Immerse yourself in the information and updates that you need to know as a wills and estates lawyer at this premier event. Receive a comprehensive case update and discover the latest in contested probate and probate proceedings. Consider capacity from both the medical and legal perspectives. Gain those all-important core CPD units and hear topics that are tailored to ensure relevancy for estate lawyers and can be immediately applied to your practice.

Presenters

Mr Justin Brown, Barrister,
Justin has been listed since 2017 in the Doyle’s Guide as Recommended Junior Counsel in the area of Leading Wills & Estates Litigation Junior Counsel. He is recognised for the depth and breadth of his advocacy skills, understanding of complex legal issues and strategic thinking. Justin is also a lecturer in succession law at the University of Sydney and has been a guest lecturer in the courses offered by the College of Law in the Master of Applied Law (Wills and Estates). He regularly appears for executors, trustees and beneficiaries of deceased estates at both trial and appellate level, primarily in the Supreme Court of New South Wales, as well as in the High Court in Nobarani v Mariconte [2018] HCA 36. Justin possesses considerable advocacy experience and provides sound legal advice in both contentious and non-contentious matters. He has completed LEADR’s Mediator’s Course and regularly appears as counsel for clients at mediations. Justin holds a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Western Sydney and a Masters of Applied Laws specialising in wills and estate. Prior to being called to the Bar in 2013, Justin practised as a solicitor and was instructed in several leading cases in wills and estate litigation.


Anthea Kennedy, Partner, Bridges Lawyers
Anthea has been in practice as a solicitor since 1992. She has presented seminars and workshops in the areas of Wills and Estates law from 2002 onwards. Her work is mainly litigation, a high proportion of which is contested Probate, Family Provision cases and other Equity work together with estate planning advice. Anthea is an accredited specialist in Wills and Estates Law and is a past Chair of the Advisory Committee for Specialist Accreditation in Wills and Estates. Anthea is listed in the Doyle’s Guide of Leading Wills & Estates Litigation Lawyers 2023 as Preeminent in Australia and Market Leader in NSW. She is also listed as Preeminent in Leading Wills, Estates & Succession Planning Lawyers, NSW in 2023.


Dr. Tuly Rosenfeld, Adjunct Professor,
Dr Rosenfeld is a specialist in Geriatric Medicine and Aged Care and has 40 years of experience in clinical practice in hospital and community care older people with complex medical problems of which neurodegenerative diseases figure prominently. He has over the last 20 years been very involved as an expert in medicolegal issues often regarding disputes over wills, estates and decision making. He has published in international peer reviewed journals about capacity and dementia.


Mr Gerard Basha, Partner,
Gerard Basha is the head of Bartier Perry’s private clients team. He is recognised as a leader in his field and his clients benefit from his wide-ranging experience and specialist legal advice. Gerard has advised and been involved as an expert court witness in succession law cases. He is an Accredited Specialist in Wills and Estates Law and a Notary Public, Chair of the NSW Wills and Estates Law Accredited Specialists Practice Group, and a Registered Trust and Estate Practitioner with the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP). Doyle’s Guide to the Australian Legal Profession has recognised Gerard as a leading wills & estates litigation lawyer in both NSW and Australia from 2016 to 2022 and as a leading wills & succession planning lawyer from 2017 to 2022.


Mr. Hugh Morrison, Barrister,
Hugh is a barrister practicing at 13th Floor St James Hall Chambers. Prior to being called to the NSW Bar in 2017, Hugh worked as a solicitor at Teece Hodgson & Ward, and as Tipstaff to the Probate and Protective List Judge in the Equity Division of the Supreme Court of NSW. He was a Guest Editor (with Mary-Ann de Mestre) of a special edition of the Australian Bar Review entitled Estate Administration in Probate, Family Provision and Protective Cases, cited as (2016) 43 Aust Bar Rev. Hugh has a particular focus on the Court's equity, probate, family provision and protective jurisdictions.


Patrick Wiggins, Barrister, Sir Garfield Barwick Chambers
Patrick was called to the bar in 2021. Prior to being called to the bar, he practiced for more than 10 years as a solicitor. He was an Accredited Specialist in Commercial Litigation and holds a Masters in Applied Law (majoring in commercial litigation). He was also an active member of the Law Society’s Litigation Law and Practice Committee, and the Law Society’s nominated representative to both the Supreme Court’s Common Law (Civil) User Group and the NCAT Liaison Group.


François FF Salama, Barrister, 13th Floor St James Hall
François F.F. Salama was called to the NSW Bar in 2006. He has a diverse commercial law practice but is known for his work across the three main specialised areas within the Equity Division of the Supreme Court of NSW. François regularly appears in superior courts at first instance and on appeal across all Australian jurisdictions. François has attained a Bachelor of Laws (UTS), Bachelor of Science in Computing Science (Information Technology) (UTS), Diploma in IT Professional Practice (UTS), Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice (UTS), a Master of Laws, is a Registered Trust & Estate Practitioner (TEP) and Nationally Accredited NMAS Mediator (Med). François is currently serving his second term on the NSW Bar Succession and Protective Law Committee and was most recently appointed a Board Member for the NSW Chapter of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners. Francois has been consistently recognised by his peers as a 'leading lawyer' in the Doyles Guide (2019-2023) and was also a Finalist for the 2023 Australian Law Awards "Barrister of the Year".


The Hon Justice Michael Meek, Supreme Court Judge,
Justice Meek was appointed to the Supreme Court of NSW and is one of the Equity Division judges. His Honour holds a Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Economics from the University of Sydney, sharing the award for First in the Final year for Economic Statistics. His Honour was called to the Bar in 1992 and appointed Senior Counsel in 2009. At the time of his appointment his Honour was acknowledged as a specialist in the areas of estates, trust, protective and charities law, was listed in the 2017-2021 Doyle’s Guide as a Pre-eminent Senior Counsel in the area of Wills & Estates Litigation in NSW and recognised as one of the leading Senior Counsel in Australia in this area. His Honour’s practice saw him briefed in significant estate litigation, including the estates of the late Bart Cummings and the late Reg Grundy. His Honour was at the forefront of the law in relation to Statutory Will applications in NSW appearing in both the first landmark decision of Re Fenwick (2009) and the first Statutory Will appeal being Small v Phillips (2019). Following his appointment to the Court his Honour was initially assigned to “General Equity” matters. In July 2023 his Honour was designated as the Succession and Probate List Judge and with 3 other judges on a rotational basis, deals with List matters and also “General Equity” matters.


Ms Tamara Goodwin, Legal Practioner Director,
Admitted as a solicitor in 2001, Tamara earned the distinction of Accredited Specialist in Wills and Estates Law in 2007. Member of the Wills and Estates Law Advisory Committee for the Law Society of New South Wales Specialist Accreditation Board from 2011 to 2020. Head Assessor of the Wills and Estates Law Advisory Committee for the Law Society of New South Wales Specialist Accreditation Board from 2015 to 2020. Current member of the Elder Law, Capacity and Succession Committee for the Law Society on New South Wales. Regularly acts as a court appointed independent administrator of deceased estates. Recognised as a leading & pre-eminent practitioner in Wills and Estates Litigation and Succession Planning in the 2015 to 2022 editions of the Doyle’s Guide. Has been called to give evidence as an expert witness in disputes relating to wills and estates. Regularly presents papers on topics relating to wills and estates.


Dr. Hayley Bennett, Barrister,
Hayley commenced practice as a barrister in 2009, having graduated from the University of NSW with first class honours in law the year before. Since commencing practice, she has been involved in cases in both public and private domains, but also specializes in health law across jurisdictions, including Succession and Protective Law. Hayley previously worked as a clinical and research neuropsychologist, and for a period sat on the Guardianship Tribunal of NSW (as it then was). Her qualifications in this area include a BA (Psychology honours), MA (Counselling), MSc (Neuropsychology), and PhD (Clinical Neuroscience). Hayley has published and lectured in these areas, as well as more recently in the area of judicial decision-making and its neurobiological underpinnings.


Darryn Hockley, Partner – Forensic Consulting, Grant Thornton
Darryn Hockley is a Partner in Forensic Consulting at Grant Thornton based in the Melbourne office. Darryn has more than 20 years of local and international experience, working with a diverse range of clients and their advisors. Initially practicing in taxation and accounting compliance in the mid-market he now practices exclusively in the litigation and disputes area of accounting. His areas of practice cover a wide range of commercial and business transactions and disputes across a number of industries often requiring the reconstruction and analysis of accounting records, and financial data. Darryn has been called upon as an expert and given expert testimony in a range of matrimonial matters. Areas of expertise include the valuation of businesses, companies and trusts including complex and international structures. Valuation of intellectual property, share options and executive performance rights and entitlements. Darryn is an accredited business valuer of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Australia and New Zealand. Darryn is also a regular guest speaker for legal professional development organisations including Legal Wise and Lexis Nexis on accounting and valuation issues.