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Workshops

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Keynote Speaker - Opening Plenary

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Jacinta Gallant - Canada

Lawyer, Mediator, Innovator and Educator

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What About Us?!

 

Family law professionals care deeply about the clients we serve.  There are so many pressures on us – managing client conflict, worrying about the kids, suffering through adversarial dynamics with colleagues and delivering service that is worthy of our fees.  A day at the office can feel frustrating, unrewarding or even soul-destroying! How can we nourish and sustain ourselves doing this important work?

The opening plenary is not about self-care – though there will be soothing moments!  It’s about working smarter, not harder, and understanding the neuroscience that helps support a more relaxed and curious approach to our work (and life).

 

Come ready to explore ways to align your personal and professional values and get more satisfaction out of this important work.

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CPD: Practice Management and Business Skills, Professional Skills

 

Workshops

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Trauma-Informed Practice and Family Law

 

Leanne Bamford – Australia

Social Worker, Family Consultant, Child Consultant for Child-Inclusive Mediation, Collaborative Practice Coach/Family Professional

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This workshop will look at the neurobiology of trauma on the brain and its impact on family members experiencing divorce and separation.  Leanne will draw on knowledge from esteemed experts in this area, such as Professor Van de Kolk, Janina Fischer and Judith Herman to help us understand what trauma is, and how the brain responds to trauma, and what to expect and/or look for if we suspect our clients have been impacted by trauma.

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The workshop will also explore the principles and practices of a trauma-informed approach to all facets of the lawyer/client relationship, and, in particular, how you can utilise this process when mediating and/or using a collaborative approach to resolving your clients’ issues.

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Finally, the workshop will explore the issue of vicarious trauma and the importance of understanding how this can impact on practitioners and how employers and employees (as well as colleagues and players within the family law arena) can adopt and practice a trauma-informed approach to self-care and the wellness of those working in this highly emotive area.

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This workshop will provide practical tips to take away and use in your practice as a lawyer, mediator, divorce coach or collaborative neutral.

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CPD: Professional Skills​​

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Why every family law client needs a Divorce Coach

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Join us for this panel discussion where a lawyer and financial planner - who are also Certified Divorce Coaches - talk about why your client needs a Divorce Coach , regardless of whether they are negotiating, mediating, collaborating, or litigating.

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Facilitator:

Jennifer Hetherington - Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand

Accredited Family Law Specialist, Family Lawyer, Mediator, Registered Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner (Australia), Collaborative Lawyer, and Parenting Coordinator

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​Panellists:

Dominique Bergel-Grant - Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand

Divorce Financial Planner (Australia and New Zealand), Certified Divorce Coach, Mediator, and Collaborative Practice Coach

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Kelly Sutton - Aotearoa New Zealand

Accredited Mediator, Certified Divorce Coach, Divorce Transition and Recovery Coach and Pre Mediation Divorce Coach, Facilitator, Lawyer, New Ways for Families Licensed Mediation and Co-Parenting without Conflict Coach, and Collaborative Practice Coach

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CPD: Practice Management and Business Skills, Professional Skills

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Innovation in Family Law and Mediation

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This panel will draw on wisdom from those working within family law in Australia, the UK, Canada and more.   As registrations come in, we are pulling together a fantastic panel to share innovative ideas to help you do better - and more enjoyable - family law work.

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Facilitator:

Jacinta Gallant - Canada

Innovator, Trainer, Family Lawyer, Collaborative Lawyer, Mediator, creator of Our Family in Two Homes, the Curious Mediator and Out of Court Lawyer.

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Panellists:

Jo O'Sullivan - UK

Solicitor Neutral, Family Lawyer, Accredited Mediator, Collaborative Lawyer, Author of ‘(Almost) Anything but Family Court’

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​Ben Deverson - Australia 

​Founder of Lawganised, Author of 'The 5 Golden Rules to Improve your Cashflow'

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​Jennifer Hetherington - Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand 

CoFounder of Divorce Hub, 

Founder of Untying the Knot

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CPD: Practice Management and Business Skills, Professional Skills

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Family Law update - what the latest cases and amendments mean for family lawyers and mediators

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Facilitator:

Anna Black - Australia

Barrister (Family Law), qualified Social Worker

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Anna will lead this panel discussion with senior family law barristers discussing the amendments to the Family Law Act (Australia) commencing on 10 June 2025, and the latest decisions of the Australian and New Zealand family law courts, impacting on both lawyers and mediators.  The panel will discuss why these amendments and decisions are important whether you practice in Australia, New Zealand, or the Northern Hemisphere.​

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CPD: Substantive Law (Family Law and Mediation)

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The day will conclude with drinks, showcasing local Central Otago wines and craft beer, sponsored by Lawganised. 

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Register, or read more information about the conference location.

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Discounted pricing is available if delegates register for both day one, and the Workshop on days two and three.

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Please note that due to the variables of international travel and speakers, the time for each workshop and panel is not published until the commencement of the conference and workshops, and their timing remains subject to change.

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Whilst guidance is provided about the CPD areas applicable for each workshop and panel, delegates will need to self-assess the relevance to their own area of practice and whether the content meets the requirements of their supervising body.

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