Photo: L-R: Dr. Ken Shao, Prof. Gabriel Moens, John Poulsen, Linda Liu Bearne

On 11 September 2008, the Minter Ellison & Murdoch Chinese Law Event was very successfully completed at Murdoch Law School’s Freehills Theatre. The Event was opened with a piece of thousand-year old traditional Chinese music and accompanied throughout with a slideshow of Chinese scenery.

Minter Ellison, one of the leading law firms in Asia-Pacific region, have donated $10,000 to the School’s prestigious Postgraduate Certificate in Chinese Law program as scholarships to help students go to China. This very generous sponsorship firmly demonstrates the importance of ‘China Knowledge’ to the Australian legal profession in the context of the unprecedented economic interaction between China and Australia.

Investment by Chinese companies in Australia is increasing rapidly. For example, Chinese investment in resource sectors has reached $12 billion in only three years. By 2025, China may become the world’s largest economy.

Around 60 people attended the event, including Minter Ellison lawyers, Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor Gary Martin and Murdoch academic staff and students. Guests from Minter Ellison included:

• Mr. John Poulsen, Managing Partner, Minter Ellison (Perth)
• Mrs. Linda Liu Bearne, Consultant, Minter Ellison & Managing Director, China-Australia Investment Co
• Mr. Bruce Legorburu, Special Counsel, Corporate Advisory, Minter Ellison
• Miss Rebecca Hansen, Human Resources Advisor, Minter Ellison
• Miss Shaeron Yapp, Solicitor, Minter Ellison
• Mr. Guillaume Blanc, Special Counsel, Minter Ellison

Professor Gabriël Moens, Dean of the Murdoch Law School, gave a brief introduction before handing over to Minter Ellison’s managing partner John Poulsen, who gave an address entitled “China: Great Opportunities and Minter Ellison’s Experience”

Minter Ellison Special Counsel Mr. Bruce Legorburu followed with a presentation on China and Australia in the Global Intellectual Property Competition.

Dr. Ken Shao then presented on the unique opportunites available to students who undertake the Chinese Law programme, and was followed by presentations by three students who travelled to China in early 2008 for the first offering of the programme.

Peter Philips, who recently graduated from Murdoch Law School, and is now working as an advisor with the WA Shadow Attorney General, gave an address, as did Minori Lee and Alyce Conway-Mortimer, who hope to undertake the programme in 2009.

Professor Gary Martin, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Enterprise and International), Murdoch University gave concluding remarks in support of the programme before an impressive selection of refreshments prepared by Brigitte Russmann were served in the Law Café.

For details of the Minter Ellison Travel Allowances & Prizes , please visit the Chinese Law Program Page: http://www.law.murdoch.edu.au/academics/postgraduate_chinese_law.html