Hear from senior members of the judiciary and criminal law experts. Walk away with real learning outcomes as you focus on practical aspects in the court process, understand both The Drug Court and running a matter in the Local Court from the perspective of judiciary members. Unpack the new bail and sexual assault laws, analyse sentencing decisions, mental health and its intersection with criminal offences. Refresh your approach to CPD core areas with these innovative topics.

Presenters

Ian Lloyd KC
Ian Lloyd KC was called to the NSW Bar in 1977. He took silk in 1989. He is also a member of the bar in Hong Kong, New York and England & Wales. Mr Lloyd is one of Australia's leading silks practising in crime. He specialises in fraud, corruption and environmental crime cases. Mr Lloyd was during the 1980s a Senior Crown Counsel with the Hong Government and in the early 1990s the Senior Crown Prosecutor for NSW. Mr Lloyd is also a former Justice of the Court of Appeal of the Fiji Islands and Conjoint Associate Professor with the University of Newcastle Law School. He has previously lectured in law at the University of Technology, the Chinese University of Hong Kong and the University of Notre Dame, Sydney.


Ms. Talitha Hennessy, Barrister, Sir Owen Dixon Chambers
Talitha is an experienced Criminal Lawyer having appeared for both the Defence and Prosecution. She originally worked as a private defence solicitor in Central Western NSW and appeared in Local Court hearings, bail applications, interlocutory applications and sentence matters. Before her admission, she was an Associate to Justice Cohen at the Family Court in Sydney. Talitha then took a position as a solicitor for the Aboriginal Legal Service in Dubbo where she appeared regularly in the Children’s Court; Local Court; and District Court throughout Central Western NSW. She has appeared in over 100 hearings in the Local Court and Children’s Court, and has also appeared in numerous severity and conviction appeals and sentence matters in the District Court. Most recently Talitha worked as solicitor at the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions. She regularly appeared on behalf of the Crown in summary hearings in the Local Court. Talitha comes to the bar having already appeared for the Crown as an advocate in a number of District Court Trials. In addition, she has also prepared and instructed in murder trials and other complex matters. She has also appeared in Family Law applications in the Federal Circuit Court, and has appeared in Care and Protection matters in the Children’s Court.


Helen Christinson, Partner, Hugo Lawyers
Helen Christinson is a Senior Associate at Hugo Law Group and practices exclusively in Traffic and Criminal Law. Whether appearing in bail applications, sentence matters, defended hearings or other applications in the Children’s Court or Local Court, conviction and severity appeals in the District Court, or high-profile trial and sentence matters for State and Commonwealth offences, Helen is a detail-focused, empathetic, energised and tenacious advocate. She has a wide range of legal experience from Local Court traffic matters to complex murder trials in the Supreme Court. In 2021 and 2022 Helen was recognised by members of the profession as a Criminal Law Rising Star in the Doyle’s Guide – Sydney.


Her Honour Judge Jane Mottley AM, The Drug Court of NSW
Appointed as Magistrate in 2000 following a 10 year career working in Local Courts & 10 years with Legal Aid. As a Magistrate appointed to courts at Downing Centre, Burwood & the Parkes Circuit. Also held a commission as a Children’s Magistrate, presiding principally at Bidura & also the Youth Drug Court. In 2009 appointed as Deputy Chief Magistrate Downing Centre Local Court. While holding judicial office appointed as a Part-time member of the Law Reform Commission working on a variety of references including Bail, Sentencing & Early Appropriate Guilty Pleas. Also contributed to a number of working groups & committees including: NSW Corrective Services Women’s Advisory Committee, MERIT Steering Committee, Child Sex Assault Taskforce, Judicial Commission Ngara Yura committee & Domestic Violence Death Review team.


Andrew Boe, Barrister, Black Chambers
Andrew Boe is a barrister who has appeared in trial courts in most jurisdictions of Australia and in appeal courts in NSW, Queensland, Western Australia, the Northern Territory and in the High Court. Prior to coming to the Bar in 2009, Andrew operated law practices in Brisbane, since his admission in 1989. Andrew specialises in the criminal jurisdiction however, he has also appeared in administrative law, family law and child protection cases, coronial Inquest. commissions of inquiry and defamation trials.


Jane Paingakulam, Barrister, Sir Anthony Mason Chambers
Jane Paingakulam was called to the Bar in 2009. Since then she has practised predominantly in Criminal Law across a broad range of matters, including white collar crime prosecutions. Jane appears for both for the Crown and the defence. Since 2015, Jane’s practice has been substantially comprised of criminal appellate work, appearing for both the offender and the Crown. In addition regularly appearing unled in the New South Wales Court of Criminal Appeal, Jane has appeared in appellate courts in South Australia and the Australian Capital Territory and as junior counsel in the High Court of Australia. Jane was admitted as a solicitor in 1996. Jane worked in the Australian Public Service for almost 14 years across 5 agencies. Jane primarily held roles with an investigative or regulatory function, including over 5 years in the Enforcement Directorate of the Australian Securities and Investments Commission. Jane was the NSW Regional Director of the Australian Public Service Commission from 2008-2009. Since, she has provided advice to government agencies, both State and Commonwealth on a range of public sector issues.


Deputy Chief Magistrate Theo Tsavdaridis, Local Court of NSW
Deputy Chief Magistrate Theo Tsavdaridis holds a Master of Laws in criminal justice and was appointed as a Magistrate on 15 December 2010 and as a Deputy Chief Magistrate on 15 December 2021. Prior to his initial appointment, his Honour was the principal of a busy law firm in suburban Sydney, practising primarily in criminal, business and property law as well as commercial and corporate litigation. He was a member of the Professional Conduct Committee and the Fidelity Fund Management Committee, and later a Councillor of the Law Society of NSW. His Honour initially presided at the Downing Centre and Blacktown, before being appointed to the Bourke and Brewarrina country circuit. Thereafter, he presided at Parramatta for an extended period of time, during which he also managed the DPP and civil lists. More recently, he presided at Fairfield Local Court, before returning to the Downing Centre. Deputy Chief Magistrate Tsavdaridis has, in his own time, regularly delivered presentations to community legal centre volunteers, Community Correction officers, members of the profession at inner west and western suburbs continuing legal education seminars and advocacy workshops, and faculty of law careers nights. His Honour has published many written judgments across the Court’s civil and criminal jurisdictions, including as an electoral arbiter for university student unions.


Kieran Fitzgerald, Barrister, Wardell Chambers
Kieran specialises in criminal defence and prosecution before judges and juries, care and protection, regulatory prosecutions, inquests and commissions of inquiry and intentional torts. Kieran has appeared as an advocate in superior and inferior courts, including appellate courts. He accepts briefs to appear in all Australian courts and tribunals, including in regional and remote locations. Kieran draws on the extensive knowledge and experience he gained as a solicitor at the NSW Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions and the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions. During that time, Kieran spent almost five years working on high profile and complex prosecutions including tax fraud and money laundering, violent crime, sexual offences, drug offences, child pornography, and extradition proceedings. Kieran has also worked as a Senior Research Officer at the Judicial Commission of New South Wales, where he built on his experience as a solicitor to gain an in-depth understanding of developments in criminal law in New South Wales.


Michelle Karim, Director of Karim + Nicol Lawyers
Michelle joined Karim + Nicol Lawyers in 2019, when she was appointed Director. She is a highly experienced criminal defence lawyer. In 2015 Michelle’s experience and expertise was recognised by the Law Society of NSW as an Accredited Criminal Law Specialist. Whilst Michelle is passionate about all aspects of the law, she is most passionate about preserving the legal rights of the individual. She has a reputation as a fierce advocate in defending her clients and has enjoyed success in many high profile cases. Michelle is well regarded and trusted by the Judiciary and leading barristers. She has developed a strong network of specialist advisors to ensure her clients receive the highest level of service and support. Michelle has had the conduct of matters in the Local Court, Children’s Court, District Court and Supreme Court including the Court of Criminal Appeal. Michelle appears throughout Sydney metropolitan and regional NSW courts. Michelle was Chair of the NSW Rugby League Judiciary. She provides advice and advocacy in respect of sporting regulatory issues, including in relation to the Rugby League judiciary. She also advises clients under investigation or who have been charged both domestically and internationally. Michelle is a graduate of both the University of Technology Sydney and the University of Sydney, and is admitted to practice in New South Wales and the High Court of Australia . She has lectured in Criminal Law at the University of Technology and has been a key figure in the organisation of continuing legal education in the profession. In 2021 Michelle was listed as one of NSW recommended criminal lawyers and traffic and DUI lawyers by Doyles Guide.


Trudie Cameron, Practice Director, Armstrong Legal
Trudie Cameron is the Practice Director of Criminal Law (NSW) at Armstrong Legal. This role sees her responsible for supervising and managing the New South Wales Criminal Law team in addition to running her own criminal practice. Trudie is an accredited specialist in criminal law, practising in criminal law and traffic law. She also represents clients with respect to intentional torts matters involving proceedings against the NSW Police and/or Corrective Services. Trudie appears regularly in Local and District Courts in matters ranging from sentencing, defended hearings and severity and/or conviction appeals. Trudie has appeared as an instructing solicitor in the Supreme Court of New South Wales, New South Wales Court of Criminal Appeal and the High Court. Trudie also appears in the Magistrates and Supreme Court of the Australian Capital Territory.