Join us online as we consider the latest moves in dispute resolution in the family law arena, including: how to bring the voice of the child safely into the Mediation space; the uptake of the Arbitration of family law property matters, and some leading cases; and the emerging practice of Parenting Co-ordination as an alternative to court proceedings. This session will contemplate ways in which the various dispute resolution options and processes can be utilised to achieve the best outcome for families after a relationship breakdown. Pencil this session into your dance card.

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

Spec Acc Conf 2024 - Family

These sessions were recorded as part of the Specialist Accreditation Conference 2024.

Spec Acc Conf 2024 - Property

This session was recorded on 19 March 2024 as part of the Property law: One day intensive - live webinar.

Stamp duty and land tax in real property transactions – Andrew Rider, Barrister, Level 22 Chambers

This session will cover the impact of recent legislative and other changes to stamp duty and land tax in real property transactions, including:

• New dutiable transactions
• Aggregation and valuations
• Exemptions and concessions
• Surcharge duty and land tax

As a strata buildings get older, major structural components begin to fail and maintenance becomes more expensive. At some point, further maintenance may become unviable and “strata renewal” options need to be explored. From a legal perspective, strata renewal can be undertaken under Part 10 of the Strata Scheme Development Act (“New Strata Renewal”) or through more traditional avenues that have been available under the Strata Scheme Development Act since its inception (“Traditional Strata Renewal”).

This presentation examines the methods under the both New Strata Renewal and Traditional Strata Renewal, provides a comparison between the two methods including a review of a few case studies.

Estate planning can be notoriously complicated, particularly from an Australian tax perspective. With the use of case studies, in this session we examine some of the nuances that arise when considering certain types of distributions and bequests under a will. In particular, the session will cover issues that may arise when the tax residency of the estate and the beneficiaries do not match, when a life interest in a property is granted, and when there is a dispute over the provisions of the will. 

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

Spec Acc Conf 2024 - Wills and Estates

This session will consider the proposed changes to the way that property settlements between separated couples are determined by the Court, under the Family Law Amendment Bill (No 2) 2023 (Cth). Presenter Eleanor Lau will examine the proposed principles the Court may consider when dividing property, including adjustments for family violence, debts and wastage, and the possible implications of the new regime.

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

Spec Acc Conf 2024 - Family

This session will consider recent cases that have appeared in the Real Property List in the Equity Division of the Supreme Court of New South Wales. Cases discussed cover topics such as rectification, e-conveyancing and caveats, effective charging clauses, statutes of limitations and mortgages, s 66G of the Conveyancing Act 1919 (NSW), trust law, and costs.

This session was recorded during the Specialist Accreditation Conference 2023.

This session was recorded on 19 March 2022 as part of the Young Lawyers - Property Law - one day intensive - live webinar.

Hear from Georgiena Ryan on traps and tips for rural conveyancing as she provides helpful tips for lawyers looking to expand their knowledge and build their skills and practice.

Practitioners should inform themselves of Rule 6.1 of the Legal Profession Uniform Continuing Professional Development (Solicitors) Rules 2015 which sets out the requirements for the four (4) mandatory CPD areas for NSW legal practitioners – (a) ethics and professional responsibility; (b) practice management and business skills; (c) professional skills; and (d) substantive law.  It is the responsibility of each legal practitioner to self-assess as to whether a particular educational activity extends their knowledge and skills in areas that are relevant to their practice needs or professional development. If so, then the practitioner may claim one (1) "unit” for each hour of attendance, refreshment breaks not included. 

This session was recorded 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, 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.    

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

Trusts, particularly family trusts, regularly feature in family law property proceedings. Trusts in which a party to the marital relationship has direct or indirect control of the trust and where a party is an object, even if only a discretionary object, present no jurisdictional issues and few issues of power. Trusts not falling within that category present issues of both kinds. In recent times, there has been increased judicial interest in examining: the nature and potential value, if any, of discretionary beneficiaries; the limitations, if any, on the exercise of discretionary powers by trustees; and the impact of Part VIIIAA of the Family Law Act, which is concerned with orders and injunctions binding third parties. This session explores options potentially available to discretionary objects in cases involving trusts over which the beneficiary has no apparent ability to influence the trustees’ decisions.

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.    

In this session Tony Cahill will discuss the role of vitiating factors in conveyancing transactions, with particular reference to sales and purchases. The presentation will consider the limitations of the traditional categories of matters affecting consent (mistake, misrepresentation, duress and undue influence); the evolution of principles of unconscionability under the ‘unwritten law’; and the operation of the Contracts Review Act 1980 (NSW), together with the scope of unconscionability under the Australian Consumer Law (ACL). The recent amendments to the unfair contracts terms provisions of the ACL will also be addressed.

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

Spec Acc Conf 2024 - Property

The session will focus on the law of vicarious liability, with discussion areas including identifying the person for whom an entity might be vicariously liable, the circumstances in which vicarious liability might arise in light of recent authorities such as Prince Alfred College v ADC [2016] HCA 37 and Bird v DP (A Pseudonym) [2023] VSCA 66, and amendments to the Civil Liability Act 2002 (NSW). It will also address applications for a permanent stay of proceedings in light of the High Court’s recent decision in GLJ v The Trustees of the Roman Catholic Church for the Diocese of Lismore [2023] HCA 32 and the subsequent appeals in Willmot v State of Queensland [2023] QCA 102 and RC v The Salvation Army (WA) Property Trust [2023] WASCA 29.

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

WARNING: DISTRESSING CONTENT