MLRC Media Lawyers Conference

Join media lawyers from Australia, Asia, and the U.S. for a full day of discussion and networking about media law and policy and how media lawyers can strengthen cross-border ties to better defend a free press.

January 29, 2024
Sydney, Australia

CONFERENCE PROGRAM

SUNDAY JANUARY 28

6:00-9:00PM
Delegates Reception & Dinner in Vaucluse. Hosted by Harry Melkonian.

MONDAY JANUARY 29

• 9:00-9:30
  Registration and light breakfast
  Location: Minter Ellison, Level 40, Governor Macquarie Tower, 1 Farrer Place, Sydney
  
  
• 9:30-10:30
  Impact of the Ben Roberts Smith Case.
  Nick McKenzie – Multi Award winning Investigative Journalist and co- author of the Ben Robert-Smith revelations.
  Larina Alick – Executive Counsel, Nine Network, In-House Counsel overseeing the BRS defence.
  Grant McAvaney – Head of Litigation, News Limited.
  Moderator: Peter Bartlett, partner Minter Ellison
  
  
• 10:45-11:45
  Investigative Journalists and the Law: Is Australian law chilling investigative reporting & causing self-censorship?
  Hedley Thomas – Australian investigative journalist and author, who writes and produces podcasts for The Australian.
  Kate McClymont – chief investigative reporter at The Sydney Morning Herald.
  Edmund Tadros – professional services editor at The Australian Financial Review.
  Kieran Pender – senior lawyer in the Democratic Freedoms team at the Human Law Centre.
  Moderator: Marlia Saunders – partner, Thomson Geer
  
  
• 12:00-1:00
  Vetting of a Hypothetical News Article: Australian vs. US media law with an international panel of discussants.
  Moderator: George Freeman, MLRC Executive Director
  
  
• 1:00-2:30
  Lunch with speaker: Trump Trials and Free Speech.
  With Harry Melkonian, Melkonian & Co.
  
  
• 2:30-3:30
  Press Freedom in Asia
  Cheng Lei, Australian journalist who was held in Beijing for more than three years.
  H.R. Dipendra, media lawyer Malaysia
  Akarachai Chaimaneekarakate, human rights lawyer Thailand
  Moderator: Michael Cameron, Head of Legal, News Limited.
  
  
• 3:45-4:45
  Australian Judges: Media Law & the Press
  With Judge Judith Gibson, District Court NSW; Federal Court Justice Michael Wigney
  Moderators: Marina Olsen, partner Gadens, and Dauid Sibtain SC, Level 22 Chambers.
  
  
• 5:30-7:30
  Conference Reception at Thomson Geer
  Location: Sixty Martin Place, Level 14, 60 Martin Place, Sydney
  
  
  TUESDAY JANUARY 30
  
  
• 8:00-9:30am
  In-house media lawyers breakfast: A meeting for in-house lawyers only to discuss a range of practical issues concerning the provision of pre-publication and pre-broadcast legal advice.
  Location: Theatrette, News Corp Australia, 2 Holt St, Surry Hills 2010
  

Registration & Location

• Registration is $200 US. Discounted registration for academics is $100 US.
• To inquire about register email: medialaw@medialaw.org.     
• Location: January 29 sessions are at: Minter Ellison, Level 40, Governor Macquarie Tower, 1 Farrer Place. The January 30 In-house lawyers breakfast is at: News Corp., 2 Holt. St., Surry Hills, 2010.

Conference Supporters
Minter Ellison
Melkonian & Co. • Thomson Geer
News Corp Australia