Rarely can we say that someone “wrote the book” on a subject. 
Even more unusual is a book that changes a profession.  In this program both are true.  Larry Pozner has long been recognized as America’s authority on modern cross-examination.  Pozner’s seminar Pozner on Cross: the Chapter Method revolutionized the US profession’s view of the purposes and methods of modern cross.

Baroness Helena Kennedy QC 

The Characteristics of the Bold and Effective Defence Advocate

Baroness Helena Kennedy practises predominantly in criminal law undertaking leading work.  She undertakes judicial review, public inquiries and sex discrimination work.  

She has acted in many of the prominent cases of the last decade including the Brighton Bombing Trial, Guildford Four Appeal, the bombing of the Israeli Embassy, the abduction of  Baby Abbie Humphries and a number of key domestic violence cases. She is currently acting  in cases connected to the recent wave of terrorism. 

Baroness Kennedy is a Bencher of Gray’s Inn and a Member of the House of Lords, speaking  on issues of human rights and civil liberties. She is Vice-President of the Haldane Society,  Vice-President of the Association of Women Barristers and a Patron of Liberty. She has  chaired many Inquiries. She has lectured on Human Rights, Criminal Law and many other  subjects, both in Britain and internationally.  

A frequent broadcaster and journalist on law and women’s rights, her many media  contributions and appearances include creating the BBC television series Blind Justice. 

In 1992 she received the Women’s Network Award for her work on women and justice and in  1995 added to it the UK Woman of Europe Award. In 1997 The Times gave her their Lifetime  Achievement in the Law Award for her work for women and the law, and The Spectator made  her Parliamentarian of the Year 2000. 

Baroness Kennedy was awarded a life peerage in 1997.  

Her publications include the widely acclaimed Eve Was Framed: Women and British  Justice (Vintage, 1993) and Just Law: The Changing Face of Justice and Why It Matters to Us  All (Chatto & Windus, 2004).

Brigadier General John G. Baker, USMC  

Advocating Against Injustice – A Leader’s Perspective 

Brigadier General John Baker Chief Defense Counsel Brigadier General John G. Baker, U.S.  Marine Corps is the Chief Defense Counsel (CDC) for the Military Commissions and the Officer  in Charge of the Military Commissions Defense Organization (MCDO). In his capacity as the  CDC, he oversees a joint service staff of more than 180 military and civilian lawyers,  paralegals, investigators, case analysts, defense security officers, linguists, information  technology professionals, and administrative personnel who provide full spectrum trial  defense services to GTMO detainees charged under the Military Commissions Act, to include  capital cases.  

In 2018, Brigadier General Baker was privileged to accept the American Bar Association’s  Hodson Award on behalf of the women and men assigned to the Military Commissions  Defense Organization. Prior to his appointment as the CDC for the Military Commissions,  Brigadier General Baker served as the Deputy Director, Judge Advocate Division,  Headquarters Marine Corps. As the Deputy Director, he was responsible for oversight of the  Marine Corps military justice practice and the professional development of the Marine Corps  legal community. During this tour, Brigadier General Baker also served as the Marine Corps  representative to and Chairman of the Department of Defense’s Joint Service Committee on  Military Justice. Before serving as Deputy Director, Brigadier General Baker served as the  Chief Defense Counsel of the Marine Corps and was responsible for mentoring, training, and  supervising all defense attorneys and defense support personnel across the Marine Corps in  their litigation of hundreds of courts-martial each year. During this tour, Brigadier General  Baker established the Marine Corps’ Defense Services Organization which transformed the 

delivery of trial defense services to Marines and Sailors charged under the Uniform Code of  Military Justice. Prior to this position Brigadier General Baker served as the Regional Defense  Counsel for the Eastern Region where he mentored and trained Marine Corps defense  attorneys and support staff at all Marine Corps installations east of the Mississippi and in  theater when II Marine Expeditionary Force was forward. During this tour, Brigadier General  Baker carried a small case load of complex cases, which included capital murder, serious  sexual assaults and other felonies, as well as allegations of misconduct by senior officers.  Before serving as the Regional Defense Counsel-East, Brigadier General Baker personally  participated in several hundred courts-martial and served in a variety of leadership and  litigation billets within the Marine Corps legal community, to include Military Judge, Staff  Judge Advocate, Law Center Director, Military Justice Officer, Chief Trial Counsel, Special  Assistant United States Attorney, and Senior Defense Counsel.  

Prior to becoming a judge advocate, General Baker served as a supply and logistics officer  until he was selected to attend law school under the Law Education Program. Brigadier  General Baker is a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh School of Law (J.D. 1997), Averett  University (M.B.A. 1992), and Union College (B.S. 1989). He also holds an LL.M. from The  Judge Advocate General’s Legal Center and School (TJAGLCS), U.S. Army (2005). General Baker  serves as faculty member for the National College of Capital Voir Dire and has lectured at a  number law schools, state capital defender courses, and other continuing legal education  courses. His personal decorations include the Legion of Merit with one gold star, Meritorious  Service Medal with three gold stars, the Joint Service Commendation Medal, the Navy-Marine  Corps Commendation Medal, the Navy-Marine Corps Achievement Medal, the Army  Achievement Medal, and the Combat Action Ribbon.

Rob Harrison and Natalie Coates 

An explosion of ideas – The Peter Ellis case: Memory, Tikanga, and lessons for defence  lawyers  

The Supreme Court recently heard the Peter Ellis appeal. This is an extraordinary case, in  extraordinary times. The case looked back to 1993 on witness evidence and expert evidence  about memory, whilst expert witnesses gave evidence in 2021 by video link. At the same time, the court looks forward, considering the place of Te Ao Māori in the development of New  Zealand’s law. Rob Harrison and Natalie Coates appeared for the appellant. 

Rob has been practising as a barrister in the area of criminal law since 1989. He has conducted  trials in the High Court and District Court, including murder and serious multiple-complainant  sexual abuse cases. He has regularly used experts in his trial preparation and has called  experts as witnesses on areas such as memory, interview techniques, recovered memory and  contamination of children’s evidence. He has appeared in the High Court and Court of Appeal  on numerous occasions over the years. 

Natalie is a partner at Kāhui Legal, where she advises clients on Te Tiriti of Waitangi, public  law, the intersection between tikanga and the state legal system, Māori land law, and Māori,  and indigenous rights and interests. Natalie was counsel in a number of recent cases  where tikanga and the Treaty of Waitangi have been central including: Trans-Tasman  Resources Ltd v Taranaki Whanganui Conservation Board [2021] NZSC 127; Re Edwards (decd)  (obh of Te Whakatōhea (No 2) [2021] NZHC 1025; and Ellis v R [2020] NZSC 89. Natalie holds  first class honours undergraduate degrees in Law and Arts (Māori Studies) from the University  of Otago and an LLM from Harvard University where she was a Fulbright scholar and recipient  of the NZ Law Foundation Ethel Benjamin Scholarship. Natalie is currently a: member of the  Lawyers & Conveyancers Disciplinary Tribunal; member of New Zealand Council of Law  Reporting; member of the New Zealand Council of Legal Education; and member of the  Council of Te Whare Wananga o Awanuirangi. Before joining Kahui Legal, Natalie was a  lecturer at the University of Auckland.

Russell Fairbrother QC – Making a difference and Staying the distance 

Russell is a leading lawyer and former politician. He was a Labour Party Member of Parliament  from 2002 to 2008. 

As a lawyer, he has led the defence in over 100 murder trials and has appeared before the  Privy Council in London. He has obtained acquittals in many high profile cases.  

Russell is well known for being one of the first lawyers to advance cultural reports,  successfully challenge mandatory imposition of life without parole, and for his successful  defence of Tame Iti on a “terrorism” charge. 

A giant of the defence bar over a number of decades, he will talk about making a difference  and staying the distance at the defence bar. 

Russell claims to be retired…For those who have seen him in action, he is a memorable  advocate, and this is certainly a talk not to be missed.

Panel Discussion: Being a Junior: How to get there and how to add value 

Letizea Ord (moderating) 

Letizea is a stalwart of the criminal defence bar in Wellington. A very experienced trial lawyer  Letizea has a wealth of experience of both appearing with others in trials and hearings, and  in particular mentoring and employing junior counsel. Letizea will be moderating this very  educational / hands on session with key tips on how a junior counsel can shine and become  invaluable in trial and hearing work.  

Anja Jeremiah 

Anja had her mind set on pursuing work in the criminal justice system before starting her  degree at Victoria University. During her studies she was a law clerk for John Dean Law Office;  a litigation support assistant at Chapman Tripp; and a reporter for Select Committee News.  Anja also volunteered at Just Speak and Community Law. She graduated from Victoria  University last year with an LLB and BA majoring in Political Science and Criminology. After  her plans to intern in Vienna fell through due to the COVID-19 pandemic she was fortunate  enough to gain employment with Robert Lithgow QC and Nicolette Levy QC. Anja was  admitted in December 2020 and upon her return from the summer break she had one week  to get her practicing certificate and legal aid approval to enable her to junior for Robert in a  murder trial in Palmerston North. Since then, she has been involved in a range of criminal and civil cases and have gained invaluable knowledge from both Robert and Nicolette.

Ruby O’Hagan 

Ruby graduated from Victoria University of Wellington in 2019 with  a conjoint degree in Law and Arts (Development Studies and International Relations) and was  admitted to the bar in 2020. During her studies Ruby undertook volunteer work supporting  former refugees in the community and advocating for asylum seekers’ rights. Ruby completed  her studies in Medellin, Colombia then moved to India and interned for an NGO combatting  human trafficking and bonded labour. Ruby is a supervised provider and employed barrister  for Elizabeth Hall. She has worked on and appeared in a wide range of PAL1 to PAL4 cases and  in currently in week 6 of her first murder trial. 

Daniel Dowsett 

Daniel – has been working in criminal law for just over five months as  a junior to Phil Mitchell. On his first day he appeared as junior counsel in a jury trial for complex  offending allegations. Daniel assists Phil Mitchell with a variety of cases at different stages of the  criminal justice process, while managing some PAL 1 and 2 files on my own under supervision. Daniel  graduated from Victoria University in 2020, and worked for the Medical Council for a year and a half  before starting his current role. He has always been drawn to criminal defence and what he enjoys most is helping clients.