Queensland Young Lawyers x Level Twenty Seven Chambers CPD: Disclosure & Discovery in Australian Courts

What will the seminar cover?

Queensland Young Lawyers (QYL) and the barristers at Level Twenty Seven Chambers curated a series of four CPDs spanning 2022 to provide young lawyers with knowledge essential to their role.

The final installment ‘Disclosure’ was facilitated by Sarah Spottiswood and Oliver Cook. Sarah and Oliver are barristers practising from Level Twenty Seven Chambers (Brisbane, Australia) but prior to commencing at the Bar they were solicitors in government departments and an international law firm respectively. They will draw from a deep understanding of the litigation process to highlight:

1. What disclosure is from a legal and technical perspective

2. The different obligations in State and Federal Courts

3. When disclosure is/not appropriate in litigation

They will also answer common questions about practical issues for those subject to disclosure obligations.

Who should attend?

All lawyers with litigation practices, especially those 1-5 PQE.

PRESENTERS

Sarah Spottiswood (Barrister, Level Twenty Seven Chambers)

Since coming to the Bar, Sarah has been instructed in a wide range of commercial disputes. Her practice spans a broad spectrum of industries, including aviation and transport, construction and infrastructure, finance, government, IT, property, environment and resources. With seven years’ experience working as a solicitor in public law litigation for both the UK and Australian governments, Sarah draws on her experience in constitutional and administrative law cases. She has a significant background in international law, having advised a UK government department on international trade issues and represented the UK at the UNCITRAL Working Group on Investor-State Dispute Settlement.

Oliver Cook (Barrister, Level Twenty Seven Chambers)

Advising and appearing for parties in a variety of sectors, including franchising, insurance, consumer protection, construction, government and insolvency in a wide range of commercial matters, Oliver draws on his experience as a commercial disputes solicitor at Herbert Smith Freehills in Brisbane and Tokyo. While a solicitor, he was involved in large-scale and cross-border disputes. As such, he is familiar with heavy and complex matters requiring the coordination of large teams of lawyers and experts, often requiring the adoption of eDiscovery, litigation databases and remote hearing technology.