Presenters

Robert Crittenden, Principal and Practice Group Leader, Meridian Lawyers
Robert practices 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. In the professional indemnity space Robert has a particular focus in defending claims against lawyers, construction professionals and insurance brokers . Currently Robert is defending a large architectural firm in a large multi-defendant case involving cladding issues. He is also currently acting for a road base supplier in a large Supreme Court product liability case brought by a local government authority. He has acted in a number of large class actions including 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. Additionally he acted for the liability insurers of Cochlear in relation to a large number of product liability claims across the globe. Robert has been acknowledged by Best Lawyers in Australia for many years for his expertise in the areas of Insurance Law, Product Liability Litigation, Professional Malpractice Litigation and Litigation. He is also acknowledged in Doyle’s Guide as a leading professional indemnity lawyer. Prior to joining Meridian Lawyers, Robert was a partner at DLA Piper and its predecessor Phillips Fox for nine years and prior to that a Partner at Moray & Agnew.


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.