, McInnesWilson
Katie specialises in all aspects of estate and trust litigation and estate administration. She has acted for executors, administrators, trustees and beneficiaries. She has a particular interest in advising clients about complex will, family provision and power of attorney disputes. She has dealt with trust litigation involving disputes between trustees, applications for directions and the removal or appointment of trustees. Katie has a practical, commercial and pragmatic approach when dealing with matters. She is committed to achieving the best possible outcome for her clients in what can be difficult circumstances.

Hayley Mitchell, Partner, McCullough Robertson
Hayley Mitchell is a Wills and estates specialist lawyer in Brisbane. Hayley has dual accreditation in succession law (Queensland) and self managed superannuation funds (through the SMSF Association). Hayley can provide advice and assistance to clients in a range of matters including estate planning, Wills, enduring powers of attorney and superannuation binding death benefit nominations, advice to executors and beneficiaries of estates and SMSF disputes and superannuation death benefit disputes.

Bryan Mitchell, Principal, Mitchell Solicitors
Bryan Mitchell TEP FTI is the managing director of Mitchells Solicitors. He is an Accredited Specialist in Succession Law. Bryan & his firm are recognised leaders in Estate Planning and Estate Litigation in Australia. His practice works almost exclusively in the areas of Wills, Estates, Trusts & Elder Law. Bryan is a regular presenter. He is the recipient of the Society of Trust & Estate Practitioners Australia Masters Award 2023; immediate past Chair of STEP Australia; former Chair of STEP Queensland; Deputy Chair for the Queensland Law Society Succession Law Policy Committee; Deputy Chair of the QLS Succession Law Specialist Accreditation Advisory Committee and member of University of Queensland Law School Advisory Board.

Dr Adrian McCullagh, Principal, ODMOB Lawyers
Adrian has degrees in Computer Science and Law as well as a Ph.D. in IT Security. He obtained his Ph.D. from the Information Security Research Centre at the Queensland University of Technology. He has been practicing in IT law for more than 30 years being one of the pioneer IT lawyers within Australia. He is a member of the Queensland Law Society and a member of the American Bar Association and participate in the Information Security Forum. In 1999 he was the QUT Faculty of Information Technology Alumnus of the year. Even though in private practice he continues to undertake research matters with academics at the Griffith University and the University of Queensland and has published in a wide variety of academic journals in the USA, UK and Australia. He is a member of the Intellectual Property and Information Technology Committee for the Queensland Law Society. Adrian’s current research interests include Telecoms security, IT security, IT governance, cryptocurrencies, Blockchain and its uses in supply chain management, Decentralised Autonomous Organisations and Identity Management. He is also investigating the impact of autonomous vehicles and machine learning and their policy considerations.

Prue Poole, Director, Cornford-Scott Lawyers
Prue Poole was admitted as a solicitor in 2002 and qualified as the highest achiever in Specialist Accreditation in Succession Law in 2011. Prue is currently a Director of Cornford-Scott Lawyers after being a partner at McInnes Wilson Lawyers for over five years. As an accredited specialist, Prue has experience in all areas of succession law with particular expertise in Estate Administration and Estate Litigation. Prue advises executors, beneficiaries, trustee companies and other law firms on succession matters and is often appointed by the Supreme Court of Queensland as the independent administrator of deceased estates. Prue has consistently been recognised for her expertise in Best Lawyers Australia and Doyle’s Guide.


Tracey Norris, Partner, Pitcher Partners
Tracey brings over 25 years of experience in public practice, working closely with family groups and SMEs to navigate the complexities of taxation and superannuation. Her approach is grounded in delivering practical, commercially sound outcomes that align with clients’ life and business goals. Tracey’s expertise spans SMSF compliance and audits, asset restructures involving superannuation—whether due to life events, business sales, or acquisitions—retirement planning, estate administration, family law superannuation splits, and investment strategies using compliant superannuation structures. Tracey also provides expert reports for legal counsel in court proceedings. As a licensed adviser under the Pitcher Partners Australian Financial Services Licence, Tracey combines technical precision with strategic insight. Her contributions to the profession have been recognised with finalist nominations for SMSF Adviser of the Year at the Women in Finance Awards in both 2021 and 2022. Qualifications & Memberships: Bachelor of Commerce (JCU), Advanced Diploma of Financial Services (Superannuation), Fellow of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CAANZ), CAANZ SMSF Specialist.

Jody Pezet, Barrister, George Street Chambers
Jody specialises in wills and probate, succession, equity, and trusts law. She regularly advises on a broad range of matters, including family provision claims, contested probate proceedings, lost and informal will applications, and the interpretation, administration, and rectification of testamentary documents. Her expertise also extends to forfeiture applications, claims of breach of duty against personal representatives, attorneys, and trustees, applications by personal representatives and trustees for judicial advice and directions, the removal of personal representatives, protective litigation involving adults who lack capacity, and applications to recover possession of real property. Jody frequently appears in the Supreme Court, District Court, and QCAT, as well as in mediations involving succession law matters. She is a member of Chancery Barristers + Mediators and is a past deputy chair and secretary of the Queensland Branch of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners.

Penelope Nicholls, Partner, Hamilton Locke
Penelope is a Partner in the Hamilton Locke Private team. She is a trusted advisor to individuals, families and professionals and has been advising on all aspects of estate planning, estate administration and estate litigation for more than 12 years. Penelope brings a strategic and empathetic approach to complex personal matters, offering clear, practical and commercial solutions. She works closely with clients to structure their affairs, protect assets and navigate often sensitive issues that arise in the lead up to, or following, a person’s death. Penelope is a full member (TEP) of STEP (Society of Trust & Estate Practitioners), a worldwide organisation for lawyers and accountants in the wills and estates industry.

Shelley Forrest, Partner- Head of Wills and Estates, Cronin Miller Litigation
Shelley Forrest is a Partner and Head of Wills and Estates at Cronin Miller Litigation.  Her practice focuses on succession planning, complex estate administration and estate litigation, with particular experience in contested estate matters.  As practice leader, Shelley guides clients through complex succession planning and estate structuring matters, combining a detailed understanding of the law with a practical, commercially minded approach. She advises corporate and private clients in both Queensland and New South Wales and regularly represents clients in estate disputes involving cross-border issues.