Presenters

Dr Karen Bird, Lawyer and Clinical Neuropsychologist, Karen Bird Legal
Dr Karen Bird is both a practising lawyer and a clinical neuropsychologist who has enjoyed a long career spanning both public health and private practice. She held senior roles in public health before transitioning to a hybrid career in legal practice and neuropsychology. She is currently deputy chair of the LIV Elder Law Committee (Law Institute Victoria). Dr Bird holds a Doctorate in Psychology (Neuro), along with degrees in Education, Arts (Hons), and Law. Her professional focus is on decision-making capacity issues, and she has extensive experience as an expert witness for various Courts and the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT). Her expertise includes evidence-based assessment of cognitive function and disorder, and the formal assessment of decision-making capacity for a wide range of legal issues across a wide range of contexts.


Paul Beasant, Principal Lawyer, KCL Law
Paul is a principal lawyer at KCL Law’s Estate Group, representing clients in complex litigated matters involving contested wills, estate disputes, and trust disputes. He has extensive experience advising families and individuals on all aspects of wills, estates, and trust-related matters. Paul has a particular expertise in matters involving capacity disputes, including disputes regarding the validity of wills, undue influence, and guardianship and administration matters, including applications to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal for the appointment or revocation of guardians, administrators, and attorneys. He regularly handles litigation on behalf of individuals with disabilities and provides advice on financial abuse and elder law issues, breaches of duties by attorneys, and VCAT and estate administration. Paul has been recognised in the Doyle's Estates & Litigation Guide as a leading wills and estates litigation lawyer in Victoria since 2021.


Lachlan McKenzie, Practice Leader, Moores
Lachlan McKenzie is a Practice Leader in the Private Clients Team at Moores and heads up the Estates Team. Lachlan’s expertise lies in resolving complex disputes relating to wills, trusts and estates and in assisting families to transition wealth to the next generation. In the 2025 Doyle’s Guide, Lachlan was identified by his peers as a ‘Preeminent’ lawyer in ‘Wills & Estates Litigation’ in Victoria and Australia. As an Accredited Specialist in Wills & Estates and a leader in his field, Lachlan knows the relevant law – but it’s his ability to ‘cut to the chase’ and to achieve successful outcomes that his clients appreciate the most.

Bree Ridgeway, Barrister, Jarndyce Chambers
Bree has a general commercial and common law practice, with a focus on Wills and Estates. Prior to coming to the Bar, Bree was Associate to His Honour Justice Moore. Bree assisted His Honour in complex estate disputes in the Trusts Equity and Probate List and a broad range of trials in the Common Law Division. Before her associateship, Bree was an Accredited Specialist in Wills & Estates at Moores. As a solicitor, Bree worked in contested estates, including constructive trust claims, executor removal applications, testators family maintenance proceedings and judicial advice applications. Bree has a Master of Bioethics with research focussing on decision making capacity and euthanasia and sits on the Human Research Ethics Committee at Walter + Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research. Bree was named Recommended Junior Counsel on the Doyle’s Guide to Leading Wills & Estates Litigation Barristers – Melbourne 2025.