10 Points in One Day in Cairns
Now in its 11th consecutive year this annual program is back and better than ever! Featuring 11 timely topics hand-picked to cover some of the most crucial areas of law, you’ll gain all the CPD you need and bolster your practice in one efficient, information-packed day. Attend the full day or just the sessions relevant to you and complete your CPD with a line-up of excellent speakers covering the most important topics you need to know. 228NQ05
Description
Attend and earn 10 CPD units including:
7 units in Legal Knowledge
1 unit in Practical Legal Ethics
1 unit in Practice Management or Business Skills
1 unit in Professional Skills
This program is based on QLD legislation
Session 1
Property and Family Law
Chair: Joanne Parisi, Director, MacDonnells Law
7.30am to 8.15am Navigating Body Corporate Disputes
- The appropriate forum for resolution of disputes
- Overview of the Body Corporate and Community Management Act 1997 (Qld) (BCCMA ACT) dispute resolution provisions
- Lodging a dispute with the Office of the Commissioner for Body Corporate and Community Management
- Applicable time limits
- Case examples
Presented by Rhiannon Saunders, Director, WGC Lawyers
8.15am to 9.00am A Guide to the Foreign Investment Review Board for Conveyancing Transactions
- Overview of FIRB framework
- Common misconceptions
- Foreign and threshold tests
- Civil and criminal penalties for non-compliance
Presented by James Harding, Legal Practice Director, Harding Property Law
9.00am to 9.45am Family Violence in Parenting Matters in the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia
- Running the best case for your client
- Practical tips
- Fact finding
- Best evidence
Presented by Rebekah Bassano, Barrister, Quay 11 Chambers
9.45am to 10.30am Practical Tips for Drafting Affidavit Material in Family Law Matters: How to Avoid Successful Objections to Evidence
- Overview of the evidentiary rules in family law matters
- Complying with the new practice direction for interim hearings
- Common pitfalls to avoid
- Tips on presenting your client’s case
Presented by Jessica Shuttleworth, Lawyer, Wilson Ryan Grose Lawyers, Townsville
10.30am to 10.45am Morning Tea
Session 2
CPD Mandatory Core Areas
Chair: Mark Peters, Principal, Peters Bosel Lawyers
Practice Management & Business Skills
10.45am to 11.45am Innovative Marketing Tips for Your Practice
- Are you really set up for business? 99.9999% chance you’re not!
- Importance of a paid digital strategy
- Analysing your competitors to leverage your own marketing strategy and stay ahead of the game
Presented by Renee Dembowski, CEO, Social Butterfly Marketing
Practical Legal Ethics
11.45am to 12.45pm Sexual Harassment and Bullying in the Profession
- In the workplace:
- The relevant ethical principles
- What is harassment
- The legislative framework
- Case examples
- Employer responsibility
- Practical tips
- Dealing with inappropriate judicial conduct in the courtroom
- The relevant ethical principles
- What is and what is not appropriate judicial conduct
- Case examples
- Practical tips
Presented by John Hayward, Director, WGC Lawyers
Professional Skills
12.45pm to 1.45pm Dispute Resolution for the Commercial Lawyer: Maximise the Benefits, Avoid the Pitfalls
This session is aimed at the commercial lawyer in general practice to give best guidance in management of a dispute in its early stages. You will consider:
- Formulating a dispute resolution strategy
- Engaging in ‘without prejudice’ communications
- The risks in making robust statements
- Effective use of offers to settle
Presented by Christopher Taylor, Barrister, Trinity Chambers
1.45pm to 2.15pm Networking Lunch
Session 3
Commercial Law and Wills Update
Chair: John Eylander, Barrister, Commercial Court Chambers
2.15pm to 3.15pm The Recent Far-Reaching Changes to Franchising Law
- Increased penalties
- Potential penalties for legal advisers
- The Disclosure Register
- Challenges with the recent amendments to the disclosure document and Key Facts Sheet
- What to be aware of when acting for a franchisee or franchisor
Presented by Elizabeth Gore Jones, Principal, The Franchise and Business Lawyers
3.15pm to 4.15pm Recent Insolvency Law Reforms for Small Businesses
- Overview of the process
- Eligibility
- Advantages
- Timeline
Presented by Matt Mullen, Director, Grant Thornton
4.15pm to 4.30pm Afternoon Tea
4.30pm to 5.30pm Unfair Contracts: Navigating the Latest Reforms, Cases & Developments
- Treasury Laws Amendment (Enhancing Tax Integrity and Supporting Business Investment) Bill 2022
- Prohibitions and pecuniary penalties
- Small business definition
- Defining standard form contracts/rebuttable presumptions
- Remedies
Presented by John Seccull, Barrister, Commercial Court Chambers
5.30pm to 6.30pm Informal Wills: How Far Have We Come?
- Formal requirements for a will
- What happens when they fall short?
- Identifying informal wills and your obligations in relation to ‘other testamentary documents’ of unknown validity
- Probate and informal wills
- The Court’s power to dispense
- Evidence
- What evidence is required?
- How do you get the evidence?
- Are they getting easier to prove?
- Is testamentary capacity still required?
- Professional negligence
- Should you get your clients to sign your instructions?
- What are your duties to a disappointed beneficiary?
Presented by Sally Ann Hayward, Principal Lawyer, Cairns Mobile Wills and Probate
Presenters
Joanne Parisi
Joanne Parisi is an owner and director of the MacDonnells Law state-wide Risk, Dispute Resolution and Litigation Team, focusing on advising clients on avoiding and resolving commercial disputes. Joanne prides herself on obtaining a commercial outcome for her clients by giving expert legal advice and practical solutions whilst ensuring her clients understand the dispute resolution and litigation processes. Joanne has over 18 years experience in the legal industry advising small, medium and large businesses, private companies, public companies, not-for-profit organisations, government owned corporations and local governments in an array of industries. She is a dynamic Director of the firm who actively participates in extra-curricular commitments in the community. Joanne is a current director of Cazalys, a board member of the Far North Queensland Hospital Foundation and on the audit and risk committee for Tropical Tourism North Queensland.
Rhiannon Saunders
Rhiannon was appointed a Director of WGC Lawyers in 2018 in recognition of her determination to develop expertise in several practice areas, her track record of effectively obtaining excellent results for clients, and her strong leadership qualities. Rhiannon has particular skills and interest in body corporate issues, including disputes concerning committees, caretakers, letting agents and owners. Her broad range of capabilities covers simple disputes about non-payment of contributions to complicated disputes concerning the interpretation of by-laws as well as the legislation applicable to bodies corporate, caretaking and letting agreements and other contractual issues. Her expertise also extends to matters involving insolvency, contractual disputes, defamation, and competition and consumer law. Rhiannon has been involved in many cases that have subsequently been reported as case law, including matters in the Office of the Commissioner for Body Corporate and Community Management, QCAT, as well as the State Courts. She takes pride in achieving results quickly, efficiently and cost-effectively for all her clients, including bodies corporate, commercial enterprises, financial institutions, government bodies, small businesses, individuals and insolvency practitioners.
James Harding
Combining his small business and entrepreneurial background with a deep understanding of complex issues in the property and development industry, James provides strategic advice for clients across Queensland. From corporate and government projects to private clients, James delivers practical solutions across the full gamut of commercial transactions including large-scale off-the-plan projects and intricate property development issues. Having been an employer and running successful small businesses in addition to his career in the law, James brings a unique blend of commercial insights and legal expertise to every client transaction. James’ experience includes acting for a range of State Government, national statutory bodies and charitable institutions on their property transactional requirements in Queensland, acquisition and sale of businesses and corporate restructuring, provision of complex titling and structuring advice regarding State leasehold Islands including the Whitsundays Islands, acting for and advising national lessors and shopping centre operators regarding COVID-19 related leasing issues and provision of complex Foreign Investment Review Board Approval advice including compliance and enforcement responses and Duties and Australian Foreign Acquirer Duty advices.
Mark Peters
Mark Peters has advised employers and employees on a range of employment law and workplace relations matters for over 35 years. In addition to his legal qualifications, he holds a Masters Degree in Industrial Relations from Oxford University. As partner of Peters Bosel Lawyers, Mark delivers specialist employment law and workplace relations advice and representation to employers across Queensland, from small businesses and local government to large government organisations and corporations. Mark was drawn to the Cairns region from Sydney after a 1989 holiday. In 1991 he moved to Cairns to join MacDonnells Law where, as partner, he established the firm's state-wide employment law and workplace relations practice. Mark established Peters Bosel Lawyers with Julie Bosel in 2011. The firm practises solely in employment law and workplace relations. He is driven by the desire to ensure that employers develop, and adhere to, good practices in dealing with workplace issues that not only protect the best interests of employers, but afford employees fairness and natural justice.
Renee Dembowski
Social Butterfly Marketing founder and CEO Renee Dembowski is somewhat of a visionary in the exciting world of social media. With fresh ideas and a penchant for predicting the next big thing, Renee has successfully transformed a flair for social media strategy into an award-winning enterprise. A professional member of the Social Media Marketing Institute, Renee was the first person in Australia to be awarded the Diploma of Social Media Marketing. Now, as an industry recognised trainer and continuing education provider for the Institute, she is catapulting other aspiring hopefuls into the profession. This is just one of many firsts for the innovative trailblazer. In 2015, she conceptualised the first ever Virtual Fashions on the Field, taking the social media reach of the Cairns Amateurs Racing Carnival – a popular fixture on the Australian racing calendar – to new heights. This ground-breaking initiative reached a staggering 5.9 million people – an impressive 380 per cent increase on the previous year.
John Hayward
John Hayward is a Director at WGC Lawyers in Cairns. John is a Senior Counsellor with the Queensland Law Society, a member of the QLS Ethics Committee, the Chair of the QLS Guidance Statement Sub-committee, a partner of the Fair Work Commission’s Workplace Advice Service and a member of Industrial Relations Society of Queensland. Over the past two decades, John has carved out a career assisting large and small organisations with every aspect of lawfully and effectively starting, running and closing a business. He has extensive experience in promptly and cost-effectively resolving disputes, including contract disputes, partnership, shareholder and director disputes, defamation, and competition and consumer law.His expertise extends to insolvency, debt recovery, voluntary administration, liquidation, receivership and bankruptcy matters. John has effectively represented clients before the State Courts, Federal Courts, Fair Work Commission, and a variety of State Tribunals, including the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal. He is actively involved with the AICD and the Queensland Law Society, and assists many not-for-profit and charitable organisations.
Christopher Taylor
For approximately 20 years prior to entering the legal profession, Christopher worked within the construction industry both in Australia and South-East Asia in various site and project management roles. During the late 1980's he developed an expertise in taking over distressed projects. Asa result in 1990 he was called upon to advise on projects in South-East Asia, ultimately leading to his presence there for the majority of that decade heading up his own construction management company from 1994. Christopher has a particular focus on, and passion for, alternative dispute resolution, being an accredited mediator, arbitrator, expert determiner and registered adjudicator under the relevant Security of Payment legislation in QLD, ACT, SA, NT and WA. He also sits as a Sessional Member on the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal conducting hearings in the Building Dispute List, General Administrative Review List, and Guardianship and Administration List.
John Eylander
John Eylander was awarded the degree of Bachelor of Arts by Griffith University, LL.B. by the Queensland University of Technology, certificate of Chinese Law at East China University of Politics and Law, and in 2001 was conferred a Master of Arts at Griffith University by thesis on "Judicial Independence in Indonesia". He has practiced as a solicitor, a government legal officer, practice manager of a regional law firm, and partnership with a national firm. John lectures at University, regularly presents at legal and industry events, is a mediator, and is a member of various Tribunals including the Development Tribunal. John was first called to the Bar in 2001 in Brisbane before moving the Cairns in 2007. He returned to the Bar in 2015 with a civil and regulatory practice, including family and children's matters, personal injury and insurance, estate litigation, building & construction, planning & environment, commercial & corporate, defamation, employment & human rights, and administrative reviews/appeals/and prosecutions.
Elizabeth Gore Jones
Elizabeth Gore-Jones was admitted in 1994 and commenced specialising in franchising law in 2000. She started her law firm "The Franchise & Business Lawyers" in 2012 specialising in providing commercial, business and franchising advice to franchisors and franchisees alike. She is a member of the Queensland Law Society Franchising Committee and is a past member of the Franchise Council of Australia, the Queensland chapter of the Franchise Council committee and the Women in Franchising committee. Elizabeth lectures at the Bond University PLT course explaining franchise legal practice to graduate law students. Elizabeth has a particular interest in setting up new franchise systems and assisting franchisees in dispute to reach an agreement without resorting to the court system.
Matt Mullen
Matt is a Chartered Accountant who is currently a Director within the Financial Advisory. Recovery & Reorganisation division in the Grant Thornton Australia Limited Cairns office. Matt has worked in the insolvency and restructuring professional services sector for over 16 years in both Australia and the United Kingdom which has allowed him to gain invaluable experience across a wide range of engagements. Matt's role with Grant Thornton Australia Limited offers him the opportunity to work in both the personal and corporate insolvency areas including all types of formal engagements.
John Seccull
John Seccull was recently admitted to the Bar in Queensland. After commencing his career as a Judge’s Associate he practiced as a solicitor in Cairns for 13 years, including as principal of his own firm, primarily in the field of commercial litigation. He has a particular interest in the areas of commercial, property, family, building and construction and succession law.
Sally Ann Hayward
Sally is the Director and Principal Lawyer of Cairns Mobile Wills & Probate. Sally works exclusively in succession law, estate planning and estate administration. Sally prides herself on the quality of her work – whether she is drafting a simple will or undertaking a complex probate application. Sally has developed expertise in applications for court authorised wills, informal will and other complex probate applications and granny flat agreements. Sally’s mobile business provides quality service at a fair price, offering fixed price packages ranging from estate planning essentials to complex multi-testamentary discretionary trust wills.