Strategic Resolution: An Arbitration and Mediation Intensive

Naomi Bryant, Legal Practitioner & NMAS Accredited Mediator

About the Presenter:

Naomi Bryant, Legal Practitioner & NMAS Accredited Mediator. Naomi is an experienced legal practitioner and nationally accredited mediator with a strong background in dispute resolution, legal education, and professional governance. She holds a combined Bachelor of Economics and Law, was admitted to practice in Tasmania in 1996 and in New South Wales in 2001, and has been accredited under the National Mediator Accreditation System (NMAS) since 2009. Naomi’s legal practice spans a wide range of civil matters, including personal injury, institutional abuse, professional negligence, estate litigation, contractual and construction disputes, company director matters, property damage claims, and complex multi-party disputes. She is also experienced in facilitating Direct Personal Response (DPR) processes for survivors of institutional child sexual abuse. She has held a variety of mediator and conciliator appointments across Australia. These include roles with the Supreme Courts of Tasmania and the ACT, the Fair Work Commission, the Federal Court (Native Title list), the Commercial Tenancy COVID-19 scheme, the Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman, and numerous Tasmanian tribunals and government panels. She is frequently engaged to facilitate sensitive or high-stakes conversations where independence is required, such as board/parent disputes or government industrial matters.  Naomi's career includes significant contributions to legal education. Naomi served as Executive Director and previously Deputy Director of the Centre for Legal Studies Ltd, which delivers Tasmania’s Legal Practice Course. She was also a senior lecturer in clinical legal education at the University of Tasmania. She has held roles as Tribunal Member (Administrative Review Tribunal) and Conference Registrar (Administrative Appeals Tribunal). Her governance experience includes current service as Chair and past Treasurer of Women’s Health Tasmania, and prior appointments to the Victorian Legal Admissions Board Practical Legal Training Committee. She also chaired the Australasian Professional Legal Education Council (APLEC) from 2018–2020 and served on its Executive Committee for six years. Her professional development includes leadership training, negotiation courses, and direct personal response immersion through the Blue Knot Foundation. She also holds a Certificate IV in Training & Assessment and has undertaken postgraduate study in Environmental Impact Assessment. Naomi is a member of the Law Society of Tasmania, Tasmanian Women Lawyers, and the Resolution Institute. She brings a thoughtful, trauma-informed, and collaborative approach to legal and mediation practice.

Christopher Groves, Principal Lawyer, Dobson Mitchell Allport

About the Presenter:

Chris Groves, Principal Lawyer, Dobson Mitchell Allport practises across a wide range of commercial and related disputes, with a focus on company and partnership disputes, insolvency law, building and construction disputes, trust disputes, property disputes and recovery actions. Chris regularly acts for and against insolvency practitioners, developers and property owners, government bodies, large and small builders, shareholders and insurers. Chris is an accredited building adjudicator under the Security of Payment legislation in Tasmania, New South Wales and Queensland and has adjudicated hundreds of construction payment disputes in this role since 2010. He has a reputation for strong commercial judgement and tailored problem solving and regularly appears in many of Tasmania’s courts and tribunals.

Nicholas Terracall, Principal, Terracall & Associates

About the Presenter:

Nick Terracall, Principal, Terracall & Associates completed his Bachelor of Laws at Griffith University in Queensland, graduating with Honours. His excellent academics led to his appointment as an Associate to the Deputy President of the Administrative Appeals Tribunal in Brisbane. Returning to Launceston in 2016, Nick recognised the need for local businesses and individuals to have access to the kind of specialist dispute resolution services normally only offered in larger city firms. This led him to establish Terracall & Associates. Nick is an accredited mediator under the National Mediator Accreditation Standards.

Ali Sawyer, Senior Associate, Simmons Wolfhagen

About the Presenter:

Ali Sawyer, Senior Associate, Simmons Wolfhagen is a dedicated family lawyer practising in parenting, property, child support, and family violence matters. She represents both parents and children in Child Safety applications and provides holistic, pragmatic advice that balances dispute resolution options, costs, and the emotional impact of family dynamics. With prior experience at the Australian Taxation Office, Child Support Agency, and Magistrates Court of Tasmania, Ali brings valuable institutional insight to her practice. She has served as Co-President of the Southern Young Lawyers Committee, Chair of the Child Safety Sub-committee, and volunteered with the Hobart Community Legal Service. A respected member of the profession, Ali is an accomplished speaker and award recipient. She holds a Bachelor of Laws/Science (Hons) and a Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice. Ali is also an AMDRAS (formally AIFLAM) accredited mediator.