The expert witness training day

Bree Knoester is recognised as one of Australia’s leading personal injury lawyers.  She has practiced as both a barrister and solicitor for over 20 years and represented clients in some of Victoria’s largest compensation settlements.

Bree is an empathetic yet tenacious lawyer, possessing a deep understanding of the law and a fearless approach to representing the interests of clients. 

Understanding that suffering an injury or illness caused by someone else’s negligence can be an extremely difficult and traumatic experience, Bree is driven to achieve exceptional outcomes in a caring and compassionate way with precision and tenacity.  Bree practices in the area of dust diseases, WorkCover, public liability, medical negligence and institutional abuse.

In recognition of her experience and exceptional client results, Bree has won numerous industry awards including ‘Lawyer of the Year’ in Personal Injury Litigation and Medical Negligence (Best Lawyers® in Australia 2022-2024), Preeminent practitioner – Asbestos & Dust Diseases Compensation (Doyle’s Guide 2016-2022), Preeminent practitioner – Work Injury Compensation (2016-2022).  Her firm, Brave Legal, has won the award for Excellence in Employee Health and Wellbeing at the Australasian Law Awards for the past two years’ running.

Mr Thomas Kossmann is an Orthopaedic Surgeon with over 30 years experience. He obtained his medical doctor (MD) degree at the University of Heidelberg and holds fellowships in general surgery, trauma surgery and orthopaedic surgery with training conducted in university hospitals in Germany and Switzerland.

Mr Kossmann has many professional associations and has made a profound contribution to academia. He has taught many medical students and health professionals and published 121 peer-reviewed articles and numerous book/chapters in the field of orthopaedic trauma and neurotrauma.

He previously founded the Department of Trauma Surgery at The Alfred hospital, expanding it to become one of the world-leading centres for trauma victims. Mr Kossmann founded Lex Medicus, a world-class team of health professionals who deliver high-quality medico-legal reports and impairment assessments across Australia and Europe.

Samuel Pearce is a medical negligence Principal Lawyer in Maurice Blackburn’s Melbourne office. He has worked with Maurice Blackburn since 2008 and has practised exclusively in medical negligence since undertaking his traineeship with the firm in 2011 and was admitted to practice law in 2012.

Samuel’s strengths as a lawyer are his highly advanced research and strong attention to detail, which further enhances his ability to execute clear and precise written and verbal communication.

These are well presented through his passion for representing individuals who have suffered injuries or have lost a loved one as a result of poor or unreasonable medical care, treatment, and advice. Driven by the advocacy of the rights of individuals, Samuel has also been involved in a number of pro bono cases through the social justice department established at Maurice Blackburn, including the Muckaty Station litigation.

Admitted to practice in 1975 and called to the Bar in 1983.

A member of the inner Bar since 2002.

Foundation member of the Australian Lawyers Alliance, Bar representative on the Bar/LIV/AMA Committee, member of the Common Law Bar Association, member of ATLA and APIL.

Special interest in bushfire litigation since coordinating farmer’s representation before Sir Esler Barber in board of enquiry into the occurrence of bush and grassfires in Victoria in 1977. Subsequently involved in the Black Saturday Royal Commission and (class actions) in Victoria, New South Wales and South Australia.

Long term involvement in personal injury work including lead counsel in Class Actions regarding Falls Festival crush; medical negligence claims regarding cosmetic surgery and IVF and individual and class action proceedings against the AFL and football clubs for CTE/head injuries.