Business Law and Taxation at UNSW
3rd - 5th February 2008
Crowne Plaza
Coogee Beach, Sydney
The 2008 CLTA Conference was opened by Professor
Andrew Terry, Head of the School of Business Law
and Taxation at the Australian School of Business,
University of New South Wales. The welcome address
was followed by the delivery of the plenary speech
by the key note speaker, Professor Janis Sarra
of the University of British Columbia, Vancouver,
Canada. Professor Sarra shared her expertise in
the area of corporate insolvency law by speaking
on the topic “Risk Allocation and Efficient Administration:
A Comparative Analysis of the Treatment of Equity
Securities Claims in Insolvency”.
The Panel Discussion, which followed the plenary
address, was another highlight of the conference.
The Panel also addressed the conference theme,
‘Securities Class Actions, Creditors Rights and
Enhanced Corporate Governance: The Dawn of a New
Age?’. The Panel was chaired by Professor Michael
Adams and the second key note address was delivered
during that session by Professor Cindy Schipani,
University of Michigan, who spoke on “Securities
Litigation in the United States: A Look at the
Backdating Scandals.” The following persons on
the panel addressed the legal and policy implications
following the High Court decision in Sons of Gwalia
and the release of the CAMAC Discussion Paper
(2007): Professor Elizabeth Boros, Michael Duffy,
Jason Harris and Anil Hargovan.
Forty individuals, representing delegates from
the Asia-Pacific Region (Singapore, Malaysia,
Hong Kong and New Zealand) and South Africa delivered
papers at the Parallel Sessions spread over two
days. The papers were diverse and rich in content,
addressing significant aspects of corporate and
insolvency law. These sessions were chaired by
the members of the 2008 CLTA Executive.
The Teaching Workshop, held immediately after
the AGM, was another highlight of the conference.
The Workshop explored curriculum content and the
art of teaching and was admirably facilitated
by Claire Macken and Paula Darvas. I am also grateful
to Professor Paul Redmond for his inspiration
and contribution to the success of the Workshop.
The Best Paper Prize (sponsored by the Chartered
Secretaries Australia) was awarded to Janet Austin
(University of New South Wales) with a paper titled
“Shareholder Class Actions – Sounding the Death
Knell for ASIC Section 50 Actions?”.
The Conference Dinner at the Crowne Plaza Hotel,
Coogee Beach (sponsored by LexisNexis) was a great
social and culinary event and a good time was
enjoyed by all. Professor Jean du Plessis, President
of the CLTA, welcomed our conference guest, Tim
Sheehy, the Chief Executive of the Chartered Secretaries
of Australia – a major sponsor of the CLTA. Professor
du Plessis also presented a gift to John Nelson,
the former Director (Education and Training) at
Chartered Secretaries Australia, for his valuable
contribution and support since inception of the
CLTA.
Apart from our major sponsors (Chartered Secretaries
Australia and LexisNexis), I would like to thank
Thomson for sponsoring the Welcome Cocktail Reception
and LexisNexis for sponsoring the Conference Dinner.
CCH is also thanked for their sponsorship and
the book displays by the three publishers is also
appreciated.
I am grateful for the administrative support
provided by Bibi Moore, School Administrator at
the University of New South Wales. Her valuable
event management skills ensured the smooth running
of the conference. I would also like to thank
our Web Administrator, Yen Ho (University of Sydney),
for her dedication and great work on the CLTA
2008 Conference website
Anil Hargovan (UNSW)
Conference Chair
View the conference
papers
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photos
