As an insurance specialist with a deep understanding of industry issues I am able to bring both specialist knowledge and commerciality when dealing with insurance clients. I have advised leading Australian and international insurers and reinsurers on restructures, transfer schemes and complex disputes. I have also helped design and develop new insurance products.

Having managed litigation globally for a major international insurer, I can also identify the real issues upfront and develop a comprehensive strategy to quickly and effectively resolve disputes.

Career highlights

• Worked on high-profile litigation proceedings in Australia and overseas, including the collapse of Lehman Brothers; class actions related to Aristocrat Leisure Limited, GIO, Harris Scarfe, LG, Multiplex and Samsung; and an Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) investigation into ABC Learning
• Developed and designed general insurance products for ACE, Allianz, Chubb, CGU Insurance Limited, IAG Limited, Allianz AGCS Liberty and XL Catlin
• Advised life and general insurers such as Zurich and IAG Limited on numerous portfolio transfers, including those under Part 9 of the Life Insurance Act 1995 (Cth) and Division 3A of the Insurance Act 1973 (Cth)

Education
LLB

• Law Society of NSW
• Professional Liability Underwriting Society (PLUS) USA
• American Bar Association
• Law Association for Asia and the Pacific

• Minimising misleading and deceptive exposure for Australian directors
  

  Companies overselling, mischaracterising or poorly defining their AI capabilities risk exposing their directors and officers to breaches of consumer law and directors' duties.

• Insurance claims handling for unauthorised foreign insurers
  

  Insurance claims handling has been a regulated financial service in Australia since 2021. We cover some challenges unauthorised foreign insurers encounter in this article.

   

• COVID-19 Business Interruption: Victorian 'Grey Area' Update
  

  Victorian Supreme Court shares first guidance on 'Grey Areas' left over from the First and Second COVID Business Interruption Test Cases.

• FAR: Your key insurance and indemnity questions answered
  

  With the FAR coming into effect across banking, insurance and superannuation sectors, we cover details for accountable entities and persons gearing up for implementation.

• ASIC v HCF Life: Partially unenforceable and misleading exclusions
  

  ASIC succeeded against insurer HCF Life, with the Federal Court finding a Pre-Existing Condition exclusion was mising, but not unfair.

• Privacy Act reform: Considerations for insureds and insurers
  

  With reforms to the Privacy Act before Parliament, we consider the potential exposures, the cover that may be available under insurance policies and next steps

• Insurers indemnify Opal Tower engineers for legal costs
  

  Chubb and Tokio have lost their Federal Court appeal, liable to indemnify Opal Tower engineering consultants for class action costs

• Insuring against Climate risk: Physical risks
  

  Part one: As the physical impact of climate change intensifies, businesses must protect themselves via risk management and insurance solutions.

• Improving complaints handling for Australian insurers
  

  In December 2024, ASIC found Australian general insurers are failing to properly implement the Internal Dispute Resolution regime. We explore key areas for improvement and recommended actions.

• Navigating emerging insurance risks in Australian universities
  

  A guide for academic institutions on mitigating emerging risks through strategic insurance, legal and executive team cooperation, and governance frameworks.

• Indemnity for Civil Penalties: Guidance for Directors and Officers
  

  Directors and Officers (D&Os) rely on insurance to protect against financial consequences of personal liability. With increasing regulatory scrutiny, a key question is whether insurance can provide indemnity for civil penalties.

• Insuring against Climate Risk: Transition Risks
  

  As climate impacts grow, businesses must identify and protect against transition risks through comprehensive risk management and insurance solutions.

• Insuring against climate risk: Liability risks
  

  As climate change impacts intensify, businesses must identify and protect against liability risks through comprehensive risk management and insurance solutions.

• Navigating ASIC's enforcement: Insurance planning and cyber risks
  

  A guide for AFSL holders and financial institutions on mitigating cyber risks through strategic insurance planning and regulatory compliance.

• The #MeToo Movement: Implications for D&O in Australia
  

  This article indicates the impact that the #MeToo Movement may have on the Australian D&O insurance market and outlines some strategies that could be deployed by companies and their insurers to mitigate the risks.

• AFCA to commence "Look Back" program from 1 July 2019
  From 1 July 2019, Australian consumers and small businesses will be able to seek redress for eligible financial disputes dating back to 1 January 2008 by lodging a complaint with AFCA.
  
• Are you covered? COVID-19, directors' insurance & liability risks
  

  The outbreak of COVID-19 has already had a significant impact on a number of companies and broader industries worldwide. Company directors will need to ensure that they are adequately prepared in monitoring and responding to the changing public health situation over the coming months, or may face legal risks if they are not responding appropriately.

• COVID-19 business interruption insurance: UK Supreme Court test case details
  

  In the latest instalment of the UK's business interruption test cases, on 15 January 2021 the UK Supreme Court upheld the High Court's original test case determination as to COVID-19 business interruption insurance: The Financial Conduct Authority v Arch Insurance (UK) Ltd and others [2021] UKSC 1. We discuss the technical details of the case. 

   

• COVID-19 business interruption insurance: Lessons from the UK
  

  A new decision on a business interruption test case in the United Kingdom sheds further light on how these may be handled in Australia. Our team reflects on the details and lessons learnt.

   

• COVID-19 Business Interruption Insurance: Second Test Case
  

  A new decision provides more guidance in Australia around whether business interruption insurance policies cover businesses for losses related to COVID-19.

• Key word guidance COVID-19 business interruption insurance policies
  

  In Australia's second test case for business interruption insurance relating to COVID-19, the judge provided some useful guidance around keywords throughout the policies.

• Business Interruption Insurance for COVID-19 UK High Court Guidance
  

  In the midst of the global COVID-19 pandemic, the global insurance market has seen many notifications of loss to businesses due to the disease, interruption to trade, and government-mandated closures. Global bodies are working to determine where cover applies. Our team unpacks the latest guidance from the UK and how it may apply in Australia.

   

• Business Interruption Insurance for COVID-19: First Australian Test Case
  

  A high court decision has provided some clarity around certain specific exclusion clauses in business interruption insurance policies relating to COVID-19 – which will have a significant impact on insurance claims in Australia.

• Insurance cover for cancelled events during COVID-19
  

  Organisations cancelling events in response to the COVID-19 outbreak will need to consider any event cancellations insurance cover to ensure legal and financial risks are adequately covered.

• COVID-19: Managing your insurance risk
  

  What are the key exposures and insurance considerations as a result of the unfolding global pandemic? What should you do now?

• Court rules insurer not liable for Knox abuse compensation
  

  Full Federal Court upholds Allianz's appeal against Uniting Church; addresses bulk notification of circumstances, knowledge attribution issues.

• Property damage insurance action brought in time: the Ali appeal
  

  In Ali v Insurance Australia Limited, the NSW Court of Appeal has provided important guidance around the construction of property insurance policies and the application of limitation periods.

   

• Final decision on COVID-19 business interruption insurance test cases
  

  The High Court of Australia has concluded the ongoing COVID-19 business interruption second test case, refusing special leave to appeal from the Full Federal Court's decision.

• Business Interruption Insurance for COVID-19: The Law Two Years On
  

  The Full Court of the Federal Court of Australia has recently handed down two appeal decisions, providing further guidance around whether business interruption insurance policies cover businesses for losses related to COVID-19.

• Will cyber insurance help organisations manage cyber risk?
  

  With cyber crime becoming increasingly common, as exemplified by a series of recent high profile breaches, will cyber insurance help organisations manage this escalating risk? We unpack the key considerations.

• Results of ASIC review of general insurance TMDs