About Lara

Lara Bishkov is a nationally accredited mediator and a legal practitioner of NSW.

Lara has a practical approach to conflict and dispute resolution and is qualified to mediate any area of legal dispute, including administrative law, banking, commercial, construction, insolvency, insurance, financial, personal injury, wills and estates, workers’ compensation and workplace disputes.

Lara was admitted as a lawyer in 1994 after graduating from Macquarie University with a Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Economics. Lara has practised as a lawyer since then, primarily as a Senior Associate with Sparke Helmore Lawyers in Sydney. She practised in common law litigation, industrial accident and personal injury matters with an emphasis on managing State and Federal workers’ compensation matters.

As a lawyer, Lara was responsible for a busy litigation practice and advised a range of Commonwealth authorities on the Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 1988 and the Seafarers’ Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 1992. Lara represented national clients, such as Australia Post, Comcare, Telstra, Department of Veterans’ Affairs, Commonwealth Government agencies under the Commonwealth Workers’ Compensation Scheme, and other employers under the NSW Workers’ Compensation Scheme, including BHP Billiton and the State Rail Authority.

Lara provided legal and claims management advice to clients, devised strategies with clients and achieved commercial and timely settlements. These litigation skills are easily transferrable across a broad range of legal issues.

Lara & Mediation

Lara completed the Australian Commercial Disputes Centre’s Mediation training program in 2012 and is accredited under the National Mediator Accreditation System. As a mediator, Lara’s extensive knowledge of the legal system, combined with her ability to understand parties’ needs, and her strong communication, negotiation and listening skills provide a foundation for successful mediation outcomes.

Since March 2013 Lara has lectured “Resolving Civil Disputes”, a fourth year core subject at the University of New South Wales. In the preparation of University lectures, Lara aims to provide practical and accessible information to law students. In May 2014 Lara was invited to guest lecture at the Australian School of Business at the UNSW, and has presented workshops on Mediation in Commercial Disputes and Negotiation Skills to industry groups. Lara’s fair and evenhanded nature were utilised in being the Facilitator of the Greater Sydney Family Law Pathways Network Planning Workshop in May 2015, and in adjudicating in the Law Society’s School Mock Mediation Competition in 2016.

Accreditations & Memberships

• A Nationally Accredited Mediator under the National Mediator Accreditation System (NMAS)
• Panel member of the Law Society of NSW Mediators Panel
• Appointed to the District Court of NSW Mediators Panel
• Admitted to the Australian Commercial Disputes Centre (ACDC) ADR Resource Group
• A member of the Australian Mediation Association
• A member of Resolution Institute (LEADR and IAMA)
• Admitted to the High Court of Australia
• Admitted to the Supreme Court of New South Wales
• A member of the Law Society of New South Wales
• Sessional lecturer at the University of New South Wales