Holmes List Barristers - Winter Family Law Conference 2026
About this Event
EARN 5 CPD POINTS
Agenda
🕑: 08:30 AM - 09:00 AM
Registration
🕑: 09:00 AM
Introduction
🕑: 09:15 AM - 10:30 AM
Session 1 | Trust Me? Trusts, Control and the Property/Financial Resource
Host: Minal Vohra SC (Chair) Alex Fildes (Co-Chair)
Info: A practical examination of the impact of Caldwell on the treatment of discretionary trusts, including guidance on the strategic decisions practitioners face when determining whether a trust is property or a financial resource. The session will also address disclosure issues and access to documents in the trust context.
🕑: 10:30 AM - 11:00 AM
Morning Tea
🕑: 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Session 2 | Gimme Some Credit
Host: Dan Sweeney (Chair) Jonathan Rose (Co-Chair)
Info: The assessment of a client’s credibility begins at the first interview. This session will consider the difference between reliability and credibility, the limitations of demeanour and memory and circumstances in which credit findings may or may not be required. An exploration of practical strategies and tools to prepare your case.
🕑: 12:00 PM - 01:00 PM
Session 3 | The Proof is in the Detail
Host: Helen Dellidis SC (Chair) Gorica Care (Co-Chair)
Info: This session will explore how to gather and present persuasive and helpful evidence when dealing with:
- allegations of coercive control - in property cases following the codification of Kennon, and in parenting cases; and
- protected confidences - how to strike a balance between ensuring the relevant evidence is before the Court and the need to protect therapeutic communications.
🕑: 01:00 PM - 02:00 PM
Networking Lunch
🕑: 02:00 PM - 03:00 PM
Session 4 Lawyers v Machines - Irreconcilable Opponents or Destined Companions
Host: Chris Nehmy SC (Chair) Ashlea Swan (Co-Chair)
Info: Artificial intelligence is no longer on the horizon for family law, it is already in the courtroom.
This session examines how AI is changing the way we operate in the courtroom and beyond as legal practitioners.
Drawing on recent decisions including Handa & Mallick, Helmold & Mariya (No 2) and Mertz & Mertz (No 3), this session explores the emerging risks that every family lawyer needs to understand: deepfakes, AI-generated affidavits, fabricated case authorities and metadata manipulation. Critically, it also looks at how the Court itself is responding to these issues as they arise in proceedings.
But it is not just a tale of woe. In fact, quite the opposite. This session will highlight how AI can be used to make 'good lawyers' ‘great lawyers' and leave you with practical strategies for integrating AI tools into their practice, working smarter, responding faster and delivering better outcomes for clients, while staying firmly on the right side of their professional obligations.
🕑: 03:00 PM - 03:30 PM
Afternoon Tea
🕑: 03:30 PM - 04:30 PM
Session 5 | Mediation : The Main Game
Host: Andrew Barbayannis (Chair) Bianca D'Angelo (Co-Chair)
Info: Preparation, tactics, and closing the deal.
🕑: 04:30 PM - 05:30 PM
Networking Drinks
Where is it happening?
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
AUD 250.00
