If you are interested in attending any upcoming seminars, receiving a copy of a previous paper, or having members of Northbank Chambers present for you, please contact Northbank Chambers for more information on kmillar@northbankchambers.com.au or 07 3229 6254.

Upcoming

31 August - 4 September 2026, BAQ 14th Commercial Litigation Workshop conducted at the Legal Training Institute, Port Moresby

Recent

1-5 September 2025, BAQ 13th Commercial Litigation Workshop conducted at the Legal Training Institute, Port Moresby

Four members of Northbank Chambers recently travelled to PNG as trainers to conduct the 13th Commercial Litigation Workshop at the Legal Training Institute Port Moresby from 1-5 September 2025.

Andrew Crowe KC (as Team Leader) led a team of 11 trainers.  From Northbank Chambers in addition to Andrew: Mark Steele KC, Max Walker and Hannah Lilley.  The other trainers were Judge Bernard Porter KC, Matthew Brady KC , Andrew Skoien, Dale Bampton, Fiona Lubett, Genevieve Yates and Sarida McLeod together with Justice Logan’s Associate Scott Robinson.

The Workshop was opened by Chief Justice Sir Gibbs Salika.  Justice Joe Crowley, the PNG Solicitor-General, the Acting Secretary of the Law Society and representatives from the Australian High Commission also attended.

The Workshop was a great success with 82 students completing the grueling week of training.

Once again Justice John Logan RFD attended the Workshop having just completed sitting on the PNG Supreme Court hearing appeals.  Justice Logan is due to retire from the Federal Court of Australia in March 2026 and acknowledged that his attendance (having attended every Workshop since 2013) might be his last.  He was presented with an LTI flag.  The team and all the staff and students of the LTI gave Logan J a standing ovation noting his considerable contribution to the LTI over many years.

27 May 2025 - International Academy of Mediators (IAM) conference at the Gold Coast

Andrew Crowe KC and Josh Creamer will be presenting on the conduct of mediators of class actions involving Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islanders and government.

6 April 2025 - Commonwealth Lawyers Conference, Valetta Malta

Andrew Crowe KC is presenting an “Safety in Numbers” - Class Actions with reference to class actions brought in Australia in respect of claims by Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islanders.

BAQ Workshops Nuku’alofa Tonga – 5-8 November 2024

The Trainers

There were seven trainers being: Justice Catherine Muir, Andrew Crowe KC (Team Leader), Matthew Brady KC, Erin Longbottom KC, Holly Blattman KC, Dr Joe Crowley and Reimen Hii .

Commercial Litigation Workshop – Days 1-3

The Government Lawyers Workshop – Day 4 

28 local practitioners participated in the Workshops including government lawyers working at the Attorney General’s Office and elsewhere. The split was approximately 50% private practitioners and 50% government lawyers. 

The Workshops were opened by Justice Nicholas Cooper.  Justice Catherine Muir also spoke at the opening of the Workshops.

Thank you  

The Workshops were able to proceed because of the “on the ground” support in Tonga from Justice Petunia Tupou KC (the Acting Lord Chief Justice until only recently), the Attorney General Ms Linda Folaumoetu’i and the immediate past president of the Tonga Law Society Lopeti Senituli.  During the Workshops this assistance was added to by the support of the Solicitor General Sione Sisifa and the President of the Tonga Law Society Alyssa Kafoa. 

Thank you to the Pacific Justice Sector Programme (NZ funded), the Australian Bar Association, the Law Council of Australia and the Bar Association of Queensland for your support. 

Earlier seminar topics

  • Negotiation Techniques in Commercial Disputes: "How to" Guide

  • Appeals - A Practical Approach to instituting, preparing for and appearing in an Appeal

  • Lay Witness Evidence

  • 7th Annual Intellectual Property Law Review Seminar

  • Trustees’ applications for judicial advice

  • BAQ Annual ADR Conference 

  • The Rules in Jones v Dunkel and Browne v Dunn in Civil Trials 

  • Taking back the contract works – termination and step in rights

  • Issues regarding liquidated damages – penalty v. genuine pre-estimate of loss; LDs v. general damages

  • Expert Evidence

  • Security for Costs (with focus on FCA)