BRISBANE: Association of Corporate Counsel (QLD) and Piper Alderman | Board Governance for In-House Counsel: Legal Duties and Emerging Risks

Josh assists growth companies with their corporate and commercial legal issues, focussing on the energy and resources and technology sectors.

Josh regularly assists clients with capital raisings, business and company acquisitions, directors’ and shareholder disputes, shareholder and joint-venture agreements.

Josh previously worked for NZX, the operator of New Zealand’s securities, derivatives and electricity markets, where he was involved in conducting investigations and proceedings into breaches of NZX’s Listing and Participant Rules and also assisting in NZX’s corporate activities, including the establishment of New Zealand’s central counter-party clearing house and acting as company secretary for LINK Market Services NZ (share registry).

Jacqui Walters is a strategic advisor and non-executive director with deep expertise in innovation, growth, and transformation across diverse industries. She supports corporate intrapreneurs and boards by applying her experience in commercialisation, business model innovation, and organisational change. Jacqui has led major capital projects, post-merger integrations, and new product introductions both in Australia and internationally. Known for solving complex problems and building high-performing, inclusive teams, she champions diversity in every organisation she works with. Jacqui holds a Bachelor of Commerce, is a CPA, and a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Cassandra Raftos is a Brisbane-based Legal Counsel at EQUANS bringing a strong background in commercial law, litigation, and corporate governance. Following Cassandra’s work on high-profile litigious affairs, she commenced her in-house career with Herron Todd White, where she worked with the major Australian banks to secure property valuation services for mortgage lending. In addition to her current role within the construction industry at EQUANS, Cassandra is also a Non-Executive Director of an aged care facility. Known for her strategic thinking and advocacy skills, Cassandra has consistently contributed to sound corporate governance and risk mitigation across her roles, with a passion for driving operational excellence.

Paul Venus is a highly experienced lawyer specializing in commercial litigation, dispute resolution and commercial law, across Australia.

With over 29 years of experience, he has acted in all levels of the Australian Court system, including the High Court of Australia, Federal Court of Australia, Supreme Courts of Queensland and New South Wales, District Courts, and Magistrates Courts.

His expertise spans practice areas which are characterised by high levels of regulation. Those include Competition and Consumer law, Intellectual Property Protection, Privacy, Franchising, Technology, Defamation law, Insolvency litigation, and Banking litigation. He is also an experienced franchising and commercial mediator, who is familiar with the Mandatory Codes of Conduct prescribed by the Competition & Consumer Act.

As a trusted adviser, Paul is known for his responsiveness to client needs, clarity and commerciality of advice, and strong advocacy. Clients, ranging from multinational corporations to SMEs to high-net-worth individuals, rely on Paul for counsel. They turn to him when making difficult decisions, requiring help in stressful situations, or seeking to navigate legal complexities to achieve high value outcomes for their business. His approach to providing practical context to legal problems and achieving exceptional outcomes for clients has earned him high praise from his clients.

Paul also has substantial experience in contract disputes, negligence cases, corporate law disputes, and shareholder disputes.

In addition to his litigation expertise, Paul brings a wealth of knowledge in commercial and corporate law. Real world industry knowledge has been gained by Paul from non-executive director roles in the Electricity and Health sectors. Paul has also gained experience in not-for profit organisations as a non-executive director in a research foundation and a charitable trust.

Paul’s expertise as a commercial lawyer, and excellent drafting skills enable him to provide strategic commercial advice and negotiate a wide range of agreements for clients. He has substantial knowledge advising clients on directors’ duties and responsibilities, conflicts management, continuous disclosure, board decisions, responses to regulator notices and investigations.

Paul holds a Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Queensland, a Masters of Laws from Queensland University of Technology, and a Certificate of Arbitration and Mediation from the University of Adelaide. He is admitted as a legal practitioner in the High Court of Australia, Supreme Court of Queensland, Supreme Court of New South Wales, Supreme Court of South Australia, and Supreme Court of the Northern Territory.