Baron is a Partner in our Professional Indemnity Team.
Baron has over twenty-five years’ experience in acting for professionals of all types in disciplinary and negligence proceedings. He is also recognised for his expertise in defamation. His professional indemnity experience includes acting for health professionals, construction professionals, auditors, lawyers, architects, mortgage brokers, engineers, insurance brokers and financial planners.
Experience & expertise
Baron specialises in defending negligence claims against company directors and professionals. He advises insurers on coverage issues. He also acts in defamation claims and advises on media law. He acts for professionals in disciplinary proceedings
He has acted for professionals in general commercial disputes in all jurisdictions, class actions, disciplinary proceedings, Royal Commissions (including the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse) and public inquiries.
Other experience includes acting for insurers in litigated disputes concerning cover available under directors’ and officers’ policies and liability policies.
Baron has defended defamation claims against, school employees, barristers, solicitors, radio stations and their announcers, clubs and their officers, local councils and their mayors and councillors, universities and their lecturers and churches and their clergy. He has also provided pre-publication advice.
Work highlights
Baron’s experience includes:
- Treasury Wine Estates Limited v Maurice Blackburn Pty Ltd [2020] FCAFC 226 – successfully defended a barrister against allegations of breaches of the Harman This is an important decision regarding the application of the Harman principle in Australia.
- Holt v Dental Council of New South Wales [2020] NSWCATOD 62 – successful appeal against a decision of the Dental Council to overturn a suspension of a practitioner’s registration
- Caason Investments Pty Ltd & Anor v Cao & Ors – a securities class action against company directors and its auditor
- Bradgate v Ashley Services Group Limited – a securities class action against a company’s advisors
- Ritson v Gay & Lesbian Community Publishing Limited & ors [2012] NSWSC 483 – an important decision on when limitation periods for defamation actions will be extended
- Bofinger v Kingsway Group Limited [2009] HCA 44 – a High Court of Australia decision on a guarantor’s subrogation rights
- Cheney v Duncan [2001] NSWCA 197 – successfully resisted a claim against a solicitor on a limitation argument. This is a leading decision on when loss first accrues
- Watkins v De Varda [2003] NSWCA 242 – a leading decision on when a solicitor can owe a duty of care to a non-client.
Professional background
