Defamation Law: The Essentials
Six experts will lead you through a comprehensive and practical guide of the latest developments in the serious harm thresholds and cases, whistleblowing complexities and reform plus damages in defamation. Walk away with a practical step-by-step plan from publication to verdict or settlement. This is a must-attend event for anyone seeking to understand protecting reputation in today's fast-paced, highly connected society. Secure your place at the forefront of Defamation Law essential knowledge. WEB235N12Z
Description
Attend and earn 4 CPD units in Substantive Law
This program is applicable to practitioners from all States & Territories
Chair: Rebecca Dunn, Partner, Gilbert + Tobin
9.00am to 10.00am Serious Harm Under the New Legislation, Recent Cases, the Law and Practice and Procedure
- Application of the serious harm threshold- what is serious harm?
- How to establish serious harm?
- Lessons from case laws
Presented by Parisa Hart, Barrister, Nigel Bowen Chambers
10.00am to 11.00am Panel Discussion: From Publication to Verdict/Settlement
Join this panel discussion to take a look at all the steps from publication to decision or settlement when acting for a plaintiff/defendant in a defamation case.
Panellists include:
Holly Blattman KC, Carbolic Chambers
Ian Bloemendal, Partner, Clayton Utz
11.00am to 11.15am Break
11.15am to 12.15pm Defamation and Whistleblowing
- Whistleblowing: what is the statutory and general law framework?
- Defamation: how are whistle-blowers protected?
- Reform: should whistle-blower defamation protection be increased?
Presented by Kieran Smark SC, 153 Phillip Barristers
12.15pm to 1.15pm Damages in Defamation Cases
- Statutory limits and compensating economic loss
- Case studies of publications on social and non-traditional media
- Awards from the outer edges
Presented by Gautam Mukherji, Barrister, Aickin Chambers
Presenters
Rebecca Dunn
Rebecca is a partner in Gilbert + Tobin’s Tech & IP group. She is an experienced intellectual property and media litigator who has worked on some of the leading copyright cases in Australia. In addition to copyright, her focus is on defamation, trade mark litigation and Australian Consumer Law litigation. Rebecca has particular expertise in the online space in relation to copyright, defamation, consumer law, social media, privacy and data protection. She has worked on a variety of enforcement matters for both national and international clients including the film and music industries. Rebecca has litigated cases in the Supreme and Federal Courts and at appellate level in the NSW Court of Appeal, the Full Federal Court and the High Court of Australia. Rebecca is the President of the Communications and Media Law Alliance, a member of the Copyright Society of Australia and the Intellectual Property Society of Australia and New Zealand. Rebecca has a Bachelor of Law (First Class Honours) from the University of Sydney and a Bachelor of Arts (Communications Studies) from the University of Newcastle. Rebecca was admitted as a solicitor in 2005. Rebecca also has a Masters of Research in issues relating to social media law and democracy.
Parisa Hart
Since being called to the bar in 2016, Parisa has been briefed in a vast area of law and has significant experience in Defamation Law and Criminal Law. She is an active member of the legal profession and is a member of the Young Lawyers Civil Litigation, Communications, Entertainment and Technology Law, Criminal Law and Family Law Committees. Parisa is also on the External Junior Counsel Panel and has appeared as Junior Counsel for the CDPP on complex Commonwealth Prosecution matters. Parisa has written articles on legal topics which have been published in the BarNews Journal and the Australian Bar Review.
Holly Blattman KC
Holly was admitted to the Bar in 2007 and took silk in 2022. Her primary focus is commercial, industrial and insurance litigation, but her practice spans other areas including defamation law, inquests and inquiries, and estates law. Before joining the Bar, Holly was associate to her Honour Chief Judge Wolfe of the Queensland District Court, and then practiced as a solicitor at (then-called) DLA Phillips Fox.
Ian Bloemendal
32 years' experience acting in complex litigation and ADR for government and listed companies. Ian's practice areas include defamation and media issues, financial services, class actions and regulatory investigations and litigation; complex or high stakes reputational commercial/technology and/or product liability disputes. Ian was Queensland Lawyer of the Year for Defamation and Media Law (Best Lawyers) in 2017 and again in 2020, and has been trusted to represent the former Premier of Queensland as well as members of Cabinet from both major parties, senior public officials, professional bodies and senior executives. He 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). He formerly sat on the Law Council's specialist ADR Committee and the Qld Law Society Competition and Consumer Law Committee. To add some balance to life he serves as Chairman of the Brisbane Club Wine Committee and is Honorary Consul for Denmark in Queensland.
Kieran Smark SC
Kieran Smark was admitted as a barrister in 1991 and was appointed Senior Counsel in 2007. He practices in defamation and commercial law and has appeared in many trials and appeals in those areas. He also advises in relation to equity, property and intellectual property matters.
Gautam Mukherji
Gautam provides advice and acts in a wide variety of commercial and administrative law matters. His practice has a particular focus on defamation and intellectual property law including trade marks, and copyright, and administrative law including FOI proceedings. He also has experience in corporations law including insolvency, corporate governance and compliance, regulatory issues and more general commercial litigation including contractual disputes, consumer disputes, and estates disputes. Gautam has appeared in trials and applications in the Federal Court of Australia and the Supreme Court of Victoria and Western Australia (both as junior counsel and unled), as well as in the County and Magistrates’ Courts of Victoria, the VCAT and AAT. Gautam has also advised and represented individuals in Australian Securities and Investments Commission and Australian Competition and Consumer Commission investigations. Before coming to the Bar Gautam was a Senior Associate at K&L Gates (then Middletons) where he specialised in commercial litigation and intellectual property. Gautam holds an honours degree in Law and a Masters in Law from the University of Melbourne. He is a contributing author for the Laws of Australia.