Join Anthony Thomas and Julie Wright for their annual round up of lessons learned the hard way.

Robert Sundercombe is a highly experienced adjudicator who has decided claims under the security of payment legislation across Australia since 2003.

He will share his insights into what he finds persuasive in adjudication applications and responses and what to avoid.

Opportunities to hear first-hand from adjudicators are rare – this is not to be missed.

Robert Sundercombe is a highly experienced adjudicator who has decided claims under the security of payment legislation across Australia since 2003.

He will share his insights into what he finds persuasive in adjudication applications and responses and what to avoid.

Opportunities to hear first-hand from adjudicators are rare – this is not to be missed.

2026 will mark the 50th anniversary of the High Court’s decision in Caltex Oil (Aust) Ltd Ltd v Dredge Willemstad (1976) 136 CLR 529. Since that time the Court has been searching for a unifying criteria to determine when a duty of care will be owed to avoid pure economic loss. In this session, Richard Cheney SC and Ian Roberts SC examine the path from Caltex Oil to the High Court’s decision in Mallonland Pty Ltd v Advanta Seeds Pty Ltd [2024] HCA 25 to understand how far we have come, and where we are heading.

With so many CPDs earnest, but singular, join us for a different style of CPD – a dynamic panel discussion between Declan Byrne, Ashley Cameron, and Faheem Anwar, hosted by Frank Hicks SC, adopting the classic ‘hypotheticals’ style.

The panel will consider various issues having regard hypothetical facts, including initial instructions and the prospect of injunctions, on site disputes (Can you film the builder in the course of works?), termination, case preparation and experts (conclaves and the riddle of Schrodinger’s Cat – is you case alive or dead?), attendance at Court, hearing and judgment.

Tim and Jacinta provide a refresher, review some recent cases and consider the extension of nervous shock claims in the areas of historical abuse claims and childcare centres.

This talk will look at restorative justice in the coronial setting, with a focus on potential stakeholder engagement including parties with a sufficient interest.

Hernan Pintos-Lopez (Greenway Chambers) and Rodrigo Pintos-Lopez (List A Barristers) will discuss recent developments in class actions, with a particular focus on:

1. How the class actions landscape is changing;

2. Recent High Court authority in relation to class closure; and

3. Whether the new statutory tort for serious invasions of privacy might lead to new class actions, particularly in relation to cybercrime and mass data breaches.

Hernan Pintos-Lopez (Greenway Chambers) and Rodrigo Pintos-Lopez (List A Barristers) will discuss recent developments in class actions, with a particular focus on:

1. How the class actions landscape is changing;

2. Recent High Court authority in relation to class closure; and

3. Whether the new statutory tort for serious invasions of privacy might lead to new class actions, particularly in relation to cybercrime and mass data breaches.

Louise and Thomas will discuss some recent developments in the insurance law space. The session will focus on key cases from the last 12 months and what they may signal for the future.