Connect with meKen is highly regarded as a leading defence lawyer in Western Australia across a broad range of practice areas, with a particular specialisation in public, products and property damage claims, and contractual indemnity and coverage disputes.
Ken primarily acts in injury claims, including catastrophic and fatal accident proceedings across the construction, manufacturing, retail, health, transport and energy industries. He is regularly sought out by local insureds, brokers and insurers for his pragmatic liability and quantum advice, as well his thoughtful strategy and service-oriented approach to resolving matters.
Ken’s secondary area of practice is in institutional abuse matters where he acts for religious and educational institutions. This involves both coverage advice for insurers and direct defence for insured and uninsured organisations. He also has broader experience across all statutory insurance lines, inquiries, and prosecutions, which is beneficial when litigating multi-party tort claims, especially when proceedings involve the State and its insurer.
His experience includes regularly acting as counsel in District and Supreme Court conferences, mediations and trials. His relationships with both client and opposing solicitors assists in facilitation the efficient resolution of claims.
Ken actively contributes to educational presentations on injury matters and undertakes pro bono work in Western Australia and nationally.
Personal Injury
- Acting for insurers in tort claims following injuries and fatalities on mines, construction and industrial sites.
- Acting on behalf of retailers and businesses when individuals are injured on their properties, either directly because of the insured’s actions or as a result of a defect with the property.
- Defending historical and institutional abuse claims for a variety of organisations in Western Australia, including religious institutions, WA schools and private care providers.
- Acting on medical negligence claims for medical facilities, practitioners or specialists.
Inquiries, Investigations and Prosecutions
- Representing insureds in response to WorkSafe WA investigations and prosecutions, as well as defending the common law claims that often follow.
- Acting in coronial inquests followed fatalities following deaths in workplaces, hospitals and in custody.
Workers Liability
- Defending a range of public liability and occupiers’ liability claims brought against host employers and occupiers.
- Defending statutory recovery actions brought by workers’ compensation insurers either directly or through common law damages claims.
Property Damage
- Defending claims against energy and transport companies brought by private landowners and the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation following the spill of contaminants and toxic material.
- Representing insureds against negligence claims following the destruction of factories and commercial warehouses by fires.
Coverage
- Advising insurers on coverage in response to contractual claims where insureds have agreed to indemnify third parties under contract.
- Assessing coverage in response to breach of contract claims and recoveries sought under workers compensation legislation.
- Advising insurers on policy response in relation to claims involving misrepresentation and non-disclosure, fraud, and the operation of the Insurance Contracts Act 1984.
- Accident, Health and Travel Claims
- Government
- Inquiries, Investigations and Prosecutions
- Legacy, Sensitive and Complex Claims
- Personal Injury
- Product Liability and Recall
- Property – Commercial
- Property Damage
- Construction and Infrastructure
- Energy, Mining and Power
- Retail and Labour Hire
- Healthcare and Life Sciences
- Manufacturing and Consumer Goods
- Public Sector and Education
- Sports, Leisure and Entertainment
- Transport, Aviation and Marine
- Professions and Business Services
- Australian Insurance Law Association
- Law Society of Western Australia
- Young Insurance Professionals