1.30pm: Login/Welcome  

1.35pm: Contractual Interpretation in 2025 and Beyond

• Current approach of the High Court
• 10 uncontroversial principles to keep in mind when drafting or construing a contract
• Ambiguity and surrounding circumstances
• Inconsistency
• Canons of construction
• Future of contractual interpretation

2.35pm: Break

2.45pm: Putting together a complex contract

• Arrangement of contract documentation 
• Order of precedence 
• Parallel terms

3.45pm: Break

3.55pm: Artificial intelligence in legal practice

• Appeal of AI 
• Hallucinations 
• Professional responsibility 
• Practice Note SC GEN 23 (use of generative AI) 
• Practice points

4.55pm: Close  

This webinar is ideal for solicitors, barristers, and in-house counsel across commercial, corporate, construction, finance, and insurance practice areas who want to sharpen their contract drafting and interpretation skills. It will also appeal to litigators and dispute resolution specialists working with contractual disputes, as well as legal operations professionals and ethics advisers interested in the emerging impact of AI on legal practice.

This webinar is produced in NSW and features NSW-based practitioners. This webinar is available to practitioners from all Australian jurisdictions.    

All times listed for this course are Australian Eastern Daylight Time (AEDT). Please take note of any time differences if you are registering from QLD, WA, SA, NT or from outside Australia.  

The course complies with the mandatory requirements of Professional Skills (3 points).

If you intend to claim CPD units for this educational activity, please note that CPD activities are not accredited by the Law Society of NSW or any other equivalent local authority, with the exception of Western Australia. If you hold a practising certificate in a state or territory other than Western Australia and this educational activity extends your knowledge and skills in areas that are relevant to your practice needs or professional development, then you should claim one (1) "unit” for each hour of attendance, refreshment breaks not included. The annual requirement is ten (10) CPD units each year from 1 April to 31 March. Some practitioners, such as accredited specialists are required to complete more than ten (10) units each CPD year.

Practitioners holding WA practising certificates are eligible to earn CPD points for this course. For instructions to earn CPD points, please click here.  

Alex Ottaway
Partner, HWL Ebsworth, Sydney

Alex is a Partner in the Sydney construction and infrastructure group. Alex has over 10 years’ experience as a qualified solicitor, specialising in the resolution of disputes involving construction and infrastructure projects. He advises and acts for participants in diverse industries such as infrastructure (roads/ports/tunnels), industrial (chemical/polymer plants), resources (LNG/oil & gas), energy, advanced manufacturing and housing. He practiced in Sydney and in London.

Cianna Bickett 
Graduate, HWL Ebsworth

Cianna is a Law Graduate at HWL Ebsworth Lawyers in Sydney; focusing on complex construction disputes and commercial litigation within the Commonwealth Government and Litigation practice groups. She holds a Bachelor of Laws and a Bachelor of Commerce Global from the University of Wollongong, graduating with distinction and specialising in International Business and International Studies. 

Cianna is a recipient of the prestigious Global Leaders Education and Development Scholarship (GoLEaD), and has also contributed as a Young Expert with the Girls Human Rights Hub. Cianna is also on a part-time secondment with Anti-Slavery Australia, providing legal assistance to victims of modern slavery and trafficking. She is passionate about litigation, international engagement, and driving meaningful outcomes for clients.  

Please be aware that this course organised by the College of Law may be recorded for use on our websites, marketing materials and publications. By attending and participating in a College of Law Continuing Professional Development course, you consent to the College of Law photographing or recording and using your image and likeness and/or voice.