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Beth Russell

Partner

Melbourne

+61 3 8399 6121

Beth is a partner in our Melbourne general insurance team. She is a highly experienced litigator, with particular expertise in defending public and product liability matters in Victoria, New South Wales and Tasmania, and managing complex professional indemnity disputes.

EXPERIENCE & EXPERTISE

Beth’s credentials include skilfully managing a diverse range of matters such as major and complex claims, litigated proceedings and unlitigated claims on behalf of a number of national and international insurers, as well as matters for self-insured clients. She has extensive experience in handling personal injury claims for insurers. In addition, she frequently manages claims involving owners of shopping centres, cleaners, construction companies, scaffolding contractors, transport entities, small business owners and residential occupiers.

Other experience includes acting for a variety of professionals in investigations by regulatory authorities and professional bodies and for insurers in defence of negligence claims. Beth also provides her clients with advice and representation in construction matters and in relation to property damage.

Throughout her career, Beth has frequently appeared as an advocate for her clients before NSW and Victorian courts, as well as the NSW SIRA’s Dispute Resolution Service and the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal.

Beth’s expertise in personal injury is well-known across the industry. She is reputable for providing clear and accurate advice and achieving favourable resolutions for her clients.

She has also completed training with the State Regulatory Authority and University of Sydney in the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment, which facilitates particular insight managing claims as part of her personal injury practice. 

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Beth’s expertise and skills are reflected in obtaining her Specialist Accreditation in Personal Injury Law with the Law Society of New South Wales in October 2016. She is also currently the chair of the LIV’s Public Liability and Medical Negligence Committee. 

Beth has been involved in a number of complex litigated proceedings which have created precedents in the insurance industry. In particular, Beth directed the successful application in Buses + 4WD Hire Pty Limited v Oz Snow Adventures Pty Limited [2016] NSWSC 1017, which facilitated a novel order by the Supreme Court of NSW to allow a plaintiff to have separate representation in respect of the prosecution of a recovery claim and the defence of a related counterclaim.

She has been able to secure numerous agreed verdicts in favour of her insurer and self-insured clients, often including reimbursement of her client’s legal costs. 

RECOGNITION

Ranked as a Recommended Public & Product Liability Lawyer (Defendant) in Victoria by Doyle’s Guide 2023.

Beth placed as a top 10 finalist for the Lawyers Weekly 30 under 30 Awards in 2016 for the insurance category.

Beth was recognised as an Insurance Rising Star in the Doyle's Guide for 2020.

Expertise

Qualifications

  • Bachelor of Laws, 2010, University of Wollongong (First Class Hons)
  • Bachelor of Commerce, 2010, University of Wollongong (Distinction)
  • Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice, 2011, University of Wollongong

Specialist Accreditations

Accredited Specialist in Personal Injury Law (NSW), 2016

Memberships

  • Australian Professional Indemnity Group
  • Law Institute of Victoria – Chair – Public Liability and Medical Negligence Committee
  • Law Institute of Victoria – Committee Member – Litigation Lawyers Executive Committee
  • Women in Insurance (Vic) – Membership Officer