Presenters will cover recent developments and advanced substantive law topics that you might encounter in your day-to-day practice. 

Tax and duty for business lawyers – recent developments – Andrew Rider, Barrister, Level 22 Chambers

This session will discuss topical tax and duty issues for business lawyers, including:

• duty considerations when buying a business, including via share and unit purchases
• tax and duty issues when transferring farming businesses within family groups
• foreign surcharge duty - exceptions for business operating on certain residential land
  
  

Economic loss for clients who experience cyber security breaches - Sasha Ivantsoff, Barrister 8^th Floor Garfield Barwick Chambers

Every business is exposed to the risk of cyber security breaches. The seminar will explore the nature and extent of potential economic losses, by reference to regulatory risk and litigation risk. It will cover the ways in which these risks can be managed, will explore some recent case studies, and will provide some practical tips to keep clients out of court, and how to approach litigation if court is unavoidable.  

Unfair contracts rights for small businesses - Amanda Comelli, Partner, and Tamar Hestelow, Senior Lawyer (Commercial), Brown Wright Stein Lawyers

This session will explore the strengthened protections for small businesses under Australia’s unfair contract terms regime. Recent reforms have broadened the definition of “small business” and introduced significant penalties for unfair terms, prompting a reassessment of standard form contracts and negotiation practices. With recent reforms expanding the definition of “small business” and introducing significant penalties for unfair terms, business lawyers must reassess standard form contracts and negotiation practices. We will examine key risk areas such as automatic renewals, termination clauses and transparency obligations, and offer practical guidance on compliance and contract design. The discussion will also cover recent case law, including Karpik v Carnival plc, which highlights the regime’s extraterritorial reach and evolving judicial interpretation.

Employment law updates for business lawyers - Nathan Keats, Principal Lawyer, McNally Jones Staff Lawyers

This session will discuss topics including:

• Annualised salaries for employees covered by modern awards – the ramifications of Fair Work Ombudsman v Woolworths Group Limited; Fair Work Ombudsman v Coles Supermarkets Australia Pty Ltd; Baker v Woolworths Group Limited; Pabalan v Coles Supermarkets Australia Pty Ltd [2025] FCA 1092
• Legislative change as to when superannuation is payable
• Who is an employee, and section 15AA of the Fair Work Act 2009
• WH&S changes in relation to compliance with Codes of Practice

Andrew Rider, Barrister, Level 22 Chambers
Sasha Ivantsoff, Barrister 8th Floor Garfield Barwick Chambers
Amanda Comelli, Partner, Brown Wright Stein Lawyers
Tamar Hestelow, Senior Lawyer (Commercial), Brown Wright Stein Lawyers
Nathan Keats, Principal Lawyer, McNally Jones Staff Lawyers