This seminar will delve into crucial aspects of litigation for government lawyers, with discussions providing you with an up-to-date perspective on Parliamentary Privilege and it’s implications for government lawyers, an updated view of the Model Litigant, issues with handling and protecting witnesses, and a consideration of Legal Professional Privilege.

Presenters

Andrea Mapp, Managing Principal Solicitor, Victorian Government Solicitor Office
Andrea Mapp is Managing Principal Solicitor at the Victorian Government Solicitor Office. At the VGSO, Andrea's practice encompasses advocacy, litigation and dispute resolution, regulatory prosecutions and statutory interpretation across a diverse range of legislation. Andrea advises on departmental and regulator responses to, and governance of, emerging or existing industry practices. Her experience ranges from providing specialised advocacy, drafting regulatory frameworks, procedure manuals, precedent documents for internal use by agencies, through to advice on the rules of evidence and prospects of success in inquiries, disciplinary proceedings, prosecutions and appeals. Prior to joining the VGSO, Andrea was a Senior Advocate at Consumer Affairs Victoria, where she advocated on behalf of the Director of Consumer Affairs Victoria in complex and serious matters. Andrea was also formerly barrister at the Victorian Bar with over 20 years' legal experience. Prior to joining the bar Andrea worked both in private practice and as in house counsel. Andrea is a qualified mediator with extensive experience in a varied range of commercial areas, with a particular focus on prosecutions, administrative law, building and construction, property and the Australian Consumer Law.


Simon Fuller, Barrister, Foley’s List
Simon practises in a broad range of matters in the areas of family, commercial, and administrative law. Having a diverse litigation practice provides him with a strong understanding of the law, court-room advocacy, issues of evidence, and strategy. It also allows him a unique understanding of the intersections of different areas of the law. He appears both led and unled in state and federal courts and tribunals at all levels in both original and appellate matters.


Chris Erskine SC, Barrister, Blackburn Chambers
Chris Erskine SC was admitted in 1982 and went to the bar in 1993, becoming a Senior Counsel in 2008. He practices in Canberra in all civil litigation, but especially litigation involving the government. He was one of the counsel for NSW in the largest civil litigation in the history of the ACT, the case arising from the 2003 bushfires, which ran from 2003 to 2014.


Jeremy Smith, Senior Legal Advisor, Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency
Jeremy Smith is a Senior Legal Advisor at the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency, working in the Professional Misconduct Unit of its National Legal Practice. Jeremy manages professional misconduct referrals to the responsible tribunals (predominantly in the Victorian and Civil Administrative Tribunal); and any associated advice work and appellate work (whether merits review, judicial review, or appeals on an error of law). Jeremy has extensive experience advising on and managing matters that relate to allegations of sexual misconduct. Jeremy began his career in the law as an Associate to a Judge at the County Court of Victoria. Immediately prior to working at Ahpra, Jeremy was a Senior Associate at a mid-tier firm, acting in and advising on a wide variety of matters, including: professional disciplinary investigations and proceedings; Department of Health (State and Federal) investigations and prosecutions; Criminal investigations and prosecution of health practitioners (predominantly sexual offences); Occupational health and safety investigations and prosecutions; Coronial inquests; Anti-discrimination / equal opportunity proceedings; Civil proceedings (predominantly professional negligence, occupier liability, and workplace negligence / breach of statutory duty), appellate work, and otherwise advising insurers on indemnity.