In-Step with SMSFs: Rethinking Control and Succession

SMSF LEGAL INTENSIVE 2026

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What happens when family dynamics shift, planning falls short, or changing laws reshape long-standing estate and succession strategies?

Join us to explore the increasingly complex intersection of SMSFs, estate planning and succession risk.

Across three specialist sessions, experts from both associations will explore the challenges reshaping superannuation and estate planning – from modern family complexities, incapacity and succession planning failures through to the emerging implications of Division 296 and the new super death tax.

Drawing on legal, technical and practical insights from real client scenarios, this event will equip advisers, accountants and estate planning professionals with strategies to better manage risk, preserve client intent and improve outcomes.

PROGRAM
SPEAKERS
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Live session held Wednesday 17 June 2026

On-demand sessions available until 31 July 2026

Member Price

$ 275 inc GST
  • Only available for:
  • SMSF Association Members
  • STEP Australia Members      
Register
Terms and conditions apply*

Non-Member

$ 450 inc GST
  •  
Register
Terms and conditions apply*

All SMSF Legal Intensive 2026 registration fees are in Australian Dollars and inclusive of GST.
View full Terms and Conditions for SMSF Legal Intensive 2026 here.

Meet Your Speakers

Clinton Jackson

Clinton Jackson

As a partner in Cooper Grace Ward’s commercial team, Clinton advises his clients on an extensive range of commercial and corporate matters, business mergers, acquisitions and sales, tax and structuring issues, self-managed superannuation, asset protection and succession, restructuring and exit strategies.

Clinton’s unique range of expertise enables him to assist his clients with both their personal and business legal issues and to advise through all phases of the business/investment lifecycle – from start up, growth, expansion, transition and exit.

Clinton has been selected by his peers for inclusion in Best Lawyers in Australia in the practice areas of Superannuation Law and Wealth Management / Succession Planning Practice and is an accredited specialist superannuation adviser with the SMSF Association and member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners.

FSSA, TEP

Partner

Cooper Grace Ward

Caite Brewer

Caite Brewer

Caite Brewer is a Barrister specialising in all things estates and trusts.  She has been a lawyer for 32 years, a barrister for 22.

She has a particular interest in superannuation disputes and is an SMSF Association accredited specialist advisor (SSA®).

Until the rules were changed in 2023, she was one of only five QLS accredited specialists in succession law at the Queensland Bar and received the highest achiever award in her graduating year (2009).

Caite is consistently named “Market Leader” and “preeminent” junior counsel in Estate Litigation in Doyle’s List, both in Queensland and nationally.

She is a member of Hemmant’s List.

She is a regular presenter at legal seminars on all things estate-related.

SSA, TEP

Barrister
Hemmant’s List

Peter Bobbin

Peter Bobbin

Peter Bobbin is a leading legal veteran in superannuation, trusts, taxation and estate planning.  In his 40 year-plus advising career he has not only seen and advised on all issues in superannuation, he was there when modern superannuation was born and also at every change; he is that old!  

A big believer in giving back to the community, Peter is an often requested speaker for many professional associations.

In 2015, Peter was honoured by the Tax Institute as the Tax Advisor of the Year (SME) and is a past Australian Chair of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners.  As a  former university lecturer and accountant, Peter claims that he can speak both accountant’ease and legal’ease.

Outside of work, Peter is an enthusiastic cyclist with three great loves; good food, good wine and one other.

TEP

Solicitor
Bobbin Lawyers 

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All SMSF Legal Intensive 2026 registration fees are in Australian Dollars and inclusive of GST.
View full Terms and Conditions for SMSF Legal Intensive 2026 here.

Program

Wednesday 17 June 2026

On-demand sessions will be available until 31 July 2026

Please note, program time is reflected in AEST and program is subject to change.

9:00am
VIRTUAL PLATFORM OPEN
9:30am
OPENING ADDRESS

Peter Burgess, CEO, SMSF Association

9:35am -10:35am
The New Super Death Tax: What Comes Next?

Clinton Jackson, Partner, Cooper Grace Ward

Division 296 is set to challenge long-standing approaches to superannuation, estate planning and intergenerational wealth transfer.
 
In this session, Clinton will explore the implications for SMSFs, death benefit planning and succession strategies, including how client wishes and wealth transfer outcomes may be affected, particularly where large balances and complex succession arrangements are involved.
 
With uncertainty still surrounding the practical operation of this new tax regime, the session will highlight the key risks, opportunities and planning issues professionals need to consider now.
10:40am - 11:40am
When Families, Capacity and Control Collide

Caite Brewer, Barrister, Hemmant’s List

As families become more complex and control of wealth increasingly intersects with incapacity, SMSFs and estate planning, the risk of unintended outcomes continues to grow.
 
In this practical and thought-provoking session, Caite Brewer will explore the real-world disputes and challenges that arise when family dynamics, loss of capacity and SMSF control collide. Drawing on first-hand experience, the session will unpack where structures, documentation and even the best laid plans and intentions can sometimes fail and why many disputes could have been avoided with better planning and earlier intervention.
 
Through practical examples and insights from real scenarios, attendees will gain a deeper understanding of the risks facing clients, the warning signs professionals often miss, and the strategies that can help preserve control, protect client intent and reduce the likelihood of costly disputes.
11:45am - 12:45pm
No Plan and a Death or Disability? It’s a Super Crisis!

Peter Bobbin, Solicitor, Bobbin Lawyers 

When there is no plan in place, what happens next?
 
This is not a rare event. It is a recurring professional reality.
 
In this practical and eye-opening session, attendees will explore the real-world consequences that arise when clients fail to put effective estate and SMSF succession plans in place. Drawing on practical insights and real client scenarios, the session will unpack the confusion, delays and unintended outcomes that can follow when critical decisions are never addressed.
 
Join Peter as he examines the challenges professionals encounter when there is no clear direction for families, advisers or trustees to follow, particularly within SMSFs, where control and entitlement do not always align.
 
Attendees will gain a deeper understanding of the risks created by inaction, the assumptions clients commonly make, and the practical steps professionals can take to identify planning gaps earlier and help clients avoid preventable complications.
12:45pm
CLOSING ADDRESS

Jim O’Donnell, Chair of STEP Australia

 

REGISTER

  

All SMSF Legal Intensive 2026 registration fees are in Australian Dollars and inclusive of GST.
View full Terms and Conditions for SMSF Legal Intensive 2026 here.

What will I get from attending?

UNLOCK CPD

Up to 3 CPD hours available

STAY IN CONTROL

Hear directly from the experts

ACCESS ON-DEMAND

Flexible learning, with online access for over a month post event date