Expertise - Meridian Lawyers

Areas Of Expertise

Meridian Lawyers is a boutique law firm that focuses on the areas of insurance and health law, coupled with specialist commercial and employment law practices.

INSURANCE LAW

Meridian Lawyers has a substantial insurance practice and client base and has established a reputation of excellence in insurance law. Our clients include local and overseas insurers, underwriters, underwriting agents, brokers and corporate insureds. Read more

PROFESSIONAL INDEMNITY CLAIMS

We have a team of lawyers with considerable experience in professional indemnity litigation extending across a large number of professional services. Read more

PUBLIC LIABILITY, PRODUCT AND PROPERTY CLAIMS

We act on instruction from corporations, claims handling agents, Government departments and insurers in a wide range of public, product and property claims. Read more

CORONIAL INQUIRIES

Meridian Lawyers has a leading coronial law practice and our lawyers have been involved in a large number of complex and high profile coronial cases extending over the past two decades. Read more

PROFESSIONAL COUNCIL AND REGULATOR PROCEEDINGS

Meridian Lawyers is frequently advising on regulatory investigations. Read more

CORPORATE AND COMMERCIAL

Meridian Lawyers’ corporate and commercial team has extensive experience advising clients operating in a wide range of industries and professions. Our clients range in size and scale and include multinational and Australian public and private companies, large professional member organisations and private clients. Read more

Corporate Health
Meridian Lawyers has a leading commercial law practice in the health sector. Read more

Other industry sectors
We act for a wide variety of commercial clients including Fortune 500 companies, publicly listed corporations and medium and small businesses. Read more

Corporate Governance
We provide specialist governance services to clients, including a range of company secretarial services. Some of our lawyers have completed Chartered Secretaries Australia’s Graduate Diploma in Applied Corporate Governance. Read more

Regulation and Compliance
Meridian Lawyers advises clients on a multitude of regulatory and compliance aspects arising from professional practice in the health and general private sectors. Our comprehensive and professional knowledge and level of service ensures clients are provided with dedicated technical expertise and advice in these areas. Read more

PHARMACY

Meridian Lawyers is recognised as a leading pharmacy law practice in Australia. Read more

OPTOMETRY

Meridian Lawyers has a large optometry client base. As a leading health law practice in Australia not only do we act for many health professionals (including optometrists) and health organisations throughout the country, we are also a principal legal advisor to Optometrists Association Australia and a number of its state divisions. Read more

EMPLOYMENT LAW

Meridian Lawyers has a dedicated employment law team offering clients specialist legal advice on all employment related issues. Read more

INSURANCE LAW

Our team of lawyers have extensive insurance law experience and provide clients with a wide service offering. A number of our team have had previous in house roles with insurers providing valuable insight, knowledge and understanding of the issues insurers face in their dealings with regulators, actuaries, underwriters, reinsurers and the need for accurate reserving and strong claims management.

Meridian Lawyers is regularly retained to draft and review new policy wordings for professional indemnity, public and products as well as broadform and industrial and special risk policies.

Our lawyers regularly assist insurers with responding to complaints made to the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS), advising on compliance obligations under the General Insurance Code of Practice and acting in litigation and claims flowing from a declinature of indemnity or other policy dispute. Our experience ensures we can provide clients with clear, considered and accurate advice on policy construction and interpretation issues so that our clients are totally aware of their rights and obligations under the policy. Back to top

PROFESSIONAL INDEMNITY CLAIMS

We have a team of lawyers with considerable experience in professional indemnity litigation extending across a large number of professional services.

Meridian Lawyers is recognised as having a leading professional negligence litigation practice in Australia for actions involving health practitioners and health care providers and facilities. We are involved in the defence of claims brought against, pharmacists, dentists, chiropractors, osteopaths, doctors, nurses, dental prosthetists, speech pathologists, physiotherapists and rehabilitation providers, aged care, pathology facilities and hospitals.

Our professional indemnity experience extends to the defence of professional negligence litigation against other professions including valuers, accountants, engineers, investment advisors, insurance brokers, stockbrokers, veterinarians and lawyers. Back to top

PUBLIC LIABILITY, PRODUCT AND PROPERTY CLAIMS

We act on instruction from corporations, claims handling agents, Government departments and insurers in a wide range of public, product and property claims.

Our lawyers have acted in a wide variety of third party claims which have involved not only advising on issues of both liability and quantum, but also policy coverage issues in the context of the application of the Insurance Contracts Act 1984 (Cth). The circumstances of each claim vary significantly but include:

Slipping accidents;
Assaults at hotels involving patrons, bar and security staff, and service of alcohol issues;
Fires arising from electrical faults, criminal activity and the malfunction of equipment resulting in significant property damage, deaths and injury;
Motor vehicle accidents involving tractors, quad bikes and collisions with livestock;
Accidents on public land, including drownings and accidents arising from fallen trees;
Accidents arising from the use of equipment such as abseiling equipment and other leisure equipment;
Injuries arising from the use of chemical spray drifts and the application of epoxy resins;
Workplace injuries at manufacturing companies, rural properties, abattoirs and in building and heavy industry;
Workplace stabbing incidents involving serious physical and psychiatric injuries to multiple witnesses;
Claims for psychological injury arising from hold ups at workplace;
Accidents at holiday resorts, national parks and gardens and accidents involving use of playground equipment; and
Injuries arising from the use of products.

Our lawyers are very experienced in advising clients on litigation arising from work place and motor vehicle accidents and recovery claims for statutory benefits that have been paid. Back to top

CORONIAL INQUIRIES

Meridian Lawyers has a leading coronial law practice and our lawyers have been involved in a large number of complex and high profile coronial cases extending over the past two decades.

In recent times our lawyers have represented clients such as dentists, public and private schools, hospitals, hotels, chid care operators, custodial staff, nurses, pharmacists, not for profit care centres and a range of Government Departments at inquest hearings.

Our practice is regularly retained at an early stage to investigate the circumstances surrounding a death and to guide clients through the process, to keep them informed and to provide strategic advice on the collation of relevant information, opinion and statements. The experience of the Meridian Lawyers team means that clients are informed at the earliest stage on the likely outcome and potential consequences flowing from a Coronial investigation to enable our clients to make an informed decision about important issues such as claims for privilege of documents and self-incrimination.

In recognition of our experience, in 2009, Meridian Lawyers was one of only three firms appointed to the Victorian Government Legal Panel in the specialist area of Coronial Inquests. This is a 5 year appointment servicing all Victorian Government Departments and Government organisations such as VicRoads. Apart from assisting a wide range of Government Departments, Meridian Lawyers has been instructed, on many occasions, to assist the Coroner with his/her investigations where the Victoria Police have had some involvement and are perceived to be conflicted from providing assistance. This experience provides valuable insight into the Coronial process.

The lawyers at Meridian Lawyers are particularly experienced with providing advice aimed at reducing the risk of an accident reoccurring through for example, the modification of existing protocols and procedures, and further education. Our key lawyers all sit on risk management committees and are regularly involved in further education, interactive case study seminars and publications aimed at educating our client base and sharing lessons learned. Back to top

PROFESSIONAL COUNCIL AND REGULATOR PROCEEDINGS

Meridian Lawyers acts for a wide range of professionals (predominantly health professionals) in matters involving disciplinary investigations and complaints made to Professional Councils, the Racing Tribunal, the Ombudsman, the Equal Opportunity Commission, the Privacy Commissioner, the Anti-Discrimination Commission as well as to various state and territory health departments, funds and Medicare Australia.

Our lawyers have acted in literally thousands of matters involving such complaints and our Administrative Law team are highly acclaimed for their specialist knowledge and experience in this area. Back to top

CORPORATE AND COMMERCIAL

Corporate Health
Meridian Lawyers has a leading commercial law practice in the health sector. Our lawyers advise member organisations representing health professionals on diverse issues affecting their professions, including health industry regulation and reform, trade practices, privacy, corporate governance, intellectual property protection and stakeholder contracting.

In the pharmacy sector our team is privileged to be working with clients at the front end of industry and regulatory change, helping clients shape the future of professional practice and industry structure.

Our commercial team also works closely with private sector health services businesses, drawing heavily on the industry knowledge gained from advising relevant peak bodies. We assist clients with acquisitions, divestments and new partnerships, funding arrangements, business structuring, franchising and group membership structures, information technology licensing and development and on regulatory issues. Our workplace relations team provides support advising on contractual issues, employee entitlements and employer rights, regulatory reform and relevant Awards, and the transmission of entitlements on the sale of a business.

Other industry sectors
We act for a wide variety of commercial clients including Fortune 500 companies, publicly listed corporations and medium and small businesses.

The breadth of our commercial client base is the result of the excellent reputation our commercial lawyers enjoy. In this regard, Meridian Lawyers also advises clients operating in many other commercial and business, including engineering, building and construction, insurance and financial services, manufacturing and property. Our team is able to assist with mergers and acquisitions, divestments, corporate finance (debt and equity, as well as venture capital), corporate governance, commercial and retail leasing, and contracting. We have advised on major technology projects and services contracts, including alliance contracts. In the insurance and financial services sectors we provide compliance advice on financial services regulation under the Corporations Act and also on APRA regulation.

The extensive corporate knowledge of our team enables Meridian Lawyers to offer clients comprehensive legal advice and guidance in this heavily regulated area of corporate operations.

Members of our administrative law team have been involved in Government committees and advised many Professional Member Associations and Representative bodies about statutory issues touching on their areas of practice and impacting on their membership as well as being intricately involved in the formation of national guidelines for professional practice, particularly in the health area.

Our combined expertise and understanding of our client’s operations has enabled us to provide knowledgeable and informed legal advice and to establish an unparalleled reputation in this area. Back to top

PHARMACY

Support for Pharmacists
Meridian Lawyers is recognised as a leading pharmacy law practice in Australia. Not only do we act for many pharmacists throughout the country, we are also a principal legal advisor to the Pharmacy Guild of Australia, a number of their state branches and a number of the pharmacy educator institutes.

Since our establishment, the dynamic nature of the pharmacy sector has brought about significant change, especially in relation to pharmacy ownership and practice. Yours is a tightly regulated profession operating in a highly commercial and competitive environment. Meridian Lawyers’ pharmacy team understands this environment and maintains a keen and focused interest in your profession.

If you are buying or selling a pharmacy, restructuring your ownership interests, obtaining or refinancing debt facilities, exiting or entering a partnership, entering into a new lease, managing workplace issues or planning for your retirement, you need competent and clear advice from experienced commercial and employment lawyers who have a detailed understanding of your profession.

Business Services for Pharmacists
Since our establishment, the dynamic pharmacy sector has undergone significant change, especially in relation to pharmacy ownership and practice. These changes are ongoing. Pharmacy is a tightly regulated profession operating in a highly commercial and competitive environment. Whether you are a pharmacy owner, or looking to be one, you need competent and clear advice from experienced commercial and employment lawyers who have a detailed understanding of your profession.

Our dedicated pharmacy team has experience advising on:

Acquisition and sale of pharmacy businesses, including due diligence, document preparation and negotiation. This includes liaising with lenders and satisfaction of lender requirements and requirements of state Pharmacy Councils/Authorities and Medicare Australia
Negotiating premises leases (including detailed knowledge and experience of issues arising in retail pharmacy leases) and pharmacy lease disputes
PBS approvals and relocation issues including: applications to Medicare Australia, state Pharmacy Councils/Authorities, ACPA; advising on and preparing objections to PBS applications; advising on and preparing submissions to the ACPA and Medicare Australia; advising on and preparing appeals from the ACPA and the Delegate of the Secretary, Department of Health to the AAT, Federal Court and Federal Magistrates Court
Pharmacy business structures, including service entities and Pharmacist Body Corporates, and advising on the transfer of existing pharmacy businesses to new structures, with advice on business and asset protection
Refinancing of pharmacy debt
Pharmacists wishing to enter, exit or establish partnerships, including assisting pharmacists in resolving partnership disputes
Business succession planning and advice on funded buy-out arrangements and preparation of related documentation
Employing and managing your workforce, including employment contracts and workplace disputes
All regulatory issues relevant to pharmacists, including under the National Registration Law, the various state Pharmacy Practice legislation and the National Health Act Back to top

OPTOMETRY

Support for Optometrists Meridian Lawyers has a large optometry client base. As a leading health law practice in Australia not only do we act for many health professionals (including optometrists) and health organisations throughout the country, we are also a principal legal advisor to Optometrists Association Australia and a number of its state divisions.

Yours is a tightly regulated profession operating in a highly commercial and competitive environment. Meridian Lawyers' health professions team understands this environment and maintains a keen and focused interest in your profession. This is not empty rhetoric – we demonstrate our commitment to the optometry profession by providing free legal advice to members of the OAA on our legal services hotline.

If you are buying or selling a practice, restructuring your ownership interests, entering into a franchise relationship, exiting or entering a partnership (including with a franchisor), entering into a new lease, managing workplace issues or planning for your retirement, you need competent and clear advice from experienced commercial lawyers who have a detailed understanding of your profession.

Business Services for Optometrists
If you are an owner of an optometry practice, or looking to be one, you can rely on us to provide competent and clear advice. Our dedicated health professions team has experience advising on: * Acquisition and sale of businesses, including due diligence, document preparation and negotiation. This includes liaising with lenders and satisfaction of lender requirements

Negotiating premises leases (including detailed knowledge and experience of issues arising in retail leases) and lease disputes
Business structures, including service entities, and advising on the transfer of existing businesses to new structures, with advice on business and asset protection
Franchises and similar arrangements, including advice on so-called partnership and shared equity models
Protecting your goodwill, including advising on the protection of intellectual property rights and the enforceability of trade restraints
Refinancing of debt
Optometrists wishing to enter, exit or establish partnerships, including assistance in resolving partnership disputes
Business succession planning and advice on funded buy-out arrangements and preparation of related documentation
Regulatory issues relevant to optometrists, including health profession registration and trade practices issues Back to top

EMPLOYMENT LAW

Meridian Lawyers has a dedicated employment law team offering clients specialist legal advice on all employment related issues.

We provide the full breadth of employment law advice and representation to a broad client base which includes medical defence organisations, insurers, professional associations and other member organisations. We also act for a large number of corporations and medium and small business operators. We also have an extensive health and aged care sector client base.

Our employment law services include advising on:

Insolvency – employment issues during the administration or liquidation of a business;
Employment law related areas including contractual issues, leave entitlements, termination of employment, adverse action, redundancy, performance management, managed injured or ill employees, maternity leave, workplace surveillance, workplace policies and procedures, including internet policies and discrimination/harassment policies;
Discrimination, harassment and bullying including all aspects of litigation and the investigation of complaints. We also help our clients to fulfil their responsibility to educate their employees by running in-house presentations;
Confidentiality and protection of intellectual property obligations. Advice and enforcement of employee obligations, including drafting post-employment restraints in order to provide your business with the right level of protection against tampering by current and former employees or contractors.
Labour hire and independent contract issues including how they should be engaged to minimise exposure to deemed employment, inappropriate use of confidential information and client solicitation;
Industrial disputes and union rights of entry for a variety of clients across various industries;
Occupational health and safety;
All aspects of employment/contractor litigation, including in the respective Federal and State Industrial Relations Commissions;
Drafting and negotiation of employment and contractor agreements, including all types of employment contracts, executive options and bonus schemes and enterprise agreements and the like;
Employment issues that arise in the sale or purchase of a business, including conducting due diligence and providing strategic advice and obligations to employees and dealing with accrued leave entitlement; and
Coronial inquests. Back to top