Supreme Court and MLS collaborate to showcase strength of Commercial Law in Victoria

The Supreme Court of Victoria Commercial Law Conference returned on the 27th and 28th of August, bringing together the legal community to engage with some of the most pressing issues in contemporary commercial law.

Last held in 2016, and jointly convened by the Supreme Court of Victoria and Melbourne Law School, the event returned following strong support from the legal community and both convening partners, with tickets selling out well ahead of the event.

This year, co-hosted by the Supreme Court of Victoria, Melbourne Law School and the Melbourne Centre for Commercial Law, the conference opened at the Supreme Court with a welcome from the Hon. Chief Justice Richard Niall and Professor Rosemary Langford, and a keynote by the Hon Michelle Gordon of the High Court of Australia. At its heart, this conference was an opportunity to bring together the judiciary, the profession and the academy to reflect on and engage with some of the most significant contemporary issues in commercial law.

Melbourne Centre for Commercial Law director, Professor Rosemary Langford said: "I was thrilled to join Chief Justice Niall in opening the 2026 Victorian Supreme Court Commercial Conference - a collaboration between the Supreme Court of Victoria, MLS and Melbourne Centre for Commercial Law."

“The conference, which was sold out well in advance, marks the recommencement of these joint conferences and we look forward to many to come,” she said.

The conference continued at Melbourne Law School the following day, opening with a welcome from Dean Foster.

Across four sessions, speakers and attendees considered cutting-edge issues including the impact of AI on commercial law practice, sustainability reporting and directors’ duties, directors’ duties in impending insolvency, and the property, insolvency and conflict of laws issues raised by cryptocurrencies.

Chief Justice Niall of the Supreme Court of Victoria also delivered the closing address, bringing the stimulating two-day conference to a close and marking the successful return of a forum designed to connect the legal community around current and emerging issues in commercial law.

Conference Program:

Session 1: AI – Impact on Commercial Law Practice

Chair: The Hon. Chief Justice Richard Niall 

Presenter: Professor Jeannie Paterson 

Commentators:
Roshan Kumaragamage, Head of Legal Technology & Client Services, Allens 
Jack Stoneman, Head of AI Legal Practice, M&A and Capital Markets, MinterEllison 
Simran Chard, Secretariat, Standing International Forum of Commercial Courts (SIFoCC), Royal Courts of Justice

Session 2: Sustainability Reporting and Directors' Duties

Chair: The Hon. Justice Jim Delany 

Presenter: Professor Elizabeth Boros KC 

Commentators:
Tomo Boston KC, Victorian Bar 
Emma Newnham, Special Counsel, Mallesons 
Carmel Mulhern, Independent Non-Executive Director of PwC; former Group General Counsel at CBA

Session 3: Directors' Duties in Impending Insolvency

Chair: The Hon. Justice Ian Waller 

Presenter: Professor Rosemary Langford 

Commentators:
The Hon. Associate Justice Catherine Gobbo 
Carl Möller SC, Victorian Bar 
Jacqueline Chan, Partner, Ashurst

Session 4: Cryptocurrencies (Property, Insolvency and Conflict of Laws Issues)

Chair: The Hon. Justice Richard Attiwill 

Presenter: Professor Andrew Godwin 

Commentators:
Laurence White, Victorian Bar 
Brooke Hall-Carney, Principal, LK Law 
Shane Chandra, CEO at OKX