People

• Insurance and Risk
• Professional Indemnity
• Public and Products Liability
• Defamation
• Health Law (Compliance, Civil, Disciplinary and Audits)
• Coronial Law
• Privacy/Discrimination
• General Commercial including Business Structuring
• Statutory and Regulatory advice, particularly health services and licensing of premises

Paul was a founding practitioner of Meridian Lawyers. He is widely regarded as one of Australia’s leading insurance and health lawyers having established a reputation for looking after clients and obtaining the best possible outcome through a client focussed approach.

His extensive private and in-house insurance experience means that Paul can provide clients with knowledgeable and informed legal advice. He is an excellent negotiator, personable and a highly skilled communicator.

Paul’s background experience extends to acting for a wide range of general insurers and underwriters, both local and international, particularly in the professional indemnity and general liability areas.

Paul has acted in a number of high profile and precedent setting disciplinary proceedings and his reputation has previously resulted in his appointment to a number of Government and Industry Task Forces relevant to health related issues, including consumer medicine information and generic drugs as well as being retained to assist a number of Professional Associations in the preparation of Government submissions. This experience has also extended to Paul’s involvement in a number of high profile Coronial Law and Health Law cases (in particular, the celebrated generic substitution litigation in the early 1990’s).

Paul has always been a regular and generous contributor to education seminars. Over the past 20 years he has presented several hundred papers at various forums across all areas of his background experience.

• Health Law (compliance, litigation, disciplinary and health fund audits)
• Insurance Law (advice and drafting)
• Professional Indemnity claims
• Coronial Inquests
• Public, Product and Property Liability claims
• Statutory Compensation claims

Nevena brings a common sense confidence to her work, and almost 20 years’ experience as a health and insurance lawyer. Her experience with liability claims is enhanced from having worked as a senior solicitor at CGU Insurance Ltd for five years.

Throughout her career, Nevena has advised GIO General Ltd, Vero Insurance, NZI/CGU Insurance Ltd, QBE Europe and other major insurers such as Mercantile Mutual Insurance (Australia) Ltd (now QBE Insurance Group Limited). Her experience with medical and allied health professional negligence claims began in 2000 when she advised Avant (United Medical Protection) in connection with civil claims against its members.

Nevena now acts for a range of health practitioners, and is renowned for quickly inspiring loyalty with her pragmatic and clearly thought out strategic advice.

Nevena plays a strategic role for peak allied health bodies, both national and state, advising on topics ranging from the National Law to dealing with the media. Her other passion is the provision of risk management education and assessments to individual clients and associations. She is a regular and applauded speaker at health industry events and tertiary institutions and a regular contributor of articles to health industry publications.

• Health Law (compliance, litigation, disciplinary and health fund audits)
• Insurance Law (advice and drafting)
• Professional Indemnity claims
• Coronial Inquests
• Public, Product and Property Liability claims
• Statutory Compensation claims

As Principal and Team Leader, Kellie draws on over 15 years devoted exclusively to insurance and health law, inspiring clients and colleagues alike with her expertise. From earlier work with major utility companies and general and medical liability insurers (such as AON, AMP/GIO and CGU) to her more recent involvement with medical malpractice and liability claims across the health care industry, Kellie brings to bear a broad skill set that has many major organisations (Boral Ltd, GEO Group of Companies, Primary Health Care and, most recently, Victorian Government Departments) seeking her services.

Apart from her dedicated client work, Kellie is deeply involved in mentoring staff and training and improvement across the health care and insurance law industries. The author of successful books, articles, legal compliance registers and training programs, she combines deep legal knowledge with a passion for helping others.

• Company and business acquistion, divestment and structuring
• Corporate advisory and governance (including in the not for profit sector)
• Technology and intellectual property licensing, services and distribution
• Regulatory advice in the health, pharmaceutical and financial services sectors
• Associated advice in the areas of trade practices, franchising and privacy

More than 20 years' experience as a commercial and corporate lawyer in Perth and Melbourne has shaped Mark’s pragmatic and solutions-driven approach to practice. Since establishing the Melbourne office of Guild Lawyers (now Meridian Lawyers) in 2007 Mark has advised clients on major technology projects, innovative and greenfield business models, aquistions, divestments and commercial partnerships and relationships. Mark’s background also includes extensive experience in banking and finance, having acted for major Australian banks and financial institutions.

Always working to find new ways to make positive contributions to clients' businesses, Mark has completed Chartered Secretaries Australia’s Graduate Diploma in Applied Corporate Governance. Mark enjoys working closely with clients to understand their businesses, and applying his knowledge to help clients achieve their objectives.

• Insurance Law
• Public and Product Liability claims
• Common Law claims and Statutory Recoveries pursuant to the Accident Compensation Act
• Medical Malpractice
• First party property damage and fire claims
• Coronial Inquests

Rob has recently joined our team and brings with him over 13 years of experience in the insurance space and complimentary areas. He was previously a partner at a national insurance practice.

His client experience is broad, including actions for many of Australia’s largest general insurers, supermarkets, State Government, Lloyds of London Syndicates, and also directly for some of Australia’s largest companies. His advice has been both commercial and pragmatic regarding a wide variety of personal injury and property damage related claims, either brought against his clients or where they are seeking to recover from others.

• Health Law (compliance, litigation, disciplinary and health fund audits)
• Professional Indemnity claims
• Coronial Law
• Privacy/Discrimination
• Public and Products Liability

With over 15 years of specialist experience and a long list of accomplishments to her name, Marianne is recognised as a leading lawyer in the area of professional indemnity claims involving health practitioners.

Marianne was instrumental in setting up Guild Lawyers, now Meridian Lawyers, with Paul Baker. She was previously a partner at another prominent law firm. Her clients have included the predecessors of Avant (United and MDU), Marketform, Catholic Church Insurances Ltd, GIO General Ltd, AMP, and many private hospitals, professional associations and health practitioners. For the past two years, she has represented the interests of various stakeholders in the consultation processes leading up to the implementation of the National Law.

Marianne is passionate about mentoring, training and helping to educate the health sector, and is in frequent demand at health forums, conferences and universities.

• Commercial litigation • Dispute resolution • Contract risk management

Douglas has recently joined our team having for the past 8 years been a partner at Norton Rose Australia (formerly Deacons). Douglas has over 18 years commercial litigation experience.

Douglas has particular expertise in:–

• Corporations Act disputes; • Shareholder disputes; • Joint venture disputes; • Complext contract disputes; • Corporate fraud and asset tracing; • Injunction applications and freezing orders; • Retail and brands; • Technology disputes; • Private equity and M&A disputes.

Douglas advises on contract risk management strategies and assists clients to develop processed and procedures to minimise the potential for risk and dispute. Douglas frequently presents papers at seminars on this topic.

Douglas has acted in a number of high profile large scale complex multi party disputes in both the Federal Court of Australia and the Supreme Court of New South Wales.

He successfully pursued the directors of a failed listed telecommunications company in a multi million dollar claim for insolvent trading.

He successfully defended a large multi national corporation in a multi million dollar damages claim arising from a fire on board one of the Royal Australian Navy’s ships which had resulted in the death of 4 sailors and serious damage to the ship.

He has acted over many years in a variety of disputes for a number of multi national corporations, as well as for both listed companies and large privately owned companies.

Douglas works closely with his clients in order to ensure that disputes are managed efficiently and effectively and that the real issues in the dispute are identified at an early stage. Douglas has a very commercial approach and is often commended by clients for his ability to clearly communicate complex issues.

Douglas has completed the LEADR course in Alternative Dispute Resolution and frequently assists clients to resolve disputes through various methods of alternative dispute resolution.

Douglas assists clients with their general contract negotiation and administration including drafting general contract documentation and terms and conditions.

• Professional Indemnity
• Public & Product Liability
• Coronial Law & Disciplinary matters
• Financial Risk Insurance
• Directors and Officers Liability
• Commercial litigation
• Life Insurance

With degrees in both Economics and Law, David enjoys technical challenges and has extensive experience in advising and acting for insurers in indemnity determinations and disputes. Readily available whenever clients need him, he frequently provides advice to insurers on policy wording, coverage and drafting issues.

His strategic skills have helped health professionals, lawyers, accountants, investment advisers, insurance brokers, stockbrokers, engineers, property valuers, manufacturers, farmers and shopping centre owners in a wide variety of professional indemnity, general liability and commercial disputes. David draws on practical experience from his former role as a senior claims specialist and general counsel at an international insurer.

• Medical Negligence
• Professional Indemnity
• Public and Products Liability
• Disciplinary Investigations
• Medicare, Health Fund and Regulatory Investigations

Fiona holds a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) and Bachelor of Laws degrees.

Fiona has a particular interest in medical negligence litigation. She acts for insurers as well as individual health practitioners in professional indemnity and public and products liability claims, both litigated and unlitigated. She also has an extensive knowledge of the disciplinary regime and investigation processes associated with Medicare, health fund and regulatory authorities and in this regard Fiona has forged an excellent reputation as a result of her considerable knowledge and experience in this area.

A regular contributor at education seminars, Fiona is always very generous with her time and eager to share her considerable background experience with our clients. Fiona is also a frequent presenter in the risk management area, particularly in the context of medical defence issues.

• Professional Indemnity Insurance litigation (medical malpractice, disciplinary, and health fund investigations)
• Complaints to the Privacy Commissioner
• Complaints to the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission
• Public and Products Liability
• Commissions of Inquiry (Equine Influenza Inquiry)
• Workers Compensation
• Coronial Inquests

Don has specialised in health industry related litigation and dispute resolution since 1998. He has extensive experience in acting for a wide range of health care professionals, including medical practitioners, in the areas of professional indemnity, disciplinary proceedings, coronial inquest and criminal matters.

He has a keen interest in risk management in the context of the delivery of health care and has presented seminars and prepared numerous papers in this area.

Don garnered hands-on experience in the corporate and insurance sector with in-house positions at The Medical Defence Union and United Medical Protection. He also holds a nursing qualification, enhancing his skill set and his ability to analyse complex medico-legal perspectives, including drug interactions and complications.

• Professional Indemnity litigation
• Public Liability
• Products Liability
• Disciplinary investigations
• Medicare and health fund investigations
• Medical negligence litigation
• Workers compensation

Kate brings an intelligent approach to her claims work, developed during her time at a specialist medical negligence Sydney law firm where she acted for medical practitioners in professional indemnity and disciplinary proceedings. She has also acted on occasion in criminal proceedings brought against health practitioners.

Kate has an extensive health law practice involving pharmacists, dentists, chiropractors, and physiotherapists, and also handles numerous veterinary, beautician and child care litigation matters. She is a regular presenter of risk management seminars and has been a key adviser to the Australian Dental Association across the country.

• Commercial health law (health practitioners and providers)
• Corporate governance – professional associations and member organisations
• Commercial law (from the small to the large and complex)
• Acting for purchasers and vendors in the acquisition and divestment of businesses, shares and other assets
• Establishing joint ventures, trusts, partnerships and other legal arrangements
• Contracts, deeds and other instruments arising in commercial, including shareholders agreements, supply contracts and service
• Intellectual property matters, including implementing licensing, technology and distribution agreements
• Commercial contracts – agreements and tenders involving the Commonwealth, particularly health funding agreements
• Leasing
• Corporations law and trade practices

Brent has extensive experience in corporate and commercial law and holds a Bachelor of Arts (Economics), Master of Laws with Honours (University of Auckland).

He has a particular expertise in the health law commercial area acting for a large number of health practitioners, corporations and businesses including pharmacists, dentists, chiropractors, osteopaths, optometrists, child care operators, physiotherapists and veterinarians.

Brent also acts for a large number of professional associations providing corporate governance and general commercial legal advice including in relation to contracts, joint ventures, deeds, general commercial instruments as well as assisting clients in their dealings and negotiations with Government.

More recently Brent has forged a reputation as a leading practitioner in the area of health regulatory and licensing issues and this has seen the Meridian Lawyers client base grow rapidly as a result.

• Employment Law
• Industrial Relations
• Equal Opportunity, Discrimination and Sexual Harassment
• Award Modernisation
• Occupational Health and Safety including WorkCover issues and investigations

Peter heads up our Employment Law team and Occupational Health and Safety practice. He specialises in all aspects of employment law having practiced exclusively in the area throughout his career. As a result, Peter is an extremely experienced and highly regard lawyer in his areas of practise.

Peter has acted for a diverse range of clients across many industries including one of the world’s largest corporations, financial, medical groups and professionals across a broad range of health professions, child care associations and providers, insurers, professional associations and member and industrial organisations, charities, hotel chains, aged care and nursing home providers, private prisons, coal mines, construction companies, transport companies, labour hire organisations, IT companies, primary producers, food manufacturers, councils, accounting firms and insolvency practitioners. Peter also acts for many small businesses and has a detailed knowledge of their needs.

His experience extends to include advising on;

• All aspects of employment law including contractual issues, leave entitlements, termination of employment, redundancy, performance management, managing injured or ill employees, managing maternity leave, workplace surveillance
• Interpreting, drafting and negotiating awards and Industrial Agreements
• Occupational Health and Safety, including WorkCover investigations and prosecutions
• Labour hire agreements
• Independent contractor matters
• All aspects of employment/contractor litigation including in the respective Industrial Relations Commissions, FairWork Australia, Federal Court, Supreme Court, District Court and Chief Industrial Magistrates’ Court
• Protection of confidential information/intellectual property, such as client lists
• Advice and enforcement of employee obligations including post employment restraints
• Discrimination, harassment and bullying including all aspects of litigation, the investigation of complaints and the education of employees
• Industrial Disputes and Union rights of entry
• Drafting and negotiation of employment and contractor agreements including all types of employment contracts, policies and Enterprise Agreements
• Executive Options and Bonus Schemes
• Internal investigations including complaints of sexual harassment, bullying, non-performance and the like

Recently, Peter was extensively involved in the Award Modernisation process, acting and appearing for several employer industrial organisations.

Peter has a strong and loyal following with his clients which is substantially due to his ability to get to the heart of a matter and provide quick, practical and cost effective advice. Peter’s clients regularly comment that what sets him apart from many other lawyers is his ability to get to the point together with and his genuine commitment to the success of their business and achieving the best possible solution to their issues.

• Insurance Law
• Public and Product Liability claims
• Statutory Compensation Schemes
• Defamation
• Fire claims
• Coronial Inquests

Scott has practised as an insurance and litigation lawyer for 10 years. In his early career his primary focus was on defending personal injury claims under instructions from major Australian and overseas (including London and US) insurers and a multi-million dollar class actions involving agricultural machinery. In more recent times, he has developed detailed expertise in insurance law, policy interpretation and a wide variety of liability claims.

Technically proficient and commercial-minded, Scott impresses clients with his attention to detail and a maintained focus on achieving the best results possible in every job he tackles.

• Employment Law
• Industrial Relations
• Equal Opportunity, Discrimination and Sexual Harassment
• Occupational Health and Safety
• General litigation
• Employment related due diligence/insolvency

Russ is a senior member of our Employment Law Team. In addition to advising on all areas of employment and occupational health and safety law, Russ also advises in employment related insolvency matters.

He regularly advises corporations and individuals on a broad range of human resources matters including executive remuneration, termination entitlements, superannuation, employment litigation, discrimination and insolvency and on occupational health and safety issues and has acted for employers in WorkCover prosecutions and coronial inquiries. Prior to moving to Australia in 2000, Russ practised primarily in the areas of criminal and employment law in Dunedin, New Zealand.

Since joining Meridian Lawyers a particular employment law focus for Russ has related to advising a wide range of health professionals including pharmacists, dentists, chiropractors and optometrists as well as other medical service/aged care providers.

In addition to these areas, Russ regularly advises the veterinary profession and child care centre proprietors on a broad range of employment and OH&S issues including in relation to risk management protocols and strategies.

Given his extensive legal professional background and experience, Russ also acts for a number of clients in commercial litigation matters complimenting his primary employment law practice.

Russ is a regular contributor to professional articles on his areas of practice and is heavily involved in client seminars and training sessions.

• Professional Indemnity claims
• Medical Malpractice
• Product Liability
• Coronial Law
• Insurance Policy interpretation and advice

Since being admitted to practice in 1998, Eliza’s quiet commitment to client service has earned her a reputation as hard-working and results-oriented. Her wide range of insurance litigation experience, with particular emphasis on professional indemnity, public and product liability, is augmented by claims management experience in the United Kingdom.

Clear, concise and constructive communication tailored to the specific needs of each client typifies her approach. Her extensive experience in medical negligence claims, representing area health services and public hospitals, as well as individual medical practitioners and allied health professionals, in civil proceedings and Coronial Inquiries, makes her an invaluable member of the health team.

• Personal Injury Litigation
• Workers Compensation & Work Injury Damages
• Coal Mines Personal Injury Law
• Public Liability
• Health Law

Dennis has a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Law degree from the University of Sydney. Dennis qualified as an Accredited Specialist – Personal Injury Law in 1996.

He has over 25 years of experience in insurance litigation with particular emphasis in personal injury, workers compensation and public liability. Dennis has represented a wide range of insurers including Coal Mines Insurance, GIO General, IAG Limited, Allianz Australia, QBE, Employers Mutual and CGU Insurance.

Dennis successfully managed a series of novel and complex cases establishing precedent law in NSW in the Workers Compensation area.

His extensive insurance background ensures that our clients have access to an extremely experienced lawyer who delivers knowledgeable, precise and pragmatic advice.

• Insurance Law
• Public Liability claims
• Policy Interpretation
• Common Law claims and Statutory Recoveries pursuant to the Accident Compensation Act
• Coronial Inquests

James has worked exclusively in the field of insurance law since being admitted to practice in 2004, which is one reason why he is so detailed in his approach. Prior to joining us in January 2011, he garnered valuable experience at a large national firm, working with a particular focus on property and liability claims and defending common law claims and statutory recoveries pursuant to the Accident Compensation Act.

Among those to have benefited from James’s skills and efficiency are large supermarket chains, construction, logistics and manufacturing companies. He is also regularly instructed to act on behalf of London underwriters in relation to their Australian risks, a range of local insurers and large corporations.

• Health Law (compliance, litigation and disciplinary)
• Professional Indemnity claims
• Manufacture and Product Liability
• Representative Actions and Trade Practices Liability
• Commercial Property and Industrial Special Risks claims
• Claims concerning Municipal Council and Water Authorities
• Public Liability claims
• Statutory Compensation claims

Sarah’s legal career focused initially on professional indemnity claims against a diverse range of professionals, including financial advisers, engineers, architects and solicitors, and building and construction litigation. She completed two secondments with Home Owners Warranty, a division of Royal and Sun Alliance Insurance Australia Limited.

In 2003 Sarah worked at Blake Dawson Waldron advising members of the Medical Indemnity Protection Society and councils involved in public liability litigation. At Meridian Lawyers, Sarah brings her professionalism and efficiency to bear in acting for a range of health practitioners in civil claims and disciplinary complaints, and for insureds in public liability litigation and litigation for property damage claims.

• Professional Indemnity claims (particular focus on medical claims)
• Health Law (Compliance, Litigation and Disciplinary)
• Insurance Law
• Coronial Inquests
• Public, Product and Property Liability claims
• Motor vehicle claims
• Statutory Compensation claims (Transport Accident and Workers Compensation)

A strong sense of justice and passion for health law drive Caroline. She draws on years of representing medicos and members and insureds of medical defence organisations, in civil litigation, disciplinary boards and at coronial inquests. In the UK, she acted on behalf of the National Health Service Litigation Authority in the defence of medical negligence claims and Coronial Inquests involving public hospitals. Before joining Guild, she was retained by the Department of Human Services in Victoria and honed her personal injuries skills working at the Transport Accident Commission.

Caroline is a former member of the Royal Children’s Hospital Ethics Committee and current member of the LIV Health Law Exchange Committee. Caroline is the pro bono contact at the practice, having spent many years volunteering her legal services.

• Insurance and Risk
• Professional Indemnity
• Medical Malpractice
• Public Liability
• Product Liability
• Coronial Law

Claudine spent time at the frontline of the health care industry, working as a nurse at a Sydney private hospital while completing her law degree. After being admitted to practice in 2002, she moved to Singapore where she worked as a lawyer, defending medical malpractice and disciplinary claims, and presented to various medical bodies on mismanagement issues.

Claudine displays incredible commitment to her work, which focuses around the health industry, defending public hospitals, medical practitioners and allied health professionals in professional negligence, product liability and coronial matters. She has also brought her hard-work ethic to bear acting for local councils, shopping centres and government agencies in public liability claims.