For over ten years Graeme Blank’s research interest has been the effective analysis of communication skills in the legal profession and beyond. As a barrister and accredited mediator, Graeme’s specialisation is in how issues are identified, deconstructed and then rebuilt to create an effective persuasive presentation, whether in court, keynote speech, letter of advice or negotiation. Graeme teaches advocacy and negotiation around Australia, in Asia and the USA and has developed a mind-map (“the Circles Method”) to identify the relevant issues and then allocate facts to them to help organise the information. This technique is being used for coaching in both law and non-law environments. Graeme aims to find better methods to improve how case analysis is taught to enable students and practitioners to be more effective and time efficient in preparing for trials and other presentations.

Graeme’s other research interest is in insolvency law and helping students and practitioners better understand at both theoretical and practical level the issues involved where financial pressure arises on individuals and companies.