Government Litigation: Preparation and Management
Attend and you will come away with a renewed understanding of the ethical parameters of the Model Government litigant; how to draft and perfect admissible, persuasive, and effective affidavits and witness statements; and how to meet your obligations in producing documents by government departments. Spend an afternoon with this exceptional panel and take away with you all important practical insights, tips and traps for those working in the public sector. WEB223Q01
Description
Attend and earn 3 CPD units including:
1 unit in Practical Legal Ethics
2 units in Professional Skills
This program is applicable to practitioners from all States & Territories
Chair: Moira Tucker, Director, Advice & Litigation, In-house Legal, Department of Resources
Professional Skills
2.00pm to 3.00pm Affidavit Drafting and Taking Statements: Guidance for Government Lawyers
- How to draft an admissible, persuasive, and effective witness statement or affidavit
- Ethical considerations
- Perfecting your drafting style
- Managing practical issues for government deponents
Presented by Katherine McGree, Barrister, Murray Gleeson Chambers
Professional Skills
3.00pm to 4.00pm To Produce or Not to Produce: What are Your Obligations?
- Obligations with respect to production of documents by government departments pursuant to court and statutory orders
- Reasons not to produce: privilege, cabinet in confidence and privacy
- Difference between the duty of confidentiality and legal professional privilege
- Communications between and within Government Departments and Agencies
Presented by Ian Bloemendal, Partner, Clayton Utz; Leading Commercial Litigation & Dispute Resolution Lawyer, Doyle’s Guide 2021
4.00pm to 4.15pm Afternoon Tea
Practical Legal Ethics
4.15pm to 5.15pm Model Litigant Guidelines Refresher
- Exploration of the duties of government legal representatives with respect to the model litigant principles
- Practical effect of model litigant principles
- Consequences if model litigant principles are infringed
- Case examples and ethical considerations
Presented by Patrina Clohessy, Deputy Crown Solicitor and Chief Counsel Constitutional and Advocacy Branch for Crown Solicitor, Crown Law
Presenters
Moira Tucker
Moira Tucker is the Director of the Advice & Litigation Group in the In-house Legal team for the Queensland Department of Resources, the Department of Environment and Science and the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries. Moira and her team provide advice to the departments on a broad range of matters, including advice on statutory functions and powers under the departments’ portfolio legislation and other public law issues. The team also project-manages civil litigation involving the three departments. Prior to joining Queensland Government in 2015, Moira was a Senior Associate at Corrs Chambers Westgarth, with private and public sector experience in major projects and construction.
Katherine McGree
Katherine McGree predominantly practises in public law, with expertise in regulatory prosecutions, civil penalty proceedings and confiscations, administrative review, inquests and commissions of inquiry. Katherine represents clients in all jurisdictions, including state and federal courts and tribunals. Prior to admission to the Bar, Katherine was a senior lawyer in the Dispute Resolution team of Australian Government Solicitor (AGS) working across the areas of law enforcement, general administrative law, and employment and workers’ compensation. Katherine was a senior lawyer at the Queensland Floods Commission of Inquiry. Katherine has experience as a solicitor in the litigation and regulatory law team of an international law firm, and the planning, government, infrastructure and environment team of a national law firm.
Ian Bloemendal
31 years' experience acting in complex litigation and ADR for government and listed companies. Leader of the Clayton Utz (CU) Commercial Litigation practice in Queensland. Ian was Queensland Lawyer of the Year for Defamation and Media Law (Best Lawyers), in 2017 and 2020, has been trusted to represent the former Premier and Attorneys General of Queensland as well as other public officials and is recognised as a Leading Litigation & Dispute Resolution Lawyer – Brisbane (Doyle's Guide). Ian serves on the Law Council of Australia's Federal Litigation Executive Committee, and is Chair of its Privileges and Immunities Committee. He is also Honorary Queensland Secretary of the International Law Association (Australian Branch).
Patrina Clohessy
Patrina was admitted as a barrister of the Supreme Court of Queensland on 15 June 1999 and gained considerable advocacy experience over a period of eighteen years with the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), reaching the rank of Senior Crown Prosecutor before joining Crown Law in October 2015. In her current role, Patrina provides legal advice and representation to the highest levels of government, appears as lead and junior counsel in a variety of jurisdictions and leads an experienced legal branch who provide advice and advocacy services on behalf of the State of Queensland.