Chief executive partner Don Boyd welcomed numerous former partners and colleagues back to the Brisbane office, noting he was particularly delighted to be launching the program in the same office in which he was managing partner from 1991 to 1995.

The theme of ‘Six degrees of integration’ continued at the fourth and final alumni launch event for 2006. Many of the attendees had been with the firm when it was known as Cannan & Peterson, or Sly & Weigall.

Those who attended were treated to an evening of wine-tasting, courtesy of Deacons alumni, David Russell QC, who is chairman of Jimbour Wines. On offer were Jimbour’s award-winning 2005 Verdehlo and 2004 Ludwig Leichhardt Reserve Merlot.

Russell spoke of his days as a junior lawyer at Deacons (then Cannan & Peterson), in which he made many friendships and formed ties with mentors, including Leneen Forde, who was also in attendance. Russell reflected on changes in the profession since the days of the “long lunch” in the early 1980s. A boarding school rival and long-time friend of Boyd, Russell completed his articles at Cannan & Peterson, was admitted as a solicitor in 1974 and called to the bar in 1977.

Insurance Claims Forum for October

LAW FIRM Wotton & Kearney are hosting their annual Insurance Claims Forum in early October.

Members of the insurance community are expected to attend the function at the Museum of Sydney, which will focus on alternate dispute resolution. The forum usually attracts over 100 people.

There will be three main sessions: Mary Walker, a barrister with extensive experience as a mediator, will give the keynote address on alternate dispute resolution; Brendan Hammond, senior associate at Wotton & Kearney, will discuss ‘The changing role of the expert witness’; and there will also be a hypothetical exercise in which Vanessa Maher, senior claims officer and vice president of Asia Pacific Liberty International Underwriters, will chair a panel with Hammond and Walker.

The Wotton & Kearney Insurance Claims Forum will be held on the 12 October 2006, beginning at 4.30pm. For more information contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., or phone (02) 9236 9555.