Annual Gold Coast Legal Conference 2022

About

It’s back! The Annual Gold Coast Legal Conference is returning to The Star on Friday 10 June!

Experience a day of in person sessions, with opening and closing plenaries and a choice of 2 streams & 7 CPD points, proudly supported by our Principal Partner Leap and Major Partners PEXA and Sympli. You will also receive a bonus pack of 3 core CPD point recordings, brought to you by our Major Partner PEXA, which can be accessed after the event.

Covering a wide range of Substantive Law topics relevant to your region, this year’s conference will deliver an impressive line-up of presenters including members of the judiciary, practitioners from the private Bar and local Gold Coast experts!

Brought to you in collaboration with the Gold Coast District Law Association.

Program

Bonus pack of 3 core CPD point (included in 10 total CPD points) recordings, brought to you by our major partner PEXA – link to recording will be sent post event.

7:30 am Registration

8:00 am Welcome to Country and Opening remarks

Presenters:
Kara Thomson, President, Queensland Law Society; Consultant Hughes and Lewis Legal; Accredited Specialist (Personal Injuries) – Qld
Dean Evans, President, Gold Coast District Law Association; Partner, Evans Brandon Family Lawyers

8:10 am Attorney General’s address

Presenter: The Honourable Shannon Fentiman MP, Attorney-General; Member for Waterford; Minister for Justice; Minister for Women; Minister for the Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence, and Ministerial Champion for the Torres Strait
Chair: Kara Thomson, President, Queensland Law Society; Consultant Hughes and Lewis Legal; Accredited Specialist (Personal Injuries) – Qld

8:15 am Address from the Chief Justice of Queensland

Presenter: The Honourable Chief Justice Helen Bowskill, Chief Justice of Queensland
Chair: Kara Thomson, President, Queensland Law Society; Consultant Hughes and Lewis Legal; Accredited Specialist (Personal Injuries) – Qld

8:30 am Good governance through Ethics

We can all learn from the experiences of our fellow practitioners who have faced challenging ethical issues – QLS Ethics Special Counsel, Shane Budden will break down some thorny real life scenarios relating to good governance and the standards required in legal practice. Shane will explore appropriate responses and offer guidance on how you can navigate similar situations to ensure you meet the required ethical standards.

Presenter: Shane Budden, Special Counsel, QLS Ethics and Practice Centre, Queensland Law Society
Chair: Dean Evans, President, Gold Coast District Law Association; Partner, Evans Brandon Family Lawyers

9:25 am Morning tea

9:55 am Stream	1A	1B
	The FCFCOA Hypothetical! Work through a dynamic hypothetical scenario that offers insights into the do’s and don’ts, to best represent your client and expertly guide them along the pathway in a FCFCOA application hearing. Presenters: The Honourable Justice Michael Jarrett, The Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Division 1) Michael Drysdale QC, Barrister, Queensland Bar Michael Alexander, Barrister, Queensland Bar Chair: Guy Neilson, Solicitor, Evans Brandon Family Lawyers; Treasurer, Gold Coast District Law Association	Avoiding the tax headaches When it comes to tax, there are some critical principles you need to apply when dealing with every day legal matters, from settlements of disputes to commercial transactions. This session will highlight some common triggers to look out for to ensure you avoid any future tax headaches. Presenter: Jane FitzGerald, Barrister, Queensland Bar Chair: Daniel Samuel, Director, Paddingtons Lawyers and Attorneys

9:55 am Stream

The FCFCOA Hypothetical!

Work through a dynamic hypothetical scenario that offers insights into the do’s and don’ts, to best represent your client and expertly guide them along the pathway in a FCFCOA application hearing.

Presenters:

The Honourable Justice Michael Jarrett, The Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Division 1)

Michael Drysdale QC, Barrister, Queensland Bar

Michael Alexander, Barrister, Queensland Bar

Chair:

Guy Neilson, Solicitor, Evans Brandon Family Lawyers; Treasurer, Gold Coast District Law Association

Avoiding the tax headaches
When it comes to tax, there are some critical principles you need to apply when dealing with every day legal matters, from settlements of disputes to commercial transactions. This session will highlight some common triggers to look out for to ensure you avoid any future tax headaches.

Presenter:

Jane FitzGerald, Barrister, Queensland Bar

Chair:

Daniel Samuel, Director, Paddingtons Lawyers and Attorneys

10:55 am Stream	2A	2B
	Waving the PI “Red Flags” in general practice Join our experts as they identify some surprising “Red Flag” moments you should be alert to in general practice, and offer guidance, referring to recent case law, on how you can best advise your clients and get yourself off risk. Presenters: Anna Morgan, Practice leader & Special Counsel, Evolve Legal; Member, Gold Coast District Law Association. Jo Sorbello, Barrister, Queensland Bar Accredited Specialist (Personal Injuries) - Qld Chair: Nick Hatcher, Principal, Woods Hatcher Solicitors; Member, Gold Coast District Law Association Committee	The art of Advocacy Whether you are an early career lawyer wishing to develop your advocacy skills or a more experienced practitioner wanting to refine your techniques, this session will provide essential instruction to enhance your ability to deliver personalised and effective advocacy. With decades of accrued experience between our distinguished panellists, they will share their top tips to give you the edge you need for appearances before the courts and tribunals. Panellists: Gary Coveney, Barrister, Queensland Bar Phil Looney QC, Barrister, Queensland Bar Luke Tonge, Barrister, Queensland Bar Chair: Mia Behlau, Partner, Stone Group Lawyers; Secretary, Gold Coast District Law Association

10:55 am Stream

Waving the PI “Red Flags” in general practice

Join our experts as they identify some surprising “Red Flag” moments you should be alert to in general practice, and offer guidance, referring to recent case law, on how you can best advise your clients and get yourself off risk.

Presenters:

Anna Morgan, Practice leader & Special Counsel, Evolve Legal; Member, Gold Coast District Law Association.

Jo Sorbello, Barrister, Queensland Bar Accredited Specialist (Personal Injuries) - Qld

Chair:

Nick Hatcher, Principal, Woods Hatcher Solicitors; Member, Gold Coast District Law Association Committee

The art of Advocacy

Whether you are an early career lawyer wishing to develop your advocacy skills or a more experienced practitioner wanting to refine your techniques, this session will provide essential instruction to enhance your ability to deliver personalised and effective advocacy. With decades of accrued experience between our distinguished panellists, they will share their top tips to give you the edge you need for appearances before the courts and tribunals.

Panellists:

Gary Coveney, Barrister, Queensland Bar

Phil Looney QC, Barrister, Queensland Bar

Luke Tonge, Barrister, Queensland Bar

Chair:

Mia Behlau, Partner, Stone Group Lawyers; Secretary, Gold Coast District Law Association

11:55 Lunch

12:45 pm Stream	3A	3B
	Grow your legal brand Find out how you can plant the seed and nurture your personal legal brand so you flourish in the legal market garden. Our experienced presenter will share some of her secrets to help you achieve evergreen client growth. Presenter: Caralee Fontenele, Director, Collective Family Law Group; Founder, The Scalable Business Lounge. Chair: Joelene Nel, Associate Director, McLaughlins Lawyers; Member, Gold Coast District Law Association Committee	Body Corporate Law by the beach Brought to you by our major sponsor Sympli This session will dive into issues facing Gold Coast bodies corporate and lot owners. Presenters: Ben Strangman, Barrister, Queensland Bar Ben Kidston, Barrister, Queensland Bar Chair: Kassandra Humphries, Manager Practitioner Services Qld/Vic, Sympli

12:45 pm Stream

Grow your legal brand

Find out how you can plant the seed and nurture your personal legal brand so you flourish in the legal market garden. Our experienced presenter will share some of her secrets to help you achieve evergreen client growth.

Presenter:

Caralee Fontenele, Director, Collective Family Law Group; Founder, The Scalable Business Lounge.

Chair:

Joelene Nel, Associate Director, McLaughlins Lawyers; Member, Gold Coast District Law Association Committee

Body Corporate Law by the beach

Brought to you by our major sponsor Sympli

This session will dive into issues facing Gold Coast bodies corporate and lot owners.

Presenters:

Ben Strangman, Barrister, Queensland Bar

Ben Kidston, Barrister, Queensland Bar

Chair:

Kassandra Humphries, Manager Practitioner Services Qld/Vic, Sympli

1:45 pm Stream	4A	4B
	What every lawyer needs to know about criminal law Criminal law intersects with nearly every other practice area. If your client finds themselves on the wrong side of the law, you’ll need to know the basics so that their interests are protected. We’ll explore the criminal law essentials such as when your client should cooperate or keep their lips sealed, what police can or cannot do, and other constructive criminal law advice. Presenters: Erin Mitchell, Director, Potts Lawyers; Committee Member, Gold Coast District Law Association Danielle Hanson, Senior Associate, Potts Lawyers Chair: Shane Budden, Special Counsel, QLS Ethics and Practice Centre, Queensland Law Society	Keeping it in the family: What you need to know about Family Provision applications This session will provide practical direction and updates to case law to help you expertly manage Family Provision applications under the Succession Act 1981 (QLD). Presenters: Andrew Fraser, Barrister, Queensland Bar Carla Parsons, Director, Parsons Law; Accredited Specialist (Succession) - Qld Chair: Cliff Kroesen, Principal, Kroesen & Co Lawyers; Vice-President, Gold Coast District Law Association

1:45 pm Stream

What every lawyer needs to know about criminal law

Criminal law intersects with nearly every other practice area. If your client finds themselves on the wrong side of the law, you’ll need to know the basics so that their interests are protected. We’ll explore the criminal law essentials such as when your client should cooperate or keep their lips sealed, what police can or cannot do, and other constructive criminal law advice.

Presenters:

Erin Mitchell, Director, Potts Lawyers; Committee Member, Gold Coast District Law Association

Danielle Hanson, Senior Associate, Potts Lawyers

Chair:
Shane Budden, Special Counsel, QLS Ethics and Practice Centre, Queensland Law Society

Keeping it in the family: What you need to know about Family Provision applications

This session will provide practical direction and updates to case law to help you expertly manage Family Provision applications under the Succession Act 1981 (QLD).

Presenters:

Andrew Fraser, Barrister, Queensland Bar

Carla Parsons, Director, Parsons Law; Accredited Specialist (Succession) - Qld

Chair:

Cliff Kroesen, Principal, Kroesen & Co Lawyers; Vice-President, Gold Coast District Law Association

2:45 pm Afternoon tea

3:15 pm Governance Panel - Incorporated Legal Practices and the delivery of legal services

Following from our opening plenary session on Good Governance through Ethics, join our panel for an illuminating discussion on issues around the appropriate governance practices for Incorporated Legal Practices.

Panellists:

Megan Mahon, Commissioner, Legal Services Commission, Queensland

Dr Caroline Hart, Associate Head, School of Law and Justice, University of Southern Queensland, and Author, The Seven Elements of Successful Country Law Firms

Ben Cohen, Managing Partner, Bartley Cohen; Accredited Specialist (Commercial Litigation) - Qld; Chair, Queensland Law Society Ethics Committee and Member, Queensland Law Society In-House Counsel Committee

Chair:
Stafford Shepherd, Principal Ethics and Practice Counsel, QLS Ethics and Practice Centre | Legal Practitioner Director, QLS Solicitor Support Pty Ltd, Queensland Law Society

4:45 pm A new President, a new way. Changes to QCAT practice and procedure in discipline applications

This session will provide practical guidance and direction on discipline applications

Presenter:

Ben Cohen, Managing Partner, Bartley Cohen; Accredited Specialist (Commercial Litigation) – Qld; Chair, Queensland Law Society Ethics Committee; Member, Queensland Law Society In-House Counsel Committee

Chair:
Stafford Shepherd, Principal Ethics and Practice Counsel, QLS Ethics and Practice Centre | Legal Practitioner Director, QLS Solicitor Support Pty Ltd, Queensland Law Society

5:15 pm Closing remarks

Presenters:
Kara Thomson , President, Queensland Law Society; Consultant Hughes and Lewis Legal; Accredited Specialist (Personal Injuries) – Qld
Warren Kalinko, Chief Operating Officer, Keypoint Law

5:30 pm Keypoint Law networking drinks | Event Centre Gallery