Find Lawyers in Melbourne, Australia for Insurance Law
Practice Area Overview
Insurance is a wide practice area covering a range of insurance policies, industry sectors, and areas of legal expertise.
Specialist insurance lawyers typically act on behalf of insurers in the investigation and defence of claims made against parties who hold insurance policies, and/or in providing related coverage advice as to whether the relevant insurance policy (or policies, in the case of dual insurance) responds to those claims.
Where coverage advice is required, some insurers prefer to split the role of ‘defence’ and ‘coverage’ counsel, while others will engage lawyers to perform a dual role. In the event of a coverage dispute (and therefore a conflict of interests) between the insurer and insured, separate representation is required to ensure a timely identification of the relevant issues and resolution of the dispute.
The types of policy vary widely, including for example Professional Indemnity, Medical Malpractice, Directors’ and Officers’ Liability, Management Liability, Employment Practices Liability, Statutory Liability, Cyber Risks, Crime, General (Public and Product Liability), Aviation, various Broadform policies covering a range of risks, and various policies relevant to the construction industry, such as Contract Works.
Within each class of policy are a number of sub-specialities. For example, Professional Indemnity policies are issued to accountants, barristers, doctors, engineers, financial advisers, mortgage brokers, real estate agents solicitors, valuers, and many more.
With such a broad range of policies, lawyers advising in this area require a detailed understanding of the industries in which they practice and the relevant legislation, in addition to expertise in insurance law (for example, Insurance Contracts Act 1984 (Cth)), contract law, tort (primarily negligence), and the Australian Consumer Law, and of legal practice and procedure in State and Federal jurisdictions.
Industry expertise will include a thorough knowledge of the relevant disciplines involved in the underlying conduct or transaction giving rise to the claim, to advise on the technical issues arising in the context of the applicable legal framework. This will ensure the ability to quickly identify the relevant issues and the most appropriate resolution strategy, whether by way of an early compromise, alternative dispute resolution or court proceedings and a trial.
The commercial discipline for any insurance lawyer is to be able to distil often complex technical and legal issues as quickly as possible, to enable the most appropriate resolution to be identified and achieved as cost effectively as possible for the benefit of all the interested stakeholders (insurers, insureds, and intermediaries).
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Kellie draws on more than 20 years of experience devoted exclusively to insurance and health law. Throughout her career Kellie has acted for the Victorian insurer of public hospitals, many private hospitals (both directly and through insurers such as MarketForm), pathology companies and medical and allied health practitioners (through insurers such as MIPS, Avant and Guild Insurance). Over many years Kellie has acted for large public liability insurers (such as Wesfarmers General Insurance Li...
James has worked exclusively in insurance law since being admitted to practice in 2004, which is one reason why he is so detailed in his approach. Prior to joining Meridian in January 2011, he gained valuable experience at a large national firm, working with a particular focus on property and liability claims and defending common law claims and statutory recoveries pursuant to the Accident Compensation Act. Among those to have benefited from James’s skills and efficiency are large super...
With more than 20 years' experience in insurance law and commercial litigation, Patrick acts for local and international insurers and large insureds, advising on complex coverage issues involving professional indemnity, D&O, management liability, public and products liability, recall expense, property and ISR, crime and cyber risk products. Patrick manages medium to large-scale claims as defence counsel and in subrogated recovery actions, and has expertise in class actions as well as regu...
Robert has more than 20 years’ experience in insurance law and complementary areas, focusing primarily on property damage and associated recoveries, public and products liability and professional indemnity claims. His client experience is broad, including acting for Australia’s largest general insurers, Lloyds of London Syndicates, supermarkets, State Government, Universities, Mutuals, Councils, professionals, transport companies and the operators of large infrastructure and build...
Peter has more than 25 years experience in insurance and risk management, practising primarily on behalf of insurers, self insurers, underwriting agencies and claims managers in Victoria, Queensland and the United Kingdom. He has advised in respect of all aspects of insurer portfolios including: Interpreting policies and updating policy wordings to meet drafting deficiencies and changed underwriting circumstances; Advising on the effect and reach of legislative provisions, including the Insur...
Marcus has extensive experience in most areas of insurance law and commercial litigation. He is recognised by his clients and peers as a leading practitioner who can provide practical and commercial specialist advice. Marcus has broad experience in most areas of insurance law. He has acted as both coverage and defence counsel and has also acted in complex subrogated recovery claims. His practice has a particular focus on financial lines, professional indemnity and directors and officers claim...
David Randazzo joined Meridian Lawyers in October 2016 as a Principal in the Melbourne office. David is an experienced insurance litigator and has acted for numerous insurers (local and international), government authorities, construction groups and sporting associations since 2002. In addition to defending claims, David provides policy drafting advice and pursues recoveries for a national crop insurer. Since being promoted to partner at a global firm in 2011, David has focussed on product li...
Cameron joined the firm in 2009 as a partner and has over 20 years’ experience in public liability, product liability, professional indemnity, contractors all risk, property and industrial special risk insurance and self-insurance. Cameron also has experience in dust diseases, intentional torts arising out of child sexual and physical abuse and bullying, commercial litigation and building and construction litigation. Cameron provides pre-contractual advice in relation to insurance polic...
Ilona has more than 15 years’ experience with her practice focusing on both statutory and common law claims across both Victorian and Tasmanian workcover legislation. She has acted for both agent insured and self-insured clients that operate in a range of industries, including manufacturing, retail and banking. Ilona also has experience in acting for clients in the commonwealth compensation jurisdiction. With an approach that addresses each claim holistically, Ilona ensures that her cli...
Kerri concentrates on insurance law and is regularly singled out in local and international guides as being one of the country's leading insurance lawyers, including Legal 500 Asia-Pacific 2014 and Chambers Asia-Pacific 2013 and 2015. Her areas of focus are advising on professional indemnity, aviation and general liability classes of insurance. What she does Kerri's professional indemnity expertise spans professionals in the health, allied health, insurance, construction and engineering secto...
Zoe is an experienced litigator whose practice focuses on insurance law, with particular expertise in advising insurers and corporations on a wide range of general and public liability claims. What she doe s Zoe's practice mainly focuses on liability, personal injury, and professional indemnity claims. Zoe has experience in running matters in all jurisdictions, including the Victorian, Civil and Administrative Tribunal, as well as state and Commonwealth courts of all levels. Who she works wit...
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