About

Provided by Colin Biggers & Paisley

With more than 100 lawyers, our Insurance group is one of Australia’s largest. We have decades of experience defending complex, high stakes matters and managing high volume claims, supported by expertise in claims management, underwriting, broking and claims resolution.

“Complex claims made simple” shapes how we work. As insurance specialists, we provide clear, practical advice and cut through complexity with a responsive, transparent approach. Using deep industry insight, we design strategies that minimise risk and exposure and deliver confidence and clarity.

Our experience gives us a strong understanding of industry challenges. We support insurers, reinsurers, Lloyd’s syndicates, underwriters, brokers and agents, claims managers, TPAs, self insureds and insureds. While we aim for commercial outcomes, clients trust us with significant or sensitive litigation. We also advise on policy drafting, interpretation, product development, regulatory issues and recoveries.

Many clients are ICA General Insurance Code of Practice signatories, and we train our people on key requirements, including family violence, vulnerability, financial hardship and complaints. Our family violence policy is public, and we guide individuals to translation services where needed.

As an Australian practice with global reach and a founding member of Global Access Lawyers, we provide seamless access to leading insurance specialists worldwide.

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Insurance Defence - Australia

2
Band 2

What the Team is Known For

Colin Biggers & Paisley caters to an extensive roster of insurer clients on high-profile contentious matters, notably including high-stakes class actions and construction disputes. The firm is especially well-regarded for handling big-ticket D&O and professional indemnity disputes as well as fielding expertise with regard to coverage issues. Additionally, the team is active in asbestos litigation, personal injury and transport-related claims. Colin Biggers & Paisley advises both Australian and multinational clients from within and beyond the Asia-Pacific region and is particularly noted for assisting on work originating from the London market.

Work Highlights

  • Colin Biggers & Paisley acted for the sixth excess layer of insurers of Nuix's D&O policy in direct Federal Court proceedings and as coverage counsel in relation to the class action and associated ASIC civil penalty proceedings.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

Greg Skehan
S
Greg Skehan
S
Senior Statespeople

Greg Skehan is particularly well known for his work on complex contentious insurance issues, particularly those arising in a construction or engineering-related context.

Greg Skehan is super experienced and a pleasure to work with.

Greg has set the benchmark for approachability and responsiveness for many years.

Keith Bethlehem
2
Keith Bethlehem
2
Band 2
Keith Bethlehem is based in Sydney and is widely regarded as a go-to lawyer where D&O, financial institution and cyber risk-related issues are concerned.

Having Keith on a complex and sophisticated matter solves part of the problem. His ability to identify the issues and provide solutions is critical for a good outcome.

Keith Bethlehem is hard-working and always thinks matters through.

Patrick Boardman
3
Patrick Boardman
3
Band 3
Patrick Boardman is based in Sydney and acts extensively for both insurer and insured clients on indemnity claims and coverage issues in that sphere.

Patrick is a solid lawyer and tactician.

Patrick Boardman would be my first choice on any complex insurer coverage matters. He is an excellent insurance lawyer, there are no two ways about it.

Jonathan Newby
4
Jonathan Newby
4
Band 4

Jonathan Newby often acts for insurers in coverage dispute and in the defence of professional service providers as well as in the defence of directors and officers liability. His work includes, but is not limited to, D&O class actions for the collapse of a company as well as regulatory investigation and combustible building cladding issues.

Jonathan Newby is a go-to lawyer for complex coverage and defence for both construction and D&O claims. He has a highly intelligent approach combined with strategic thinking.

Jonathan is extremely pragmatic and commercial and he's one of the smartest insurance lawyers around.

Ranked Lawyers at
Colin Biggers & Paisley

Provided by Chambers
Filter by
Band

Australia

Insurance

Greg Skehan
S
Greg Skehan
S
Senior Statespeople
Keith Bethlehem
2
Keith Bethlehem
2
Band 2
Patrick Boardman
3
Patrick Boardman
3
Band 3
Jonathan Newby
4
Jonathan Newby
4
Band 4

Members

Provided by Colin Biggers & Paisley

Ana Kolovos

Andrew Probert

Cathryn Prowse

Head of Department

Christopher Jones

Debbie Kaminskas

Gavin Creighton

Head of Department

Georgina Wong

Jane O'Neill

Mathisha Panagoda

Michael Russell

Patrick Cavanagh

Patrick Monahan

Paul Bannon

Peter Moran

Phillip Atkin

Stuart Hetherington

Vanessa Kemp

Vijay Edwards

Clients

Provided by Colin Biggers & Paisley

Argo Global

CHU

Catholic Church Insurance

Liberty Specialty Markets

ProRisk

Zurich Australian Insurance Limited

Industries

Provided by Colin Biggers & Paisley

Aged & community care

Banking & finance

Construction

Education

Employment

Faith-based

Health

Insurance

Retail

Technology

Transport