Clyde & Co LLP is a market leader in defending directors and officers liability insurance matters and cyber risk claims. Lucinda Lyons leads the national practice with more than 25 years’ experience and a reputation as the go-to lawyer for complex casualty matters, public and products liability claims and complex personal injury matters. Fellow senior partner Dean Carrigan is a recognised figure in corporate insurance, as is Avryl Lattin. John Moran and Jacques Jacobs are both highly experienced coverage counsel in respect of complex claims under warranty, D&O, financial lines and indemnity insurance policies. Nicole Wearne represents Australian general and life insurers and London market underwriters, defending clients in major torts and regulatory investigations. Patrick Boardman is experienced in claims against ASX companies and their directors, financial companies and professionals, and also handles fraud and fidelity matters.

Leading the national insurance practice at Herbert Smith Freehills LLP, Mark Darwin is particularly renowned for his expertise in ISR claims (property damage and business interruption loss) in the mining, energy and construction sectors. Fellow litigator Peter Holloway focuses on D&O claims, other financial lines insurance products, warranty and indemnity issues and trade credit insurance. Guy Narburgh is another expert in D&O claims, while Michael Vrisakis is the go-to for front-end insurance coverage advice and regulatory issues. Also on the non-contentious side, Tamanna Islam is recommended for M&A in the insurance sector. The practice is also experienced in cyber coverage and cyber insurance claims.

Kennedys is recognised as a global insurance specialist, handling issues relating to all lines of insurance. Headed up by managing partner Matt Andrews, the group is the lead counsel for UK and Australian insurers, and continues to advise on numerous matters arising from the Banking Royal Commission in respect of all major banks, a variety of securities class actions, first party property damage issues and CAR claims. Chris Finn is noted for public and product liability claims, while Raylee Hartwell is highly regarded for her success in defending complex professional indemnity, property D&O and general liability claims. Construction personal injury and cyber insurance are key areas of James Melvin‘s work, and Llinos Kent‘s practice spans professional indemnity, subrogated recoveries and coverage issues.

King & Wood Mallesons‘ team is praised for its ‘strong knowledge’ and ‘standout collaborative style and personable approach’. Experience ranges from claims with high reputational impact, such as professional indemnity and D&O insurance issues, through to reinsurance matters, environmental contamination issues and natural disasters. In a recent highlight, Travis Toemoe advised Chinese insurers and reinsurers, Alltrust Insurance Co, on complex ISR insurance claims over damage to the Callide C power station in Central Queensland following an incident in May 2021. Liability litigation partner Peter Yeldham and W&I and professional indemnity specialist Mandy Tsang are the other key figures, and Emma White advises on corporate insurance.

Wotton + Kearney is recommended for general liability, financial lines and complex property, energy and construction claims. It’s also growing its capabilities in cyber insurance, general liability and class actions with the recruitment of Amanda Beattie (from King & Wood Mallesons) and Cheryl Phillips (from Minter Ellison), both in early 2023. Name partner and chief executive David Kearney and Cain Jackson, who is head of financial lines, are the group's key senior partners. Andrew Moore is an expert in D&O and financial institution claims, management liability issues and environment claims. Charles Simon is well placed to advise on catastrophic losses, and building and construction-related incidents, as is Adam Chylek for indemnity disputes.

Allens ‘has deep industry knowledge’ and a good track record acting for policyholders in business interruption claims, directors and officers issues, public liability work, cyber risk matters and professional indemnity claims. Experienced coverage litigator Malcolm Stephens acted alongside James Campbell, a class action expert, for IAG and the Insurance Council of Australia in the successful defence of the Second Covid BI Test Case. Andrew Maher‘s practice focuses on general liability and W&I work, while Jonathan Light and Louise Jenkins are names to note for policy drafting, claims and contentious insurance matters under D&O.

Clayton Utz stands out for its ‘exceptional knowledge of the industry and subject matter’ and its capabilities in corporate insurance advisory work and policy coverage disputes. Focusing on corporate policyholders, David Gerber advises on the insurance aspects of M&A, IPO placements and coverage issues. Fred Hawke has extensive experience in property, liability, marine insurance, and reinsurance law; captive insurer arrangements, Bankers Blanket Bond and crime and financial liability insurance are also his areas of instruction. Litigators Lucy Terracall and Mark Waller are also highly acclaimed.

Colin Biggers & Paisley in known for its work defending high-profile class actions, notably as counsel to RCR Tomlinson against three shareholder class actions commenced in the NSW Supreme Court in relation to the $1bn collapse of RCR. Greg Skehan is highly skilled in construction-related insurance advice, professional indemnity claims and reinsurance issues. For cyber insurance and instructions in the financial sector, Keith Bethlehem is the key partner, while Patrick Monahan is a leading lawyer in the solicitors’ negligence work. Practice co-heads Cathryn Prowse and Gavin Creighton are also of note.

Specialising in strategic claims, D&O disputes, W&I underwriting and claims, high-risk regulatory investigations and commercial insurance disputes, DLA Piper ‘brings a technical and commercial focus to complex matters’. Financial services regulation lawyer Samantha O’Brien leads the practice alongside W&I specialist James Morse. With a longstanding London market practice, Tricia Hobson is a leading class action litigator, specialising in claims covering natural catastrophes, securities, mass tort, and construction issues.

Praised as an ‘elder statesman with deep contacts in the industry’, Richard Jowett heads up the insurance team at HFW, and is ably supported by litigators Brendan McCashin and Sophy Woodward, acting for policyholders and brokers. McCashin stands out for his expertise in claims involving flood, storm, earthquake, fire and explosion events, and electricity supply issues as well as high-value class action litigation, while Jowett is a highly-regarded construction, energy and Industrial Special Risk specialist.

Moray & Agnew fields one of Australia’s largest insurance defendant practices, specialising exclusively in the defence of third-party claims, pursuing recoveries and advising on complex coverage issues. National managing partner Geoff Connellan in Sydney works alongside professional indemnity lawyer Ian Denham, and professional negligence expert Baron Alder. Public and product liability issues, and property and ISR claims are handled by Scott Cowell and Yolanta Figiel from Brisbane and Melbourne, respectively.

Rhett Kennedy leads the practice at Barry.Nilsson. and is a top Queensland-based insurance litigator specialising in professional indemnity, financial lines, public and product liability claims. In Perth, Toby Barrie regularly defends professional negligence claims against insureds in a wide range of professions, and also handles directors’ and officers’ liability and management liability matters. Simon Black takes on directors’ and officers’ liability claims arising out of royal commissions, ASIC and ACCC investigations, prosecutions and securities class actions.

Corrs Chambers Westgarth specialises in policyholder work in the projects and construction space, advising on coverage disputes and the insurance aspects of infrastructure-focused transactions; this work is led by Catherine Oldenburg. Patrick O’Grady acts for insurers and reinsurers which provide surety bond facilities to Australian corporates and handles issues arising from those facilities. Practice head Daniel Marquet is another top litigator.

Hall & Wilcox‘s insurance practice demonstrates considerable expertise in general and statutory insurance claims. The team counts major insurers, corporate insurers, state government schemes, reinsurers, insurance intermediaries, and financial institutions as key clients which it advises on a range of contentious and non-contentious matters. Its top areas of instruction include cyber insurance, headed by Eden Winokur, property and construction liability claims, led by Melbourne-based Matt McDonald, and Chris Sacré leads the marine insurance group. Philip Hopley heads the non-contentious offering, while Gemma Dehn and newly-made partner Bridget Wall (in Brisbane) specialise in professional indemnity product lines and complex coverage issues. Rhett Slocombe chairs the practice from its Sydney office where all of the practitioners mentioned are based unless otherwise stated.

Focusing on the Western Australian oil, gas and mining sector, Perth-based Jackson McDonald demonstrates expertise in directors’ and officers’ liability, business interruption, construction, resources and project insurance. Fiona Dempster combines expertise in high-volume motor vehicle personal injury cases with knowledge of medical negligence, public liability and industrial diseases matters. She is also skilled in employers’ indemnity issues and prosecutions under the Mines Safety & Inspection Act 1994 (WA).

As head of McCabes‘ insurance practice, Stuart Windybank has extensive experience in mining and construction insurance matters, specifically contract work and construction liability exposure. He also handles property damage issues, as well as advising on indemnity matters and policy interpretations for insureds and insurers.

Mills Oakley opened an Adelaide office in early 2023 and acquired specialist Sydney-based insurance boutique Vardanega Roberts, adding Stephen Vardanega and Mike Roberts to the team; Jason Symons also joined later in the year from HWL Ebsworth. Daren Curry has expertise in indemnity disputes, liability claims and subrogated recoveries; he also advises insurers on policy drafting, legislative amendments, claims procedures and regulatory issues. Stephen Aroney is an expert in insurance within the construction and property sectors, and represents builders and insurers in claims related to cladding in high rise apartment towers.

With experience in the Australian, London and US insurance markets, Norton Rose Fulbright is highly recommended for cross-border M&A transactions and warranty and indemnity insurance issues. Ray Giblett has developed a significant focus on insurance regulatory work, while senior associate Timothy Chan leads the firms’ growing insurtech practice.

Rehana Box is Ashurst‘s lead insurance partner and impresses with her ‘deep and contemporary understanding of the international insurance markets’. Areas of expertise include corporate insurance, regulatory compliance, construction insurance, service contracts and policy interpretation. Box also advises insureds on indemnity issues and claims.

The ‘exceptionally approachable’ Gilchrist Connell displays good capabilities in professional indemnity claims as well as health, construction, property and cyber insurance issues. Richard Wood is active in property and professional indemnity claims, and David Flint leads on cases relating to coverage disputes and proportionate liability.

Praised as ‘highly skilled and knowledgeable, compassionate and responsive to need the needs of clients’, Meridian Lawyers expanded its insurance capabilities with the addition of a compulsory third party insurance and recoveries team. Robert Crittenden acts for overseas underwriters, particularly Lloyd’s Syndicates and others in the London insurance market, on insurance risks in the sports, leisure and construction sectors; he also leads on professional indemnity claims. Robert Minc and David Randazzo are recommended for public and products liability issues.

At Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, LLP, Michelle Fox is the go-to lawyer for corporate insureds in relation to policy coverage issues, high-stakes mass torts, class actions, product liability claims, directors’ liability issues and financial services work. Counsel Nicholas Lennings is another key figure for general insurance claims.

Sparke Helmore Lawyers has seen an uptick in instructions in marine insurance and construction-related claims. Malcolm Cameron is an experienced professional negligence litigation and class action counsel, while fellow litigator Belinda Michalk and medical negligence specialist Matthew Seisun are also highly recommended. Gillian Davidson is involved in large-scale multi-party claims, while Jehan Mata is ‘extremely talented’ in professional indemnity, occupiers’ liability and public liability claims.