WIN In-house Counsel Week Australia 2024

Please join us for our annual in-house community event to discuss what’s been, what’s to come, and how in-house counsel can prepare for new challenges and opportunities. Throughout the week of 19 - 23 February, we invite you to attend a series of virtual sessions which aim to provide you with the latest insights and developments and an opportunity to meet your CPD point requirements prior to the 31 March deadline.

Our webinars will cover each of the CPD competency areas of substantive law, ethics, practice management and professional skills.

Session 1: Respect@Work – What you need to know to respond to these landmark reforms

The Respect@Work reforms mark a significant shift in employer and individual liabilities concerning sexual harassment and sex discrimination within the workplace. The reforms reflect the evolving landscape of workplace dynamics and legal obligations, presenting unique challenges for in-house implementation. In this session, we will comprehensively outline these reforms, offer insights into their progress to date and provide practical advice on adapting to these changes.

Tuesday, 20 February 2024
9:00 – 10:00 AWST
11:00 – 12:00 AEST
12:00 – 1:00 AEDT

CPD: Substantive Law (1 point)

 

Session 2: Socio-economic considerations for in-house lawyers 2024

James Pomeroy (Global Economist at HSBC) will bring together economic forecasts from around the world into a concise and snappy global overview.

In this session, some of the themes James will explore include:

• the likely path of interest rates;
• the growth and inflation outlooks that will determine the timing of any rate cuts; and
• the impact of elections this year

Tuesday, 20 February 2024
5:00 – 6:00 AWST
7:00 – 8:00 AEST
8:00 – 9:00 AEDT

CPD: Substantive Law (1 point)

 

Session 3: Artificial Intelligence: The (un)imaginable upsides and potential pitfalls

AI has the potential to fundamentally reshape the practice of law, but with this great power comes great responsibility for those in the legal profession. The aim of this session is to arm you with all the important information you need to be informed, including:

• What AI means for organisations in terms of governance and risk management, IP ownership and data and cyber issues; and
• The legal considerations for in-house counsel.

Wednesday, 21 February 2024
7:00 – 8:00 AWST
9:00 – 10:00 AEST
10:00 – 11:00 AEDT

CPD: Substantive Law (1 point)

 

Session 4: The continuing rise of ESG in Australia: key legal developments facing in-house counsel in 2024

With ESG remaining high on the agenda for organisations across every sector, in this session you'll hear about the latest environmental, social and governance developments from a cross-section of DLA Piper experts.

From the new mandatory climate reporting and ESG litigation trends, to modern slavery, workplace relations and whistleblowing reforms – join us for a practical take on what’s coming, who it will impact and what you need to do in response.

Wednesday, 21 February 2024
11:00 – 12:00 AWST
1:00 – 2:00 AEST
2:00 – 3:00 AEDT

CPD: Substantive Law (1 point)

 

Session 5: Insights from the trenches: top tips for managing (and avoiding) cyber incidents

2023 was (another) big year for cyber security in Australia – more high-profile breaches, increased threat levels, regulatory and media scrutiny and a raft of proposed legal changes.

The DLA Piper team has been on the cyber security front lines, collectively managing over 2,000 incidents worldwide across numerous industries. In this session, we’ll share lessons learned and practical tips for facilitating efficient and effective incident response from beginning to end, as well as improving cyber security resilience before an incident occurs. 

Thursday, 22 February 2024
7:00 -  8:00 AWST
9:00 – 10:00 AEST
10:00 – 11:00 AEDT

CPD: Professional Skills (1/2 point) and Practice Management (1/2 point)

 

Session 6: Ethics and Legal professional privilege for in-house counsel

Join us for a fireside chat with The Hon. John E Middleton AM KC, retired Justice of the Federal Court of Australia, and Gowri Kangeson on legal professional privilege with a focus on inhouse counsel requirements.

The session discuss a range of recent examples and cover:

• Views from the bench
• Legal professional privilege (LPP) - common law advice privilege and common law litigation privilege
• Elements of LPP, including confidentiality, communications, dominant purpose
• The professional relationship requirement
• Joint and common interest privilege Illegal or improper purpose (so LPP does not apply)
• Investigations and LPP Waiver of privilege
• Ethical considerations for lawyers

Thursday, 22 February 2024
9:00 – 10:00 AWST
11:00 – 12:00 AEST
12:00 – 1:00 AEDT

CPD: Ethics (1 point)

 

Session 7: Generative AI in practice: a guide for in-house legal teams

Discover how Generative AI can revolutionise in-house legal operations, improve workflows and processes, and uncover opportunities to better service client needs.

Friday, 23 February 2024
7:00 – 8:00 AWST
8:00 – 9:00  AEST
10:00 – 11:00 AEDT

CPD: Professional Skills