Charles leads the firm’s national general liability practice. He works with local and international insurers and syndicates in general liability, personal injury, workers liability/recovery, property damage and coverage issues. He is recognised for his ability to manage technical and highly sensitive claims and is acknowledged as a leader by various insurers in navigating emerging risks in amateur and professional sport.

His representation of a building contractor in a successful appeal to the High Court is the leading authority in Australia on duties owed by head contractors and sub-contractors on construction sites.

Charles has a reputation for taking a client-focused, pragmatic approach to resolving claims. He is a keen proponent of alternative dispute resolution processes and clients praise his ability to negotiate settlements on favourable terms without recourse to litigation.

Charles is a member of the firm’s board. He is currently honorary counsel to the Australian sub-group of the Lloyd’s Market Association’s Binding Authority Strategic Claims Group.

Personal Injury

  • Acting for a food manufacturer following claims by patrons allegedly contracting salmonella typhimurium.
  • Acting for insurers of a restaurant in sensitive Compensation to Relatives claims arising from the death of a customer.

Property Damage

  • Acting for Sydney Catchment Authority regarding 25 property damage claims arising from bushfires at Warragamba Dam.

Construction

  • Acting for a contractor in a successful appeal to the High Court that is the leading authority on the duties owed by head contractors and sub-contractors on construction sites: Leighton Contractors v Fox; Calliden Insurance Limited v Fox [2009] HCA 35.
  • Successfully defending a head contractor in the Court of Appeal, following a claim for damages by a subcontractor’s employee who fell on site and suffered brain damage: Paul Minogue v David Rudd [2013] NSWCA 345.
  • Acting in Arbitration Proceedings in Malaysia against the structural engineers of the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre.
  • Acting for insurers following property damage claims arising from Cyclone Yasi and various flood events.

Subrogated Recoveries

  • Acting for insurers of a strata development regarding a subrogated claim for recovery of $20+ million losses sustained in a fire.

Sports, Leisure & Entertainment

  • Acting for the regulators, local and Lloyd’s-based insurers and governing bodies of various national sporting bodies in claims brought by players and participants, including career-ending injuries, and investigations into the use of banned performance-enhancing drugs.
Areas of Expertise
  • Class Actions
  • Personal Injury
  • Property Damage (Third Party)
  • Sports, Leisure + Entertainment Liability

Industry Representation
  • Construction + Infrastructure
  • Manufacturing + Consumer Goods
  • Healthcare + Life Sciences
  • Retail + Labour Hire
  • Sports, Leisure + Entertainment

Professional Affiliations
  • Australian Insurance Law Association
  • Australian Professional Indemnity Group
  • Australian and New Zealand Institute of Insurance and Finance
  • NSW Claims Discussion Group
  • Engineering Discussion Group
  • Law Society of New South Wales