The issues in professional indemnity claims are becoming entwined with financial sector misconduct and Ai governance amongst the many usual PI claims. Attend the Professional Indemnity Forum to polish your understanding of how to navigate recent trends across a wide range of claims. Learn key lessons from Carter v Chubb. Gain key insights into misconduct in the financial sector and the risk of using Ai generated information in professional services and the claims that arise. Navigate the recent trends on insurer responses to claims and how to manage them. Not to be missed.

Presenters

Robert Crittenden, Principal, Meridian Lawyers
Robert practises in insurance law and litigation, with a focus on professional indemnity and product liability insurance. He joined Meridian Lawyers in November 2014, bringing a wealth of experience in insurance law, having acted in many high profile insurance cases. He acts for overseas underwriters, particularly Lloyd’s Syndicates and others in the London insurance market. He also advises insurers, brokers, underwriting agents and insured parties and provides risk management advice to clients in the sports, leisure and construction industries. Robert has many years experience drafting and amending insurance policies and endorsements. He has acted in a number of large class actions including the CSN action (farm machinery) and the Cash Converters action (pay day lending). Robert has also acted for the London market insurers of RailCorp in relation to the Waterfall rail disaster. He is currently acting for the insurers of Cochlear in relation to a large number of product liability claims across the globe. He is also acting for a large law firm in relation to a high profile claim brought by John Symonds/Aussie Home Loans arising out of tax advice. Robert is acknowledged by Best Lawyers in Australia (2022 edition) for his expertise in the areas of Insurance Law, Product Liability Litigation, Professional Malpractice Litigation and Litigation. The 2022 edition of Doyle’s Guide also acknowledges Robert as a leading professional indemnity lawyer. He is a New South Wales Board Member and Chair of the Liaison Sub-Committee for the Australian Insurance Law Association (AILA) and is a member of the Product Liability Law Association. Prior to joining Meridian Lawyers, Robert was a partner at DLA Piper and its predecessor Phillips Fox for nine years.


Alex Haslam, Principal, Gilchrist Connell
Alex is an insurance, construction and commercial litigation specialist. Since 1998, he has acted on behalf of a wide range of organisations in Australia, London and New Zealand. Alex’s practice focuses on defending claims and providing insurance coverage advice on matters involving professional negligence, insured construction disputes, directors and officers liability, management liability, cyber liability, defamation, warranty and indemnity and crime/fidelity. Alex frequently acts as defence or coverage counsel on class actions and other large litigation. Allied to this, Alex has a construction and commercial litigation practice, in which he primarily acts, for owners, developers and major contractors in relation to building and construction disputes, ranging from claims for defects to apartment buildings to complex contractual claims involving multiple parties, as well as for corporate entities on claims brought against them and claim, including recovery claims, on their behalf. Experienced in managing the commercial and business priorities of underwriters, re-insurers and insurers through his previous role at AON in London, he now applies the same rigorous pragmatic and commercial approach to all of his insurer and non-insurer clients alike to meet their business objectives. Alex is also known for his extensive legal knowledge and, when the circumstances require it, his forceful approach to litigation. With wide-ranging experience in insurance and reinsurance policy advice and disputes, Alex has advised insurers on issues arising out of various sections of the Insurance Contracts Act 1984 (Cth), including sections 13, 21, 28(3), 33, 37, 40(3), 45, 51, 54 and 56. Alex regularly delivers informative and practical seminars and papers to clients on topics as diverse as privacy law amendments, defamation, debenture trustees, exclusion clauses, advocates’ immunity, cyber risk, personal costs orders, risk management and contractual indemnities. Alex publishes in the Law Society of New South Wales Journal and other industry publications, presents in video and podcasts formats, and contributes articles to, and is the editor of Gilchrist Connell’s industry newsletter ‘Limelight’.


Jennifer Robbins, Partner, Clyde and Co
Jennifer is a Partner and specialises in complex insurance coverage issues, particularly in relation to financial institutions, corporate misconduct and shareholder disputes. Jennifer has advised insurers in relation to numerous class actions, regulatory proceedings and large-scale customer remediation programs in the financial services sector. Her experience also extends to advising on privacy liability, cyber incident response and emerging risks in the FinTech space. Jennifer is also an experienced commercial litigator and has successfully defended a wide range of professionals in litigated claims (including accountants, financial planners, building certifiers, engineers and solicitors). In particular, she has extensive experience in handling claims against professionals in the financial services sector.


Kristi Riedel, Barrister, Level Twenty-Seven Chambers
Kristi Riedel has a broad commercial and civil practice. She has appeared both led and unled in in a range of trials, applications (including for urgent injunctive relief) and interlocutory hearings in the Queensland Magistrates, District and higher courts. She has also appeared at settlement conferences and mediations involving both smaller and large multi-party matters. She has a particular interest, and experience, in all facets of insurance law, an area she practised in extensively as a solicitor prior to commencing at the Bar. Her recent experience includes advancing and defending actions against a variety of professionals, including against accountants, property valuers, solicitors, livestock nutritionists and medical professionals (including disciplinary proceedings). Further, she has advised in relation to claims stemming from the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, matters relating to workers' compensation and consumer protection litigation. In addition, Kristi advises in her own right on a wide range of commercial disputes, including shareholder disputes, commercial leasing disputes, business sale disputes, planning and environment matters, property damage and defamation claims. Kristi was admitted as a solicitor in 2009, and was a Senior Associate within HWL Ebsworth's insurance team prior to commencing practise as a barrister.


James Rigney, Partner, Clyde & Co
In addition to James’ extensive disputes experience, he frequently advises on complex coverage issues, and he has also assisted clients in a wide range of regulatory investigations and Royal Commissions. This unique experience means James stands out to his clients – they value his ability to apply technical knowledge in a commercial environment to provide practical solutions. James has experience working with global and local insurers, London Market syndicates and their insureds. His technical understanding of client's businesses is critical to developing a fast understanding of the claim and the ability to focus on early settlement strategy. Evidence of this is found in his handling of a claim against a professional services firm in which the client had significant exposure. James successfully implemented a strategy to resolve the matter at mediation, and before evidence, therefore minimising unnecessary legal spend for the client. James has extensive experience in litigated proceedings. In 2019, James defended a global agricultural company in proceedings arising from a crop spraying incident causing widespread damage to crops. Faced with a challenging case on liability, James was able to deploy a strategy of defending the case on causation and quantum instead, which resulted in a successful outcome for his client at Trial. James is a member of the Engineering Discussion Group (committee member), the Australian Professional Indemnity Group and the Australian Insurance Law Association. He is admitted to practice in the United Kingdom and Australia, and has litigated claims in numerous jurisdictions in Australia, the UK and Europe. James is consistently recognised for his work in the industry, most recently he has also been recognised in the "Best Lawyers in Australia" rankings for his expertise Insurance Law.