Connect with meIn Australia and the London Market, Lesley is noted for providing commercially astute advice on complex coverage issues, dual insurance actions and claims defence for Casualty and Construction insurers.
She regularly advises on coverage and policy interpretation, as well as large loss and multi-party indemnity claims, including catastrophic casualty and property damage matters (including coronial inquests). Her experience spans the construction and infrastructure, property, energy, manufacturing, retail, mining, local government, recreation and agriculture sectors.
Lesley has represented successful parties in leading insurance law cases including Brighten v Traino (2019) NSWCA 168 (regarding the duty of care owed by a licensed premise), Arabi v Glad Cleaning Service Pty Limited (2010) NSWCA 208 (a leading cleaning system case) and GIO General Limited v Centennial Newstan Pty Ltd [2014] NSWCA 13 (a case considering the construction of indemnity and insurance clauses in commercial contracts which distinguished Erect Safe Scaffolding (Australia) Pty Ltd v Sutton [2008] NSWCA 114).
Lesley is highly regarded for her ability to quickly identify complex factual and technical issues, and to concisely explain their implications to clients in plain English. She is a qualified mediator and regularly appears in the District, Supreme and Federal Courts. Additionally, Lesley is a Professional Member of the Resolution Institute and a past President of the Association for Women in Insurance.
Casualty
- Defending builders, labour hire contractors, providers of construction services (such as scaffolders, demolition and product installers) against personal injury claims, including worker-to-worker components and various contractual indemnities and insurance requirements.
- Defending clubs, hotels, security providers, theatre, restaurant and entertainment operators against personal injury claims, including assault claims.
- Defending theme parks, horse-riding facilities, ski resorts, golf clubs, go kart providers, hang glider associations, swimming pool operators, gyms and fitness professionals against claims for personal injury damages arising out of recreational activities.
- Defending retail providers (owners, occupiers and service providers) in casualty claims.
- Representing insureds in coronial inquests and in claims by relatives and for nervous shock.
- Advising and pursuing dual insurance claims for contribution.
- Advising and pursuing contractual indemnity claims.
- Advising and pursuing breach of contract claims for failure to effect insurance.
Property Damage
- Defending construction industry entities in cladding claims, shoring claims and property damage occurring during construction projects.
- Defending clubs, hotels, theatre, restaurant and entertainment operators against property damage claims, including fire damage.
- Defending property damage, third party loss and professional indemnity claims against diesel generator manufacturers, mining companies, and power, gas and electrical entities.
- Advising and pursuing dual insurance claims for contribution.
- Advising and pursuing contractual indemnity claims.
- Advising and pursuing breach of contract claims for failure to effect insurance.
- Advising insurers on first party property damage and economic loss claims regarding large-scale construction projects and suppliers of mechanical equipment, such as large generators.
Coverage Advice
- Providing coverage advice on complex public/product liability wordings, annual construction and project-specific policies, contract works policies, Industrial Special Risks cover and professional indemnity policies.
- Inquiries, Investigations and Prosecutions
- Personal Injury
- Property Damage
- Sports, Leisure and Entertainment Liability
- Subrogated Recoveries
- Agriculture
- Construction and Infrastructure
- Energy, Mining and Power
- Industrial and Commercial Property
- Local Government
- Manufacturing and Consumer Goods
- Retail and Labour Hire
- Sports, Leisure and Entertainment
- The Association for Women in Insurance (Past President, Vice President, Committee Member and Lifetime Member)
- Resolution Institute (formerly The Institute of Arbitrators and Mediators)
- Australian Insurance Law Association
- Australian Professional Indemnity Group
- Law Society of New South Wales
- Australian and New Zealand Institute of Insurance and Finance
- NSW Claims Discussion Group