The session will cover the particularisation of the ‘new’ offence, and the role ‘culture’ may play in the prosecution and/or defence of a coercive control charge. It will also look at the importance of family law cases in the area of coercive control, namely, but not limited to, Morton & Beatty [2022] FedCFamC2F 784, Gadhavi & Gadhavi [2023] FedCFamC1A 117, and Ramzi & Moussa [2022] FedCFamC2F 1473, as well as evidence gathering across both criminal and family jurisdictions.

This session was recorded as part of the Specialist Accreditation Conference 2024.

Spec Acc Conf 2024 - Family

This session was recorded on 28 August 2025 as part of the Specialist Accreditation Conference 2025.

The session will analyse coercive control and family violence, with particular focus on what is ‘coercive control’, and how to present and gather such evidence for trial. Discussion concerning recent family law jurisprudence will include, but not be limited to, Friseal & Friseal [2025] FedCFamC2F75, Pickford & Pickford [2024] FedCFamC1A 249 and Dajani & Dajani [2025] FedCFamC1A28.

WARNING: DISTRESSING CONTENT

Viewers are advised that various Conference sessions contain graphic details that some may find distressing, including but not limited to references to sexual offences, child pornography and violence. Please review the program and use your discretion before proceeding. 
 
If you have experienced sexual assault, domestic or family violence and require assistance, please contact 1800RESPECT  (1800 737 732) to speak with a counsellor from the National Sexual Assault and Domestic Family Violence Counselling Service. 

If you are in distress, the Solicitor Outreach Service (1800 592 296) and Lifeline (13 11 14) offer 24/7 counselling support.    

Fires in high rise towers (including the Grenfell Tower in London and Lacrosse in Melbourne) have brought notoriety to a popular façade finish known as aluminium composite panels (‘ACP’), and have seen legislative and regulatory amendment introduced in most states to prohibit the use of so-called ‘combustible cladding’. This has also seen building owners question the design and approvals process whereby such cladding was permitted and used in the buildings’ construction. Inevitably, litigation has ensued, with architects, engineers, certifiers, suppliers, subcontractors and head contractors the typical targets. The presenter will discuss these issues, the recent authorities that have considered them, and the implications for property owners.

This session was recorded as part of the Specialist Accreditation Conference 2024.

Spec Acc Conf 2024 - Property

This session will outline the main entities involved in commercial property transactions. It will contrast property transactions involving the sale of shares in the selling entity with typical real asset sales. Issues affecting certain types of entities will be discussed, such as Foreign Investment Review Board considerations; GST, including applicability or exemptions available; limitations on tax concessions for certain trusts and companies; and foreign surcharge duty/land tax considerations, particularly if the discretionary trust structure is used. Discussion will also include SMSFs, exemptions from the usual vendor warranties under the Conveyancing Act 1919 for certain types of sellers/contracts, application of vendor warranties under that Act for transactions involving lessees under long-term leases, and recent case law.

This session was recorded as part of the Specialist Accreditation Conference 2024.

This session was recorded on 6 March 2025 as part of the Key knowledge for commercial lawyers: Mandatory rule 6.1 – live webinar.

Competition and consumer law case update – David Fleming, Partner, HWL Ebsworth

This case law update will provide you with important insights from a selection of recent competition and consumer law cases. 

Keeping up to date with competition law developments is crucial for Australian businesses. Jacqueline Downes, Head of the Competition and Consumer Regulatory Group at Allens, will look at the current state of play in key areas of ACCC enforcement such as mergers, greenwashing, and employee restraints, as well as key recent decisions in the areas of cartel conduct, advertising and misleading and deceptive conduct, and retail price maintenance. Jacqueline is listed as a leading competition and antitrust expert in Chambers Global, Chambers Asia Pacific (Band 1), Legal 500 Asia Pacific (Leading Individual), and Best Lawyers, Global Competition Review.

This session was recorded as part of the Specialist Accreditation Conference 2024.

This session was recorded on 4 March 2025 as part of the Elder law, wills and probate: One day intensive - live webinar.

Topics covered include:

• Estate planning involving trusts and companies
• Hedging against family provision claims
• Loans from the bank of Mum and Dad
• Hotchpot and equalisation clauses

If the key is the identification and valuation of the property of the parties, how can the litigation process be tailored to progress the objective of the expeditious conclusion of complex financial disputes? Most practitioners know what a complex property matter is and have conducted one themselves. However, not everyone is familiar with how to use its parts to achieve a result. This session will assist in taking the leap to gain the third eye in complex matters.

This session was recorded as part of the Specialist Accreditation Conference 2024

Spec Acc Conf 2024 - Family

Join us for a session examining complex family provision matters that can arise in blended families. The topics covered in this presentation include the 'wicked’ stepparent; first family v second (or subsequent) partner; expectation v entitlement; adequate and proper provision; and planning ahead – section 100 statements and other documents.

This session was recorded as part of the Specialist Accreditation Conference 2024.

Intellectual property rights are an important and often valuable class of intangible assets used within businesses. The issues which arise in relation to intellectual property rights in the context of mergers and acquisitions can be complex, and the consequences can be dire when valuable intellectual property rights are not properly assigned to the buyer in a sale. This session will cover complex IP issues in the context of business sales including ownership and licensing issues, as well as contemporary issues which have arisen with the increased use of artificial intelligence within businesses.

This session was recorded during the Specialist Accreditation Conference 2023.

PPSR; Personal Property Securities Register; discharge of interests

This session was recorded on 29 August 2025 as part of the Specialist Accreditation Conference 2025.

This session will look at navigating complex probate applications. Presenter Jennifer Vuu will cover a range of topics including cessate probate, inoperative wills, nominee grants and grants to syndics. The session will also provide practical tips for hitting the mark. 

This session was recorded as part of the Specialist Accreditation Conference 2024.

Spec Acc Conf 2024 - Wills and Estates

Join presenter Margaret Pringle as she examines complex trust issues, covering topics that include the construction and amendment of trust deeds and cy-près applications. The session will also cover the application of Part 3, Division 3 of the Trustee Act 1925 (NSW) and will also look at applications for judicial advice under section 63.

This session was recorded during the Specialist Accreditation Conference 2023.

Causation and its intersection with an increased risk and increased incidence have raised issues of some complexity and debate for a number of years. The role of the ‘but for’ test, loss of a chance, material contribution and a necessary condition of the occurrence of harm in common law causation were clarified in 2010 by the High Court of Australia in Amaca v Ellis [2010] HCA 5 and Tabet v Gett [2010] HCA 12. On the other hand, it appears that questions of causation in the assessment of damages for breaches of statutory guarantees may still involve complex issues that are less than clear. In this session, Colin Loveday will lead a discussion on the recent and evolving jurisprudence of causation in claims for damages under the Australian Consumer Law in recent product liability claims.

This session was recorded during the Specialist Accreditation Conference 2023.

This session was recorded on 28 August 2025 as part of the Specialist Accreditation Conference 2025.

This session was recorded on 28 August 2025 as part of the Specialist Accreditation Conference 2025.

WARNING: DISTRESSING CONTENT

Viewers are advised that various Conference sessions contain graphic details that some may find distressing, including but not limited to references to sexual offences, PTSD and violence. Please review the program and use your discretion before proceeding.
 
If you have experienced sexual assault, domestic or family violence and require assistance, please contact 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732) to speak with a counsellor from the National Sexual Assault and Domestic Family Violence Counselling Service. 

If you are in distress, the Solicitor Outreach Service (1800 592 296) and Lifeline (13 11 14) offer 24/7 counselling support.   

Michael Williams, a leading light in the field of intellectual property (IP) in Australia, will discuss the current issues affecting the application of IP legislation to copyright, trade marks and patents. A key focus of this session will be the treatment of AI under IP law.

This session was recorded as part of the Specialist Accreditation Conference 2024.