Personal Injury Conference
213Q09: Gain key updates on public liability, workers compensation psychiatric claim plus technical legal issues of employers duties, workplace injuries related to plant and equipment and claims involving strata and bodies corporate so you stay at the cutting edge of these areas. Explore the interaction between insurance contract and personal injury claims. Plus in the afternoon, gain your mandatory core areas while working through case selection, trial preparation and ethics.
Description
Attend the full day and earn 7 CPD units including:
4 CPD units in Legal Knowledge
1 CPD unit in Practical Legal Ethics
1 CPD unit in Practice Management & Business Skills
1 CPD unit in Professional Skills
This program is based on QLD legislation
Session 1
Personal Injury Law Roundup of Hot Topics
Chair: Chris Newton, Barrister, Carbolic Chambers; Recommended Insurance & Personal Injury Law Junior Counsel, Doyle’s Guide 2020
9.00am to 9.05am Opening Comments by the Chair
9.05am to 9.50am The Latest Developments in Public Liability Cases
- Key cases from across Australia
- Common law and statutory defences
- Hybrid cases involving PIPA and WC regimes
Presented by Kate Denning, Principal, Dennings Insurance Law; Accredited Specialist in Personal Injury Law
9.50am to 10.35am Workers Compensation Psychiatric Cases: Responsibility, Challenges, Opportunity, Risk
- Recent federal inquiries/statistics/responses by workers compensation insurers
- Acting for psychiatrically damaged clients
- Types of psychiatric claims
Presented by Emma Crouch, Special Counsel, Shine Lawyers; Recommended Work Injury Compensation Lawyer (Plaintiff), Doyle’s Guide 2020 and Charmaine Bastin, Senior Associate, Shine Lawyers
10.35am to 11.20am Claims Arising from an Employer’s Duty to Provide Safe Plant and Equipment
- Focus on recent cases involving defective equipment
- Purchase of plant from reputable suppliers
- Is being compliant with Australian standards enough?
Presented by Toby Nielsen, Barrister, Sunshine Coast Chambers
11.20am to 11.35am Morning Tea
11.35am to 12.20pm Navigating Claims Involving Strata and Bodies Corporate: Tips, Traps and Predictions
- Tips: navigating the body corporate and community management legislation, understanding key stakeholders and accessing documents outside the PIPA disclosure restrictions
- Traps: selecting the wrong respondent(s)
- Predictions: defective buildings as a ticking time bomb for injuries and illness
Presented by Katie Caldow, Partner, Chambers Russell Lawyers
12.20pm to 1.05pm Interaction of Personal Injury Claims and Insurance Contracts
- Effect on obligation to pay compensation
- Obligation to refund third party insurer
- Relevance, and use, of:
- Disclosures to third party insurer by the insured
- Medical evidence and opinions obtained by third party insurers
Presented by Rebecca Nichols, Barrister, More Chambers
1.05pm to 1.15pm Final Q&A and Closing Comments by the Chair
Session 2
CPD Mandatory Core Areas for Personal Injury Lawyers
Chair: Jo Sorbello, Barrister, 31 West Chambers; Recommended Insurance & Personal Injury Law Junior Counsel, Doyle’s Guide 2020
Practice Management & Business Skills
2.00pm to 3.00pm Case Selection in Personal Injury Practice
- Assessing the merits of new enquiries
- Consideration of the costs provisions under the various statutory regimes
- Consideration of capacity/time management issues
- Maintaining positive relationships with new enquirers and other parties
Presented by Maria Skordou, Legal Practitioner Director, Restore Legal
Professional Skills
3.00pm to 4.00pm Tips for Preparing for Trial and Avoiding Traps When You Get There
- Frameworks for trial preparation and how to avoid traps
- Ensuring preparing for trial begins the moment a solicitor opens a file
- Making every step relate to gathering and presenting the evidence required to prove the claim
- How to critically analyse all the evidence and consider its weight and credibility
Presented by Susan Anderson, Barrister, Chambers 33; Recommended Insurance & Personal Injury Law Junior Counsel, Doyle’s Guide 2020
4.00pm to 4.15pm Afternoon Tea
Practical Legal Ethics
4.15pm to 5.15pm Everyday Issues of Ethics for Personal Injury Lawyers: an Interactive Session
- Ethics of witness preparation
- Coaching verses proofing
- Grades of coaching
- Drawing the line
- Hypothetical interactive diderscussion
- Avoiding becoming a witness
- Scope of your duties
Presented by Rob Davis, Barrister-at-law, Davis Legal
Presenters
Chris Newton
Chris Newton has been in practice at the private Queensland Bar since January 1976 with a wide and varied practice, but a concentration on personal injuries litigation, estate litigation and alternative dispute resolution including mediation. He is a qualified mediator and case appraiser of the Supreme Court of Queensland, and a nationally accredited mediator.
Kate Denning
Kate is an Accredited Personal Injury Law Specialist, with over 19 years’ experience in insurance and Queensland personal injury law. She is the Principal of Denning Insurance Law, a Doyles Guide recommended compensation law firm, which represents people and businesses in personal injury and insurance disputes. Prior to opening her own practice, Kate acted on behalf of workers’ compensation insurers, general insurers, CTP insurers and major corporations.
Emma Crouch
With over 20 years’ experience as a plaintiff personal injury lawyer at Shine Lawyers, and in the UK before that, Emma has held a variety of roles across Shine Lawyers which has granted her a wide understanding of the multitude of issues that can affect a legal claim and a business and the most effective way to combat these. She prides herself on the provision of honest and trustworthy advice, remains outcome focused and ensures quality legal resolutions are consistently achieved. Emma has been recognised by the Doyles Guide to the Australian Legal Profession, most recently in 2020 as a recommended Work Injury Compensation Lawyer.
Charmaine Bastin
Charmaine Bastin is a Practice Leader and Senior Associate in Shine Lawyers’ Abuse Law Practice. Charmaine has specialist knowledge in abuse law, serious injury claims, workers' compensation claims, motor accident claims and public liability claims. She is known for her professional and approachable manner and is an experienced and determined litigant. During her 11 years in the law she has represented hundreds of client's, honing her skills and is dedicated to ensuring they are fought for and believed in.
Rebecca Nichols
Rebecca commenced her legal career as a law clerk and property paralegal in private practice in 2000 and subsequently, as an articled clerk then solicitor working in mid-tier and national firms, obtained varied experience in a range of practice areas including industrial matters, insurance and personal injury claims, general commercial litigation and finance and insolvency matters. Rebecca moved to the Private Bar in 2010. At the Bar, Rebecca has continued her practice working predominantly in insurance/personal injuries and commercial contract disputes. In most recent years, Rebecca has developed a particular interest in superannuation and life insurance litigation. Rebecca is a member of both the Australian Lawyers Alliance and Australian Insurance Lawyers Association.
Jo Sorbello
Jo Sorbello has practised as a barrister since 2012, specialising in personal injuries work. She regularly appears in all Courts for both Plaintiffs and Defendants. Jo is an Accredited Specialist in Personal Injuries and was awarded the Highest Achiever award for the 2007 accreditation program. She graduated from the University of Queensland with a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Laws. She has represented her clients in all jurisdictions, including the Court of Appeal and the High Court. Prior to commencing practice at the Bar, Jo worked her way through the ranks of Articled Clerk to Partner in a well-respected boutique law firm.
Maria Skordou
Admitted to practise as a solicitor of the Supreme Court of Queensland on 31 January 2000, Maria Skordou has practised exclusively in the area of compensation law for the last nineteen years. In May 2002, Maria joined a growing plaintiff litigation firm which now has a national presence and is listed on the ASX. She was employed by that firm for over 16 years, becoming a partner in June 2009. On 1 August 2018, Maria launched Restore Legal in which she will continue to engage in her passion of helping every one of her clients achieve the best possible outcome at the earliest opportunity.
Susan Anderson
Susan joined the private bar in 2003 following serving as associate to His Honour McPherson JA for two years. A good portion of her practice involves psychiatric injuries however they are caused including public liability, medical negligence, sexual abuse, workplace bullying, nervous shock and physical assault claims. Susan has run many appeals and trials in state and federal courts as well as the QIRC, QCAT, and the AAT. She has undertaken extensive specialised trial and appeal advocacy training to hone her advocacy skills and facilitate the efficient administration of justice. Susan has acted for plaintiffs and defendants in sexual abuse cases.
Rob Davis
Rob was first admitted as a solicitor in both Queensland and NSW in 1979 He has worked as a barrister since 2007. Prior to that he was a solicitor for 27 years, for the majority of that time working in civil litigation mainly in civil negligence law (medical negligence, aviation accidents, product liability injury law and other accident claims) in Qld, NSW, ACT Courts and the Federal Court. Rob also represents current and former employees of the Commonwealth and Commonwealth Authorities in claims for denied Commonwealth superannuation entitlements. Rob has served in many roles throughout his career, including; National President of the Australian Lawyers Association (2000-2001) – twice elected, Australian representative on the Board of Governors of the Association of Trial Lawyers of America, Member of the initial QLS Personal Injury Specialist Accreditation Committee, QLS Professional Standards Committee, President of the Queensland Law Society (2006), Board member of the College of Law Queensland, Board member of Lexon. Rob is currently a member of the Bar Association of Queensland’s Professional Ethics Committee.
Venue
Hilton Brisbane
190 Elizabeth St
Brisbane City
Brisbane 4000
QLD
Australia
Directions
Due to one way road systems, please note that car access is via Elizabeth Street only. Please programme 190 Elizabeth Street if using a car navigational device.
Nearby Public Transport:Train Stations - Central Station
Bus Interchange - George Square Bus Station
Parking
Parking is not included in your registration. There is valet parking available for AU$58.00