Take your will-drafting skills to the next level with this advanced, hands-on workshop led by Greg Russo. Designed for experienced practitioners, the Advanced Will Drafting Workshop for All Lawyers will give you step-by-step guidance for navigating complex drafting challenges and building expertise in testamentary trusts. You’ll explore how to address international and digital assets, SMSFs, blended families, vulnerable beneficiaries, and unique gifting scenarios.
Through real-world examples, case studies and example clauses, you’ll gain practical tools and strategies to refine your drafting, avoid common pitfalls and approach even the most intricate instructions with confidence and precision.
Wednesday, 17 February 2027
Description
Attend and earn 4 CPD units including:
2 units in Substantive Law
2 units in Professional Skills
This program is applicable to practitioners from all States & Territories
9.00am to 1.15pm Advanced Will Drafting Workshop
Throughout the course of the workshop, Greg will guide you step-by-step through a logical approach to complex will drafting, providing bespoke and high level mentorship on all aspects of Will drafting, including
- Advanced strategies to refine and elevate your will drafting
- Identifying problem clauses and understanding how to improve them
While this Workship is focused on the practicalities of Will drafting, Greg’s treatment of the underlying legal principles and concepts is robust.
The material accompanying the Workshop includes a comprehensive paper, PowerPoint, and sample documents.
Topics covered will include:
- Solicitor retainers and instructions
- Testamentary capacity issues
- Undue influence
- Urgency
- Executor's duties and commissions
- Trustee powers and duties
- Family law issues – marriage, divorce, separation and Wills
- Blended family considerations
- Vulnerable beneficiaries and asset protection
- Unusual circumstances, instructions and clauses including gifts for pets, gifts of shares in companies, gifts of real property, succession of control of trusts and self-managed superannuation funds
- Digital assets: How to deal with them
- Overseas assets: How to deal with testators with overseas assets
- The interplay of superannuation and the Will
- Planning for litigation
- Your legal professional responsibilities
- File costing
Your Workshop Facilitator will be:
Greg Russo, Principal Solicitor, Greg Russo Law; Accredited Specialist in Wills and Estates; Chairperson of the LIV Specialist Accreditation Education Advisory Committee and LIV Wills & Estates Advisory Committee; recognised in Doyles Guide in Victoria as a Leading Wills Estates and Litigation Lawyer and a Leading Wills, Estates and Succession Planning Lawyer
Presenters
Greg Russo, Principal Solicitor, Greg Russo Law
Greg Russo has almost 30 years’ experience in succession planning, administration and litigation and is one of Victoria’s most experienced and respected succession law solicitors. Greg is an LIV Wills & Estates Accredited Specialist, a chairperson of the LIV Specialist Accreditation Education Advisory Committee, a board member of the Mount Eliza Community Bank, a member of STEP, and is recognised in Doyle’s Guide, in Victoria, as a Leading Wills and Estates Litigation Lawyer and a Leading Wills, Estates and Succession Planning Lawyer. With a background in pure mathematics, Greg not only understands the implications of planning decisions on future taxation, SMSF, trust and estate administration, he is also able to break down complex concepts and structures logically and explain options to clients in a way that empowers them to take positive action and ownership for their decisions. Greg teaches both mathematics and law, regularly presents CPD succession events to solicitors, accountants and other professionals in Victoria, Queensland, and online.
