Program Overview

• National Costs Law Conference - Friday 19 Feb
  • 8:50 AM Webinar Launch
    The webinar will launch ten minutes before the conference begins. Log in early to test your settings and familiarise yourself with webinar features.
  • 9:00 AM Conference Opening & Welcome
  • 9:10 AM Keynote Address – Costs Law Practice in the UK: Lessons for Australia

    Providing a perspective on costs law practice in the UK, this year’s keynote address features the Right Honourable Sir Rupert Jackson, retired Justice of the Court of Appeal of England and Wales and author of the "Jackson Reforms" to costs law in the UK, and Master Jennifer James, Costs Judge of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom.

    Our esteemed presenters will provide valuable insights to inform your costs law practice in 2021 and will cover the following topics:

    • How the reforms brought about by the Jackson review have been implemented
    • Issues that have emerged from their implementation – what amendments have been required and what does this mean for Australia’s gradual implementation of budgets and gross-sum costs quantification?
    • Assessing proportionality and its role in quantifying costs
    • Attitudes towards contingency fees in the UK

    
    

    Compliance area: Substantive Law

    Keynote speakers:

    • The Right Honourable Sir Rupert Jackson, retired Justice of the Court of Appeal of England and Wales
    • Master Jennifer James, Costs Judge, Supreme Court of the United Kingdom
  • 10:20 AM Wellbeing Break
  • 10:25 AM Applications to the Appeal Costs Board

    Join Ms Jill Grace, one of the two esteemed members of The Appeal Costs Board responsible for the administration of the Appeal Costs Act 1998.
    This session will deliver practical advice on preparing applications to the Appeal Costs Board by reference to the different circumstances in civil and criminal matters where an indemnity certificate is granted.

    The session will also provide insights into navigating the online application tool, timeframes, maximum costs payable and, importantly, the role of the board when it requires costs claimed by way of an application to the Appeal Costs Board to be taxed.

    Compliance area: Substantive Law

    Speakers: Jill Grace, member of the Victorian Appeal Costs Board

  • 11:15 AM Morning Tea Break
  • 11:25 AM What’s New in Legal Costing: The aftermath of Bell v Pentelow

    With the sheer volume of matters being heard before courts and tribunals on a daily basis, staying on top of case law developments relevant to your practice can be hard work.

    This practical session will save you time and effort by reviewing recent cases and trends in costs with a particular focus on the consequences of the decision in Bell Lawyers Pty Ltd v Pentelow [2019] HCA 2, as well as where jurisprudence in this area is headed and the practical ramifications for costs lawyers.

    The session will also review other key case updates and developments of note and offer tips that you can take back to the businesses you advise.

    Compliance area: Substantive Law

    Speaker: Michelle Castle, Barrister, New South Wales Bar

  • 12:10 PM Wellbeing Break
  • 12:15 PM Mind Over Matter

    Reflecting on the realities of how life has changed over the past year and as we emerge into a world beyond the pandemic, this insightful session will focus on practical strategies you can employ to build resilience and manage your wellbeing.

    Compliance area: Professional Skills/Practice Management & Business Skills

    Speaker: Sally Wilson, Leadership & Change Coach

  • 1:00 PM Lunch & Virtual Networking
  • 2:00 PM Unpacking the ‘Broad Brush Approach’

    Delving into the nuances of lump sum cost orders and what a broad brush approach looks like in the context of these orders, this panel discussion will cover topics including:

    • The meaning of a "broad brush approach"
    • How this approach is applied across jurisdictions and the differences across the states
    • When to take this approach and what considerations to bear in mind

    
    

    This session will enhance your understanding of the unique considerations that arise in these matters across jurisdictions and provide tips to improve your practice when dealing with these matters.

    Compliance area: Substantive Law

    Panelists:

    • Judicial Registrar David Ryan, Federal Court of Australia
    • Kerrie Rosati, Principal, DGT Costs Lawyers
    • Michelle Castle, Barrister, New South Wales Bar
    • Antonella Terranova, Director, Castra Legal Costing
      
  • 2:45 PM Wellbeing Break
  • 2:50 PM Costing Through a Pandemic & Beyond

    Join Judicial Registrar Gourlay in this thought-provoking session exploring the costing implications arising from remote work during the COVID-19 pandemic.

    Highlighting key lessons to be learned and risk areas to be aware of, this session will consider a range of topics including:

    • Allowances on taxation and assessment for increased costs arising from COVID-19
    • The future of virtual taxations and assessments
    • Assessments when working from an electronic file only while the paper file is not accessible, and the disclaimer that is required relating to the difficulties associated with the assessment

    
    Compliance area: Substantive Law

    Speaker: Judicial Registrar Gourlay, Costs Court of Victoria

  • 3:50 PM Afternoon Tea Break
  • 4:00 PM Ethics in Practice

    Join our expert ethics presenter Stafford Shepherd in a highly interactive workshop discussion addressing a selection of challenging ethical issues which can arise in daily legal practice in the context of costing work.

    Topics for discussion will include a solicitor’s duty to the court and administration of justice, confidentiality, privilege, conflict of interest and inadvertent disclosure.

    Compliance area: Ethics & Professional Responsibility

    Speaker: Stafford Shepherd, Principal Ethics & Practice Counsel, Queensland Law Society

  • 5:00 PM Conference Close