I have a particular interest in claims involving the education sector, including workers compensation, and public and product liability claims. In developing my practice in this area over several decades, I have managed numerous personal injury and other tortious claims in the education sector and other sectors, including hundreds of claims over the past thirty years relating to institutional abuse.

Career Highlights

• Acting as client service partner for the Victorian Department of Education since 1994 serving their negligence and litigation team on a wide variety of claims including historical abuse matters.
• A major workers compensation insurer and regulator – acting for this client since 2001 including serving as a client service partner on the insurer’s personal injury claims panel from 2005-2022, managing a team of approximately 20 lawyers and handling a substantial portfolio of claims.
• Government and media clients – advised on matters concerning media law, including providing prepublication advice and representation in defamation and contempt litigation.
• Various private educational institutions advised on a wide range of insurance and risk litigation and risk management advice.
• Various sporting bodies – acted in disciplinary matters on behalf of these organisations.
• State and Commonwealth governments – advised in relation to risk management and litigation issues.

Education
BA, LLB

• National Product Liability Association, Vice President since 1999-2003, President 2004-2005, Vice-President 2010-2011
• Melbourne Press Club, Committee Member since 1999, Treasurer since 2003
• Law Council of Australia Media & Communications Committee, Member since 1992
• Risk Management Institution of Australasia

• When is a settlement not the end of a historical sexual abuse claim?
  

  Recent decisions in Victoria, Queensland and Western Australia have considered the applicable legislative regime and the ability of plaintiffs to set aside previous settlements of their historical sexual abuse claims and proceed with further claims for damages.

   

• Reviewing image rights agreements in australian sports
  

  In Australia, a sportsperson does not have a right of property in their publicity or personality rights . Therefore, in order to protect any goodwill in their reputation, a sportsperson will generally enter into an agreement granting a non-exclusive licence to a trustee to use and exploit their image.

• Safe harbour for image rights assessments of professional sportspersons has been withdrawn
  A recent decision by the ATO has a significant impact on all sportspersons, sporting clubs and governing bodies.
  
• How journalists can reduce defamation risk
  

  A recent decision illustrates some of the steps that journalists can take to improve their prospects of being protected by qualified privilege.