Brothers and Sisters in Law Inc.
LEGAL EDUCATION CONFERENCE
Saturday March 12th, 2016 (5 Points)
& Sunday March 13th, 2016 (5 points)
Annual 10 point CLE/CPD Conference
Novotel Sydney Olympic Park
Sydney Olympic Park, Homebush NSW 2140
Program: Saturday March 12th, 2016
8.30am – 9.00am Registration
5 MCLE / CPD Points
Light Breakfast – Tea & Coffee – Danish
Opening Comments
Charles Amos – BASIL CEO
Opening of the Conference
9.00am - 9.35am
Hon. Justice Arthur Emmett QC
Hon. Justice Arthur Emmett, QC (BA 1964, LLB 1967, LLM 1976, LLD 2009) was appointed to the NSW Court of Appeal in 2013.
Justice Emmett was appointed as a judge of the Federal Court of Australia in 1997. He is the Presiding Member of the Legal
Profession Admission Board, which is responsible for the accreditation of all law schools in NSW and for the admission of all
lawyers in NSW. He has taught Roman Law at the University of Sydney since 1978 and has been the Challis Lecturer in
Roman Law since 1990.
Family Law : “Recent family provision decisions”
9.35am - 10.25am
10.25am - 10.45
Hon. Ian Coleman SC
Ian was a Barrister from 1975 to 1991, Commissioner of the Australian Law Reform Commission from 1993 to 2002, Judge
Advocate of the Australian Defence Force from 1992 to1997 and Judge of the Appeal Division of the Family Court of Australia
from 1999 till 2013. Appointed Senior Counsel in 2014, he is an Adjunct Professor in the School of Law at the University of
Western Sydney. He recently returned to the Bench at Cullwulla Chambers and is a regular BASIL presenter.
Morning Tea
Rule 6.1 of the CPD rules (formerly Rule 57) -“Costs disclosure – client’s consent and understanding”
”
Fran Moffitt & John Fleming – The Law Society of NSW
10.45am – 12.00
Fran Moffitt is a Solicitor in the Professional Standards Department at the Law Society of NSW. Fran’s professional experience
includes Insolvency, Criminal Law, Administrative Law, Taxation Law and statutory investigations. She is a regular speaker for
the Law Society on practice management; trust accounting and ethics topics.
John Fleming was admitted as a solicitor in 2000. Prior to joining the Law Society he worked as a lawyer predominately in the
areas of commercial litigation and taxation. John currently works in the Legal Costs Unit of the Law Society of NSW and
elsewhere on policy issues presenting papers.
Criminal Law; “Murder and acquittal” – Dean Waters case
Manny Conditsis - Conditsis & Associates
With over 33 years experience, Manny Conditsis is a Law Society Accredited Specialist in Criminal Law. He has appeared in
numerous murder trials in the Supreme Court; in the CCA; Court of Appeal; Federal Court; Full Court of the Federal Court and
in the High Court. He has an enviable success rate in defended jury trials. Manny Conditsis is a member of the Law Society
Specialist Accreditation Committee and in 2012 was the recipient of the prestigious NSW Law Society Presidents Award for
his pro bono work. Manny and his team of advocates also accept briefs to appear for and to be ‘instructed’ by other law firms.
OR (Option - Dual session)
12.00 – 12.40pm
IT “Adopting new technology in the Profession”
Matthew Perriam – InfoTrack
Matthew Perriam, InfoTrack GM for Products has 23 years of legal experience and a passion for helping firms become more
efficient through the use of technology. This session will focus on: Digital Visualisation – This is a far easier way of
analysing, interpreting and presenting complex ASIC and Business Name, PPSR and Bankruptcy searches. This offers
superior data visualisation that will save you valuable time and allow you to confidently make the thorough assessments
needed for your legal matters. iPhone Applications – How to use iPhone applications in the course of your legal work.
Signing documents electronically & eCOS – Find out how you can efficiently order searches and certificates along
with a complete Contract for Sale from the convenience of your desktop.
12.40pm – 1.30
LUNCH - Hot Buffet
EEO & OH&S ‘Managing the workplace’
1.30pm - 2.25pm
Chris McArdle is the Principal Lawyer at McArdle Legal and one of approximately forty lawyers in NSW accredited by the Law
Society of New South Wales as a specialist in Employment and Industrial Law. Chris has been in legal practice since 1988 and
prior to that, served as a Commissioner of the Industrial Relations Commission of NSW. Chris acts for corporate and
individual clients with a philosophy of preventing problems and increasing corporate efficiency. Chris has achieved a number
of breakthroughs in the anti-discrimination, breach of contract, adverse action, and enterprise agreement jurisdictions. Chris
is a regular presenter of seminar papers and has published several articles in both mainstream press and specialist journals.
Planning Law: Developer’s Dream “Superlot Sales”
2.25pm - 3.15pm
3.15pm – 3.30
Maria De Gregorio – Macree Law
Maria has worked in a wide range of different areas of the law over the last ten years but has decided to focus on the area she
is most passionate about – Planning & Property Law. Her mission is simple - to provide honest and reliable legal advice and
ensure her clients’ property transactions run as smoothly as possible. Maria has been involved in multiple transactions
herself and feels that being a property investor gives her additional skills. Her clients can draw on her skills and benefit from
her experience. She is qualified as B.Com.& LLB from UNSW (2004) and been in private practice at Macree Law since 2012,
and as a partner since 2014.
Afternoon Tea
Cost Assessment ‘Latest update on the NSW Cost Assessment System’
3.30pm - 4.30pm
Chris McArdle - McArdle Legal
Michelle Castle – Barrister
Michelle Castle is a barrister at Selbourne Chambers. She practises in administrative law, medical negligence and costs law,
the latter being primarily in appeals from decisions of costs assessors and review panels. Prior to being called to the Bar in
2007 Michelle was a solicitor for 16 years, specialising in legal costs. She was the principal of DG Thompson, Legal Costs
Lawyers and Consultants, and was recognised as a pre-eminent expert in costs in NSW. She also wrote and lectured
extensively on costs during that time.
Optional: 4.40pm AGM for Members of Brothers and Sisters in Law Inc.
Program: Sunday March 13th, 2016
8.00am – 8.30am
Light Breakfast – Tea & Coffee – Danish
I T Developments – “Using Technology for Small Cases”
8.30am - 9.10am
5 MCLE / CPD Points
Ian Chivers – e.law
In 1988, with qualifications and experience in technology and law, Ian joined legal software developer and related services
provider, Systematics (the company now known as e.law International), as CEO. Ian's professional experience centres on the
application of technology to all phases of the litigation life cycle. In 1993, Ian led the delivery of the first paperless
Courtroom in Australia. Ian continues to consult internationally in this area and in the field of pre-trial materials' analysis.
Software development is now undertaken by Delium, and e.law provides consulting and related services. Ian lectures
regularly at University level and is the author of various papers addressing technology to support evidence presentation and
management in Courts. He was the first recipient of the NSW Law Society Legal Technology Award for his work on paperless
office process and holds numerous US, Australian and International Patents. Ian is also a nationally accredited Mediator.
Specialties: The application of technology to litigation and hearings, software architecture.
Building & Construction Law “Traps for the Property Developer” Jim Doyle – Doyle’s Construction Lawyers
9.10am - 9.45am
Jim is qualified and experienced as an engineer, economist and lawyer and is a Director of Doyle’s Construction Lawyers, which has
offices in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth. Mr. Doyle has represented parties in the State and Federal courts and in arbitration
and mediation and has acted in some of the largest and most complex disputes under the Building and Construction Industry Security of
Payment legislation. His particular interests are in the role of proactive contract management to reduce disputes and increase revenue
and profit to all participants. Jim is the author of numerous papers. He is a committee member of Brothers and Sisters in Law and a
regular presenter.
Conveyancing: ‘Recent developments’
9.45am - 10.30am
10.30 - 10.45am
Tony Cahill – Author & Commentator
Tony is widely regarded as an experienced property law commentator with an exceptional depth of understanding. With
his guidance, you will undertake a close review of issues in current and core areas of practical concern. Tony Cahill is a
part time lecturer at the Sydney and North Sydney Institutes of TAFE in various law subjects and is a regular presenter at
BASIL conferences.
Morning Tea
Ethics Rule 6.1.1 “Ethics – the more they change, the more they stay the same”
Linden Barnes – The Law Society of NSW
10.45am -11.45am
Linden has been an Ethics Solicitor with the NSW Law Society for 5 years. She provides guidance to the profession on
issues such as conflicts, confidentially and duties of office of the court. She also presents on ethics to practitioners in a
wide variety of practice types. Linden commenced as a lawyer in insurance litigation and has since worked in generalist inhouse roles.
Insurance
‘General Insurance – Discussing current issues’
Peter Collins – Peter A. Collins and Associates
Peter is the principal of Peter A Collins & Associates, solicitors. For the past 38 years he has been continuously engaged in
advisory, litigious and alternative dispute resolution in matters involving insurance policy coverage, interpretation, nondisclosure, and double insurance issues. He is regularly engaged in these issues as they arise in motor vehicle, industrial
risks, disability, commercial and domestic property, travel, contractors’ liabilities, machinery and most other general
insurance policies. He has acted both for and against insurers in trials and appeals that have significantly affected these
areas. Peter has delivered papers at seminars in his topic areas both within the insurance industry and otherwise.
11.45am - 12.45pm
OR (Option - Dual session)
Taxation – ‘Hard lessons learnt from recent Tax Cases’
Andrew Rider - Barrister
Andrew is a barrister from Level 22 Chambers specializing in taxation laws. He advises extensively on taxation laws,
including Australia-wide stamp duties, land tax, payroll tax, GST, income tax, CGT and fuel tax. Prior to commencing
practice at the Bar, Andrew was a solicitor in private practice for 12 years advising on the taxation aspects of a wide range of
commercial, property and financing transactions. Prior to commencing work as a solicitor, Andrew was Associate to
Justice Michael Kirby. Over the years, Andrew has lectured in taxation laws at the University of Technology, Sydney and coedited the leading Australian stamp duty publication ‘Australian Stamp Duties Law’. Andrew is a Chartered Tax Advisor and
a member of The Tax Institute / OSR Liaison Committee. He is also a regular presenter at BASIL conferences.
12.45pm – 1.30pm
1.30pm - 2.30pm
Lunch - Buffet - Selection of Sandwiches & Fruit
Wills: “Discretionary Trusts: attacking and protecting the exercise of discretion by trustees”
John Armfield - Barrister
John is a barrister practicing primarily in the fields of estate and property litigation. He was admitted to the bar in 1983 and
since that time has appeared in probate, family provision, will construction, vendor and purchaser disputes in the equity
division of the Supreme Court. He also regularly represents clients at mediations concerning these disputes. He has
presented many papers at conferences and seminars, including those conducted by the University of New South
Wales. He is from Wentworth Chambers and is a regular presenter for Brothers and Sisters in Law.
Criminal Law : ‘Preparing and appearing at a Local Court Hearing in the criminal jurisdiction’
2.30pm – 3.15pm
Michal Mantaj – Conditsis & Associates
Defending traffic offences can be a tedious business, be it drink driving or a Police pursuit. Our presenter, Michal Mantaj,
has come up with a practical guide for traffic law practitioners who daily advise and represent individuals charged with
traffic offences. He is accredited in criminal law and in private practice with Conditsis & Associates based in Gosford.
Strata Disputes and Building Defects
3.15pm - 4.00pm
Allison Benson – Kerin Benson Lawyers
Allison is a Director of Kerin Benson Lawyers who specialize in strata and building defects law. Allison has been involved
with strata and community title law since 2008 and from 2012. Allison has concentrated on advising and acting for owner’s
corporations, community associations and lot owners in respect of both strata and community association disputes and
building and construction disputes. She has been involved in Home Building Act claims and levy recovery claims ranging
from the CTTT (now the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal) through to the NSW Court of Appeal. Allison holds a B.Bus
from Newcastle Uni. and an LLB (Hons) from Macquarie Uni. Allison writes a blog on strata law and is a regular columnist on
strata and community title law in the Australian Property Investor magazine.
CPD Units Cover: The New Uniform Law requirements of 1/7/2015 on Ethics and Professional
Responsibility, Practice Management & Business Skills, Professional Skills and Substantive Law
Parking is available for attendees under the Novotel, off Herb Elliot Ave. at a concession rate of $20 per day.
Additional parking is available at P3 off Sarah Durack Ave. at a maximum rate of $20.00 per day.
Changes to this Program may occur where rescheduling is required. Cancellations after March 5th,
2016 will not be refunded nor will refunds be given for non-attendance.
Proudly supported and sponsored by the following organizations:
Bendigo Bank, Pitcher Partners, Infotrack, e-law, LEAP,
Lawcover, Thomson Reuters, & Hymans