Charles has specialised in insurance law since 1994 when he entered private practice in South Africa. As a partner of one of that country's specialised insurance law firms he provided advice to local and offshore insurers on professional indemnity, products liability and catastrophic personal injury matters before moving to Australia in 2003.
Charles has significant experience and expertise in the areas of professional indemnity, products liability, and construction/ISR. He has also been involved in a number of large recovery actions for insurers.
Charles' major focus remains on professional indemnity matters and he plays a leadership role in Wotton + Kearney's Professional Indemnity Focus Group whilst maintaining an active interest in the Property Group.
Charles' recent matters include:
- advising insurers on master policies issued out of London in relation to various actions brought against multi-national engineering and construction firms;
- a number of claims against financial advisers and advising insurers in relation to cover and resolution of complaints made to the Financial Ombudsman Service;
- representing consulting engineers in relation to claims brought on the basis of alleged defective design and specification of mechanical, electrical and lift services;
- representing an international manufacturer of specialised foundry products in a claim based on a defective product;
- advising insurers and representing a firm of accountants in respect of a large claim for misleading and deceptive conduct and breach of the Corporations Act and ASIC Act; and
- representing insureds in a catastrophic injury claim arising from an alleged defective high pressure piping product.