2025 Wills and Estates Conference

Now in its tenth year, the very popular ACT Wills and Estates Conference is an all-day conference that will appeal both to experienced practitioners and those aspiring to specialise in this field. Designed by specialists, and featuring a range of local and interstate speakers, the conference will focus on practical aspects of succession law.

DETAILS

• When: Wednesday 22 October 2025  I  9:00am - 5:30pm (registration from 8:30am)
• Where: ACT Law Society  I  Level 1, 5 Constitution Ave, Canberra 
• Cost: Members - $450, Student Members - $150, Non-members - $630
• CPD: Members will receive 6.5 CPD points
• RSVP: Friday 17 October

Reduced rates may be available to some of our members to ensure equal training opportunities. Please make contact to discuss your eligibility.

 

MEET THE SPEAKERS

THE HON. PHILLIP HALLEN SC

The Honourable Philip Hallen SC was appointed as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court in July 2010 and then as a Justice of the Supreme Court in November 2012, sitting in the Equity Division, until his retirement. He was the Family Provision List Judge from March 2013 until February 2020 and then the Succession List Judge until August 2023. He was also a member of the ADR Committee of the Supreme Court for many years.
Prior to his appointment to the Supreme Court, and from the beginning of his practice at the Bar, Mr Hallen was a member of 13 Selborne Chambers.
As counsel and senior counsel, Mr Hallen was an accredited mediator included in the Bar Association’s General Accredited Mediators List. He conducted many, as well as appearing in many, mediations as counsel. 
Whilst on the Bench, he conducted Judicial Settlement Conferences, which he found a useful tool in alternative dispute resolution.
With more than 40 years’ experience in civil litigation as a solicitor, barrister, Senior Counsel and, then Judge, Mr Hallen is available to act as a Mediator and facilitator in Australia. Areas of civil litigation in which Mr Hallen has specific expertise are Equity, Succession, Trusts, Commercial and Property Law, and Family Law.

 

KATIE BINSTOCK

PARTNER  I  THOMSON GEER

Katie specialises in succession, elder, regulatory, and administrative law. In succession law, she excels in estate planning, administration, and litigation, crafting comprehensive estate plans and guiding clients through disputes. She navigates elder law matters such as guardianship applications and elder abuse suspicions. In regulatory and administrative law, Katie advises on complaint management, investigations, and appeals, representing clients in Tribunals and Courts. With a commercial and solutions-driven approach, she resolves disputes effectively.

 

VIK SUNDAR

MANAGING DIRECTOR  I  CLEAR LAW

With over 15 years experience as an estate planning and superannuation lawyer, Vik Sundar is the Managing Director of Clear Law, a boutique firm specialising in commercial law, tax, superannuation and estate planning, with offices in Canberra, Sydney, and Melbourne.
Vik is the author of four textbooks on estate planning, superannuation and tax, with his latest textbook, ‘Testamentary Trusts: Strategies and Precedents (4^th edition)’, published by Lexis Nexis in 2024 containing dedicated chapters on super and tax.
Vik has a Bachelor of Commerce (UoW), Juris Doctor (ANU), Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice (ANU) and a Masters of Tax Law (USyd) and is the current President of the ACT Law Society.

 

RENÉE BIANCHI

BARRISTER  I  13TH FLOOR ST JAMES HALL CHAMBERS

Renée Bianchi commenced practice as a barrister in 2013. She graduated from the University of Newcastle with a Bachelor of Biomedical Science (Honours) in 2004 and a Bachelor of Laws/Diploma of Legal Practice in 2007.
Renée has a diverse practice in equity, common law, and commercial matters. She particularly specialises in wills and probate, succession, general commercial law, and professional negligence. 
Doyle’s Guide has listed her in its Wills and Estates Litigation Leading Lawyers list since 2016, as Preeminent Junior Counsel in this area in NSW and Leading Junior Counsel in Australia since 2024.
Renée is currently President of Australian Women Lawyers, Chair of the B Miles Women’s Foundation, and Co-Vice Chair of the Women Barristers Forum. She is also a member of the Law Council of Australia’s Equal Opportunity Committee and NSW Bar Association’s Succession and Protective Law Committee. 

 

IAN METZ

BARRISTER  I  BLACKBURN CHAMBERS

Ian Metz has been a barrister at Blackburn Chambers for five years. Prior to being called, he spent several years at a large national law firm and a year as an associate to a Judge in the Equity division of the NSW Supreme Court.