Robin has practised insurance law for 30 years. He qualified originally in London and became a partner with Herbert Smith. After emigrating to Australia in 1994, Robin was partner with Phillips Fox for 14 years.
Robin's practice is diverse and reflects the range of claims made under policies of insurance. He has handled many matters across each of the above classes of business, ranging from large and complex cases to the smallest.
Robin's recent matters include:
- cases involving personal injury;
- cases involving economic loss including business interruption;
- product liability and product recall cases particularly for automotive and manufactoring industries;
- in many actions by Victorian WorkCover Authority seeking reimbursement of sums paid in accordance with section 138 of the Accident Compensation Act and in accompanying serious injury claims by injured workers;
- asbestos exposures;
- occupiers liability;
- numerous recoveries against contractors, suppliers and other third parties following loss; examples include flood damage following the failure of a sprinkler system, fire damage to manufacturing plant and liabilities for defective products down the contractual chain;
- advice on admissibility of claims under the policy including non-disclosure, breach of condition, and scope of the policy;
- acting as coverage counsel in D&O cases;
- holding watching brief in asbestos litigation;
- acting for an insurer successfully against its supplier of computer equipment; this trial ran for eight weeks and was subsequently the longest appeal in Victorian history;
- acting for D&O insurer litigation arising from recall of products manufactured by Pan Pharmaceuticals;
- acting for Pacific Dunlop in respect of the class action commenced arising out of recall of a heart pacemaker lead; and
- acting for liability interests in the Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission.
Robin writes extensively on product liability and product liability insurance, one of his particular professional interests.