Leveraging the firm’s significant global network of offices, the powerhouse insurance team at Clyde & Co LLP remains a marker leader, advising a host of multinational and domestic insurers, underwriters, corporates, brokers, and marker syndicates on a wide range of matters across the practice area. Headed up by casualty insurance legal authority Lucinda Lyons, the group’s comprehensive service includes professional indemnity claims, cyber claims, civil penalty proceedings, product recalls, and class actions. Key figures include regulatory and compliance experts Dean Carrigan and Avryl Lattin; John Moran, a specialist in D&O, professional indemnity, and financial lines; Patrick Boardman, who acts for primary insurers; Gareth Horne, who excels in matters related to business interruption claims; and Jacques Jacobs, an experienced insurance litigator. In Melbourne, Nicole Wearne possesses over 25 years of experience in contentious defence and insurance coverage. New partner Matthew Ellis joined the Melbourne office from Clyde & Co LLP in July 2022. All named lawyers are based in Sydney unless otherwise specified.

Herbert Smith Freehills‘ market-leading insurance group leverages the combined bench strength of its national offices and its sizeable global footprint to assist major insurers, brokers, and policyholders on a broad spectrum of contentious and non-contentious matters. Its considerable offering ranges from class actions, D&O renewals, and indemnity insurance for M&A transactions, to business interruption issues cross-currency swaps, and the divestment of group insurance entities. The team is jointly led by Brisbane-based Mark Darwin, who brings over 30 years of insurance litigation experience, and Sydney-based insurance regulatory expert Michael Vrisakis. The group is backed in Sydney by Guy Narburgh, who brings expertise to front-end insurance advice for policyholders, and special counsel Crystal Sanders, who assists insurers and reinsurers with scheme transfers of business portfolios. At the senior associate level, Tamanna Islam principally advises on financial advice and distribution, while Anne Hoffmann is noted for her capabilities in dispute resolution.

A number of major insurers, reinsurers, brokers, and policyholders turn to the insurance team at UK-headquartered firm Kennedys for its ‘excellent litigation expertise’ and broad experience; from professional indemnity and medical malpractice, to construction claims and product liability. The team is chaired by Sydney-based international insurance and re-insurance authority Matt Andrews, who brings over 30 years of experience in the practice space. Other key names to note in the sizable Sydney office include Raylee Hartwell, an expert in clinical negligence and general liability claims; Chris Finn, head of the casualty claims practice; James Melvin, who specialises in financial lines, mining, construction PI and cyber; construction claims specialist Penny Taylor; and policy response advisor Llinos Kent, who was promoted to partner in May 2022. Outside of the Sydney office, Perth-based Jonathan Wyatt is recommended for property and marine insurance matters. Stephanie Cook in Brisbane, Maya Parbhoo in Melbourne, and Peter Craney in Sydney were all promoted to partner in May 2022.

Working across multiple national offices (Brisbane, Canberra, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney), the insurance team at King & Wood Mallesons is a premier choice for a number of market-leading major insurers, reinsurers, and policyholders. Headed by veteran insurance litigator Travis Toemoe from the Sydney office, the group regularly assist clients with professional indemnity, regulatory investigations, compliance, D&O insurance, and major disputes. The team is supported in Sydney by Sarah Yu, who brings expertise to superannuation fund and life insurance matters; liability claims specialist Peter Yeldham; W&I insurance claim expert Mandy Tsang; and senior associate Georgia Cowley. Senior associate Laurice Elton rejoined the firm in June 2022.

Working across offices in Brisbane, Canberra, Sydney, the insurance team at Clayton Utz advises a litany of major corporates, financial institutions, government bodies, and policyholders - particularly in the banking, tech, construction, and food and beverage sectors. Headed by financial lines expert David Gerber in Sydney, the practice regularly advises on the insurance aspects of major transactions (including regulatory queries), policy reviews, and professional indemnity matters. Melbourne-based Fred Hawke specialises in property, liability, and marine insurance and reinsurance law, while on the contentious side, experienced insurance litigators Lucy Terracall (also in Melbourne) and the Brisbane-based Chris Erfurt are especially noted.

A stellar line-up of major insurers and reinsurers, brokers, claims managers, underwriting agencies, and policyholders regularly turn to the insurance team at Colin Biggers & Paisley.  Led by professional indemnity experts Gavin Creighton in Sydney, and Cathryn Prowse in Melbourne, the group’s capabilities extend to class actions, claims arising from cyber breaches, transport insurance, D&O disputes, and policies tailored to infrastructure projects. The team in Sydney includes Jonathan Newby, a construction and financial lines specialist, and Keith Bethlehem, who manages D&O policy coverage matters. Melbourne-based Patrick Monahan is recommended for his expertise in solicitors’ negligence cases. The firm saw a wave of promotions in January 2022, with Patrick Cavanagh  at partner level and Laura Tulloch as special counsel. Notable new arrivals include senior associate Selcuk Gokmen, who joined from Barry.Nilsson. in April 2022, and special counsel David Chong, who arrived from McCabes in June 2022.

HFW marshals the bench strength of its worldwide network and significant domestic footprint to assist major insurance and reinsurance companies, brokers, mutuals and policyholders, with a diverse spectrum of disputes, transactions, and regulatory matters. Led by Richard Jowett - who brings expertise to high-stakes business interruption and casualty cases - the group’s full service extends to D&O liability, insurance architecture, professional indemnity, public liability, property damage and product liability claims. The group is supported by Brendan McCashin, a specialist in insurance events and recovery claims, and Sophy Woodward, who brings strong experience acting for mining companies in coverage disputes. All the lawyers mentioned work in the Melbourne office.

With offices in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, the insurance law and litigation group at Lander & Rogers is well-placed to assist Australian and international insurers, brokers, self-insurers, and government agencies on a broad spectrum of matters across the practice area. Chaired from Melbourne by veteran insurance litigator Ari Abrahams and Julie Smith, a specialist in financial lines insurance claims, the group’s expertise notably includes catastrophic personal injury claims, professional indemnity, D&O claims, casualty policies, and management liability claims. The team is supported by experienced defence counsel Jonathan Hunt, construction and engineering specialist Charles Thornley, and class action expert Colleen Palmkvist - all of whom are based in Sydney. Other key names to note include the Melbourne-based Natasha Stojanovich, an experienced construction disputes advisor. Partner Matt Dudakov left the practice in March 2022.

Maintaining a strong national presence across a host of national offices, Moray & Agnew advises a mix of domestic and international insurers, reinsurers, underwriters, self-insureds, and government bodies on a wide range of matters. These include workers’ compensation claims, personal injury, motor vehicle property damage, builders’ warranty claims, class actions, and professional and public liability. The sizeable Sydney office fields national managing partner Geoff Connellan; head of medical malpractice and disciplinary Suzanne Wallace; life insurance lead Catherine McAdam; compulsory third-party lead John Cooper; workers’ compensation head Stephen Harris; financial lines’ lead Michael Polorotoff; and dust and toxic tort head Stephen Taylor-Jones. In Melbourne, builders’ warranty lead James Collier and life insurance head Gerry Davies are among the key names to note. A wave of July 2022 promotions to partner included: Kara Yacoubian, Danielle Pastor, Gabrielle Watts, Lily Sher, Nicholas Sullivan and Prue Loader. Partner Jacqueline Haski joined the Sydney office from Wendy Blacker Lawyers in February 2022. Partner Anthony Scott retired in January 2022.

Working across offices in Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne and Perth, the insurance team at Allens assists international insurers, reinsurers, brokers, underwriters, and policyholders on all manner of work, ranging from professional indemnity, policy disputes, and professional negligence claims, to regulatory investigations and enforcement. The team is led by experienced insurance litigator Andrew Maher in Melbourne and supported by policy coverage specialist Malcolm Stephens, policyholder advisor Jonathan Light, and Guy Foster, a Sydney-based partner who brings expertise to class actions and administrative law disputes. Other names to note in Melbourne include Louise Jenkins, an expert in professional negligence claims, and Josh Anderson, who was promoted to senior associate in July 2022.

Harnessing the combined bench strength of eight offices across the nation, the insurance group at Hall & Wilcox works with various insurers, reinsurers, insurance intermediaries, and financial institutions on a myriad of matters. The team’s broad focus encompasses professional liability, D&O claims, public and product liability, statutory insurance, workers’ compensation claims, and contracts works policies, among others. The team is directed by a group of 12 experienced partners: national head of insurance Rhett Slocombe; the head of general insurance Matthew Curll; statutory insurance lead Grant Galvin; London market co-lead Rachael Arnold; corporate insurance lead Philip Hopley; cyber insurance leader Eden Winokur; and marine insurance head Chris Sacré, all of whom are based in Sydney. Other key names to note include Perth-based section lead Anton Vucak, statutory insurance section lead Anastasia Coutsouvelis, national self-insurer head Ilona Strong, and property and class actions lead Matt McDonald in Melbourne. Terry Killian heads up the statutory insurance offering from Brisbane.

Noted for its expertise in the oil and gas, mining, and healthcare sectors, the insurance and risk group at independent Perth law firm Jackson McDonald advises a host of insurers, underwriters, and multinational corporations and executives, on a broad range of matters across the practice area. The team’s wide-ranging capabilities include public and property liability, project insurance, professional indemnity, class actions, and regulatory compliance, among others. The team is led by the Perth-based Fiona Dempster, whose expertise encompasses both motor vehicle personal injury matters and medical negligence. The group is supported by Phillip Lovatt, a specialist in professional indemnity, as well as seasoned insurance litigator Alex Lustig. Partner Stefan Sudweeks in Sydney departed in January 2022.

Working between offices in Sydney & Chatswood, Brisbane, Melbourne and Perth, the insurance team at McCabes is a key port of call for its blue-chip insurer client base, on matters ranging from casualty, professional risk, and management liability, to property and construction, statutory classes, recoveries, and compliance. The department is jointly chaired from Sydney by Stuart Windybank, head of both the insurance and government teams; head of casualty and professional lines Scott Kennedy; head of statutory classes Peter Hunt; head of recoveries Paul Garnon; and head of corporate advisory (regulatory) Mathew Kaley. Partners Priya Paquet and Brian Trist departed in March and May 2022, respectively.

Backed by a strong national presence (Brisbane, Perth, Canberra, Melbourne, Sydney), the insurance group at Ashurst acts for a number of market-leading insurers, brokers, corporate policyholders, and government agencies, advising on a wide spectrum of matters. They include D&O claims, IPOs, portfolio transfers, reinsurance, captive insurance and distribution arrangements and warranty and indemnity policies. The practice is led by the ‘exceptional‘ Sydney-based Rehana Box, recommended for her wide-ranging expertise, including in acquisitions, construction, and service contracts.

Insurance boutique firm Barry.Nilsson. benefits from a robust national network and considerable bench strength, advising national and international insurers, brokers, and policyholders on a diverse spectrum of matters. Led by Brisbane-based Rhett Kennedy, who brings over 30 years’ experience in the practice area, the team regularly advises on class actions, financial lines, workers’ compensation, property claims, liability (including public, product, and cyber), professional indemnity, and catastrophic injury. Key support is provided by financial lines specialist Hubert Wajszel in Melbourne. Consultant John Fogg joined the Brisbane office in January 2022.

With locations in Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney, insurance boutique Gilchrist Connell leverages its deep bench strength to advise major multinational insurers, brokers, underwriters and insureds on a comprehensive spectrum of work – both contentious and non-contentious. The team is jointly led by managing partner Richard Wood in Adelaide, and chairman John Edmond in Sydney. Other key names to note in Sydney include Steven Connell, who brings over 35 years of advising insurers and underwriters; Dan Robinson, a specialist in coverage issues and disputes; and veteran insurance litigator Katherine Czoch. Pro bono principal Jilly Field joined the Sydney site from Ashurst in January 2022. Other key additions to the Sydney office include special counsel Julian Peake and senior associate Lucy Chen, who arrived from Colin Biggers & Paisley in March 2022. Partner Daniela Faggionato departed in April 2022.

McCullough Robertson's insurance practice is a regular port of call for insurers, brokers, and public and private corporations, advising widely on workers’ compensation, contract works, professional indemnity, D&O claims, public and product liability, and the design of programs to ensure legislative compliance. The team is led by the Brisbane-based Brad Russell, a key contact for clients in the resources sector.

Working across seven offices nationwide, the team at McInnes Wilson Lawyers represents major domestic and international insurers, multinational corporates, and government insurance bodies on an array of matters, ranging from litigated claims, catastrophic personal injury, and major property claims, to life and disability insurance, and directors’ and officers’ liability insurance. The practice is jointly chaired by general insurance and public liability team head David Jesser; workers’ compensation expert Allison Langford; and professional indemnity and life insurance specialist Andrew Orr. Key support comes from senior associate Jack Fairweather. All the lawyers mentioned are based in the Brisbane office.

Working across multiple domestic offices, the insurance team at Meridian Lawyers advises major insurers, brokers, underwriters, and policyholders, on all manner of work; product liability, medical negligence, professional indemnity, catastrophic injury, and public liability are all core workflows. The team is jointly led by Andrew Saxton in Sydney, Marianne Nicolle in Newcastle, veteran insurance litigator Robert Minc in Melbourne, Dennis Cronin in Brisbane, and Shannon Mony in Perth. Names to note in the Sydney office include veteran litigator Rob Crittenden, and public and products liability specialist David Partridge.

The insurance group at Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, LLP pairs a national presence with the bench strength of its wider global network to act for corporate insureds in relation to policy coverage and in complex, high-stakes disputes. The team is headed in Sydney by founding partners and seasoned litigators Michelle Fox and Michael Mills, who bring expertise to class actions, mass torts and products liability matters. The team is supported in Sydney by senior associate Nicholas Lennings.

Underpinned by its multi-office footprint, Sparke Helmore Lawyers is a key port of call for a number of domestic and international insurers, brokers, multinational corporations, and directors. Steered by the Sydney-based Malcolm Cameron – a seasoned negligence litigator with almost three decades of experience – the team’s capabilities range from insolvencies and construction claims, to professional indemnity, class actions, and workers’ compensation. Other key names to note include professional indemnity expert Mark Doepel and seasoned litigator Dino Liistro. Partner Samantha Power left the practice in July 2022.