MaryAnn de Mestre

Keynote Speaker – Wills & Estates Stream

Principal Lawyer | M de Mestre Lawyers

MaryAnn is the Principal Lawyer of M de Mestre Lawyers and a Lecturer in Succession Law at Macquarie University, where she was named Academic of the Year at the Women in Law Awards. Her career began as Tipstaff to Lindsay J of the NSW Supreme Court, giving her early insight into the intersection of elder law, estates, and protective jurisdictions.

A recognised authority in succession and elder law, MaryAnn contributes to leading journals and texts, is often sought by national media, and has acted as a court-appointed expert witness. She regularly presents across conferences, podcasts, and forums in Australia and abroad.

Her practice and research focus on safeguarding older persons, particularly through identifying and addressing elder abuse. Combining academic expertise with practical experience, MaryAnn is dedicated to pursuing effective remedies that protect vulnerable individuals and uphold the integrity of estates.

Spotting the Red Flags

Recognise common patterns and warning signs of elder abuse in legal and financial contexts.

Forensic Strategies

Learn how forensic tools can trace, recover, and protect assets misappropriated through abuse.

Legal Responses

Understand the current remedies available and how practitioners can better use protective jurisdictions to safeguard vulnerable individuals.

Guardianship or Grip? The Legal and Forensic Lens on Elder Abuse

Elder abuse remains one of the most pressing issues in succession and protective law. This session brings together legal and forensic experts to examine how abuse manifests, how it can be detected, and the remedies available to safeguard vulnerable individuals.

Through both legal and technical perspectives, the session will unpack real-world scenarios of financial exploitation, misuse of powers of attorney, and failures of guardianship systems. Attendees will gain insights into how forensic strategies can be used to trace, recover, and protect misappropriated assets, and how the law can better respond to abuse that is often hidden or ignored.

This collaborative discussion is designed to equip practitioners with the tools to identify red flags, pursue remedies, and strengthen protective frameworks — ensuring the rights and dignity of older persons are preserved.