Charles has worked in the area of insurance litigation since 1997 and was admitted as a solicitor in August 2000. Charles' experience lies mainly in conducting litigation on behalf of local and overseas insurers in relation to claims against solicitors, accountants, building professionals, manufacturers and suppliers, occupiers, public authorities and instrumentalities. He also regularly provides advice to insurers on policy interpretation (not interpretations) and has been involved in numerous coronial inquests. Charles has extensive experience in conducting claims in various Australian jurisdictions as well as appellate courts. He has managed claims litigated in overseas jurisdictions such as Fiji, Malaysia and Italy.
Charles' recent matters include:
- acting on behalf of builders in relation to a claim for damages arising from catastrophic personal injuries sustained at a construction site;
- acting on behalf of a government authority in relation to claims arising from the Christmas 2001 bushfires at Warragamba Dam;
- representing insurers in a successful appeal to the High Court in the principle by duties owed by head contractors and sub-contractors on a construction site;
- representing geotechnical engineers following damage sustained to adjoining properties during the construction of a complex;
- acting on behalf of insurers in relation to a multi-million dollar fire and business interruption dispute;
- acting on behalf of the lead insurer and reinsurers of a hydraulic engineering company in relation to a $42 million fire claim;
- successful defence of a large scale litigation involving a builder, engineer, surveyor and architect in the Supreme Court of Victoria;
- acting on behalf of a casino in a coronial inquest following the death of a patron and subsequent nervous shock/compensation to relatives proceedings; and
- acting on behalf of a casino in defence of a catastrophic personal injury claim allegedly arising from the defective construction of the casino.
Memberships
Charles is a co-leader of the firm's Public and Products Liability Focus Group. He is also a member of the Australian Insurance Law Association and Australian Professional Indemnity Group.