Melbourne Judges’ Panel: Copyright from the Bench
On 16 September 2026, the Copyright Society of Australia is delighted to bring its Judge’s Panel to Melbourne for a rare opportunity for the Melbourne copyright profession to hear directly from the bench. Joining us will be The Honourable Justice Rofe of the Federal Court of Australia and The Honourable Justice Attiwill of the Supreme Court of Victoria.
Justice Rofe will moderate the discussion as well as share her own perspective from the Federal Court, in conversation with Justice Attiwill. We hope to unpack the key differences between how copyright matters are across jurisdictions. This promises to be an insightful and practical conversation about copyright litigation from the other side of the bench — and a chance to hear directly from two judges about the realities of presenting intellectual property disputes before the courts.
WEDNESDAY 16 SEPTEMBER 2026
6:00PM – 8:00PM
Discussion starts at 6:30PM
In person and via ZOOM
Mallesons (MELBOURNE)
Level 27, Collins Arch, 447 Collins Street, Melbourne VIC 3000
CPD: 1 point
All members and friends are welcome.
IN-PERSON Tickets
Drinks and Canapes will be provided
All Tickets $55
LIVESTREAM Tickets
Members* $35
Non-members $60
*Members need to log-in to be able to purchase discounted member-only tickets.
SPECIAL GUEST SPEAKERS
The Honourable Justice Rofe
Federal Court of Australia, Copyright Tribunal of Australia
Justice Rofe was appointed to the Federal Court of Australia on 12 July 2021.
Her Honour graduated from the University of Melbourne with a Bachelor of Science in 1988, a Bachelor of Laws (Hons) in 1992 and a Master of Laws in 1995.
Prior to her judicial appointment, her Honour was called to the Bar in 2001, taking silk in 2014. At the Bar, her Honour specialised in science and technology related matters. Her Honour takes keen interest in the practice areas of intellectual property, technology, media and telecommunications.
Her Honour is the National Intellectual Property Co-ordinating Judge from the Federal Court’s Victorian Registry and is the Deputy President of the Copyright Tribunal of Australia.
Her Honour is also member of the Intellectual Property Society of Australia and New Zealand and spent several years on the management committee and serving as President for three years, from 2007 to 2009.
Amongst the various memberships she has held at the Victorian Bar, her Honour has served as a member of the Bar Council in 2019, the Health and Wellbeing Committee and the Equality and Diversity Committee and the Library Committee and also served as the Junior Vice President in 2020.
The Honourable Justice Richard Attiwill
Supreme Court of Victoria
The Honourable Justice Richard Attiwill is a judge of the Supreme Court of Victoria. His Honour is the Judge in Charge of the Intellectual Property List. His Honour undertakes a wide variety of general commercial and corporations matters within the Commercial Court of the Supreme Court, including contract, equity and trusts, insolvency, oppression proceedings, directors’ duties, shareholder disputes, property disputes, group proceedings, appeals, and urgent duty judge matters.
His Honour was called to the Bar in 1996 and appointed a Queen’s Counsel in 2013. At the Bar, his Honour appeared in a broad range of matters, including commercial, public and common law cases, class actions, royal commissions, and parliamentary inquiries. He appeared at the Royal Commission into National Natural Disaster Arrangements and the second Board of Inquiry into the Hazelwood Mine Fire.
