EXPERIENCE & EXPERTISE

Michael has spent his entire career advising clients in regard to insurance law, specialising in liability and general insurance claims. He has practised as a lawyer in various jurisdictions, including New South Wales, Queensland, and the United Kingdom and, since 1999, in Victoria.

Michael’s clients include all of the larger insurers, as well as state and local government agencies. He acts in a wide range of claims, particularly claims involving injury or death (including coronial inquests), sexual assault, catastrophic injuries, property damage, travel and personal line claims, ‘toxic torts’ such as asbestos and legionella claims, sports and hospitality related claims and nervous shock / psychological injury claims.

He has managed countless liability claims, including ‘slip and falls’, industrial accidents, Victorian WorkCover Authority (VWA) recovery actions, compensation to relatives’ claims, motor vehicle claims (including Transport Accident Commission (TAC) recoveries, marine-related incidents and product liability claims. In the professional indemnity field, Michael acts for insurers defending claims against hospitals, medical practitioners, allied health professionals, aged care centres and nursing homes.

Michael has successfully resolved a multitude of liability claims including slip and falls; industrial accidents; transport accidents; recovery actions by the VWA and the TAC; compensation to relatives claims; motor vehicle claims; marine-related injuries; sexual assault/abuse claims; toxic torts (such as asbestos exposure and legionella claims) and product liability claims.

In recent years, Michael has developed a sub-speciality in Health Law, acting for members of the medical profession and the health industry (and their indemnity insurers) in claims of medical negligence. This extends to providing legal advice and representation to medical practitioners, hospitals and allied health providers in regard to Coronial investigations / inquests and investigations by health regulators.

Michael has a very good understanding of the financial services regulatory environment and is a trusted adviser to major insurance companies on claims management, reserving, policy wording and other aspects of general insurance.

He is an accredited specialist in Commercial Litigation (Insurance strand).

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

In mid-2020, Michael ran a landmark case to judgment in the Victorian Court of Appeal, clarifying and extending the powers of Medical Panels in Victoria.