Your case is won or lost on its evidence, and on how persuasively you present it. This advanced conference gives you a full day with leading silks, senior barristers and a senior litigation partner, who will guide you through practical strategies from first instructions through to final submissions. You'll tackle how to use your evidence wisely to strengthen everything from the statement of claim through to the pleadings, particulars and affidavits, how to get more out of expert witness joint conferences, structuring your evidence architecture and court books to assist your case plus managing complex evidence in major litigation. You'll also work through best practice for preparing witnesses for trial, a deep dive into preparing your cross-examination before the witness enters the box, and the use of written advocacy to persuade the court before you stand up. You'll leave with proven techniques you can apply to your very next matter.

Presenters

Vahan Bedrossian SC, Wardell Chambers
Vahan Bedrossian was called to the Bar in February 2000 and took silk in 2020. He holds a Bachelor of Economics (Hons) and a Bachelor of Laws (Hons) from the University of Sydney. His practice is primarily in the areas of commercial law, corporate law, equity, insolvency and property. Vahan is a member of Wardell Chambers. Since coming to the Bar, Vahan has been involved in a wide range of long and complex matters, including lengthy multi-party commercial disputes and appeal proceedings.


Hugh Stowe, Barrister, 5 Wentworth Chambers
Hugh has been at the Bar since 2000. He has a wide-ranging commercial and equity practice, appearing predominantly in the Supreme Court and Federal Court, doing trial and appellate work, both led and unled. Before coming to the Bar, Hugh practised as a solicitor at the firms now known as King & Wood Mallesons and Herbert Smith Freehills, and was associate to the Chief Justice of the Federal Court of Australia. Hugh has a Masters of Law from Cambridge, and has lectured in law at the University of Durham, UK and has published on expert evidence preparation and in various other fields. He is also a qualified mediator and has strong interest and experience in settlement theory and practice.

Richard Cheney SC, Greenway Chambers
Richard Cheney SC is a Senior Counsel specialising in construction and infrastructure law and professional negligence. He regularly represents clients in appellate work, medical negligence and common law matters. Richard also regularly acts as mediator. Richard brings a depth of practical knowledge to construction litigation, having previously practised as a site engineer on Sydney high rise projects. Richard was appointed Senior Counsel in 2011 and is a NSW Bar Association BarADR® approved arbitrator.


Michelle Painter SC, 9 Selborne Chambers
Ms Painter has appeared in every significant civil jurisdiction. She has appellate experience in the NSW Court of Appeal, the Full Court of the Family Court and the Full Court of the Federal Court of Australia. Her trial work is conducted primarily (but not exclusively) in the Supreme Court of New South Wales and the Federal Court of Australia. Ms Painter’s first instance trial work primarily involves commercial law across a range of subject areas including commercial, corporations, equity, trusts and family provision. She is known for her attention to detail, her preparation, her ability to quickly master complex and voluminous brief, and her ability to think laterally and find solutions.

Anthony Cheshire SC, 8 Wentworth Chambers
Anthony is a barrister and Head of Chambers at 8 Wentworth Chambers. He practises in a broad range of commercial and public law matters, with particular expertise in corporations, insolvency, equity, probate, charities, associations, inquiries, property, licensing, insurance and professional negligence. He was appointed Senior Counsel in 2015. Called to the English Bar in 1992, Anthony practised in London before relocating to Australia and joining the New South Wales Bar in 2004. He is regularly briefed in matters throughout Australia and has appeared in numerous significant Royal Commissions, inquiries and investigations, including the Royal Commission into Misconduct in the Banking, Superannuation and Financial Services Industry, the Royal Commission into Trade Union Governance and Corruption, the Royal Commission into National Natural Disaster Arrangements, and multiple ICAC inquiries. He also served as Counsel Assisting the inquiry into the Returned and Services League of Australia (NSW Branch) and related entities. Anthony acts as a mediator and arbitrator and is an experienced lecturer and legal educator. Since 2022, he has been recognised in Doyle's Guide as a Leading Wills & Estates Litigation Senior Counsel in New South Wales.


Andrew Bailey, Barrister, Third Floor Wentworth Chambers
Andrew was admitted as a solicitor in 2002 in Queensland and in 2003 in New South Wales, with his name included on the High Court roll in August 2002. He was subsequently admitted to practice in New South Wales in July 2003. Andrew practises primarily in commercial disputes and general equity matters with experience in bankruptcy/insolvency and construction litigation. Andrew also accepts instructions in wills and estates litigation – in contested probate and family provision proceedings. As an adjunct to his equity practice, Andrew takes instructions to appear and to advise in relation to legal costs disputes. In previous years, Andrew has lectured for the College of Law. He also writes on a variety of topics for the Law Society Journal and he frequently presents as part of CPD programmes for the Law Society, for Legalwise and at other privately arranged conferences. Andrew was a Costs Assessor appointed by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of New South Wales under the NSW Costs Assessment Scheme in 2022.


Alexander Vial, Barrister, 5 Wentworth Chambers
Alexander is a barrister at 5 Wentworth Chambers in Sydney, where he maintains a national practice in complex commercial and regulatory matters. He specialises in commercial and regulatory litigation, with particular expertise in competition and consumer law, trade practices, class actions, insolvency, intellectual property and employment law. He regularly advises on and appears in regulatory investigations, enforcement proceedings, Royal Commissions and inquiries. Alexander has been recognised by Legal 500 as a Leading Junior (Band 1) for Competition Law and for White Collar Crime and Regulatory Matters in 2026, and as a Leading Junior for Commercial Disputes. He is also recognised by Best Lawyers as "One to Watch in Australia" for Competition Law (2025 and 2026) and Commercial Law (2026). Before being called to the Bar, Alexander was a Senior Associate at Clayton Utz, specialising in competition, consumer and regulatory matters. Earlier in his career, he served as Associate to the Honourable Chief Justice Doyle AC and subsequently to the Honourable Chief Justice Kourakis of the Supreme Court of South Australia. He holds a Bachelor of Civil Law from the University of Oxford and a Bachelor of Laws (First Class Honours) from the University of Adelaide.


Jason Betts, Partner and Head of Class Actions, Asia and Australia, Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer
Jason is Partner and Head of Class Actions, Asia and Australia at Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer, jointly leading the firm's global class actions practice. Widely regarded as one of Australia's leading class action, regulatory investigation and product liability litigators, he has nearly 30 years' experience acting in some of the country's most significant shareholder, consumer and product liability disputes. Chambers Asia-Pacific 2026 ranks him Band 1 for Dispute Resolution, describing him as a leading class action defence lawyer with particular strength in shareholder class actions and regulatory investigations.A recognised leader in the field, Jason was named Lawyers Weekly Class Actions Partner of the Year in 2024, has been recognised in Best Lawyers Australia for Class Action Litigation, Product Liability Litigation, Bet-theer) Leading Commercial Litigation & Dispute Resolution Lawyers. Jason is a Visitor to the University of Sydney Law School, where he teaches postgraduate studies in class action litigation, and is co-author of Class Actions in Australia, one of the leading texts in the field. He holds a Master of Laws from the University of Virginia.


Talitha Fishburn, Barrister, Black Chambers and 4 Wentworth Chambers
Talitha was called to the Bar in 2012. Previously she was a solicitor at Allens Linklaters and Legal Counsel at Westpac. She has a broad practice with special interest in equity, trusts, property, civil litigation and family law. Talitha was educated at the University of Sydney (BA, LLB, LLM).