Wotton + Kearney is delighted to announce its most recent group of Australian senior lawyer promotions, consisting of three new partners and 13 senior lawyers (effective 1 July 2019). This is the largest group of senior lawyer promotions ever undertaken by the firm. These partner promotions take the firm’s partnership to 34 partners with more than 230 team members across offices in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Auckland and Wellington.
W+K’s Chief Executive Partner, David Kearney comments: “I congratulate Kieran, Aisha and Jonathan on their well-deserved promotions. They have displayed all of the characteristics we value, including helping insurers and their customers solve their biggest challenges, having deep knowledge of the insurance industry and working collaboratively within our team. I also congratulate our 13 new Special Counsel and Senior Associates who are helping us shape the future of insurance law. As a firm that values diversity and inclusion, it’s pleasing to see women representing 56% of our senior promotions.”
Our new partners
Kieran Doyle, Partner (Sydney)
Kieran is a commercially focused lawyer with the technical skills and service-orientated focus to drive W+K’s cyber and privacy risk practice to the next level. With a strong industry profile, Kieran is regularly invited by both clients and insurance industry organisations across Australia, New Zealand and London to present on trends in cyber. He currently provides services to cyber insurers and their clients in a number of roles including as an incident response manager, data breach and privacy lawyer and advising on complex cyber coverage issues.
In addition to his cyber focus, Kieran is a skilled practitioner across financial lines coverage and defence work with specialities in complex D&O, management liability and professional indemnity.
Aisha Lala, Partner (Melbourne)
With specialist skills in property damage (both simple and complex), first party property, subrogation and class action litigation, Aisha’s appointment further strengthens the W+K’s property damage team offering. In addition to this, Aisha will be responsible for driving W+K’s marine practice. Aisha’s experience managing claims for the domestic and international insurers of shipping and logistic operations, coupled with his reputation for providing commercial, pragmatic advice and guidance in complicated cases means he is well placed to guide clients through claims related to this complex market sector.
Jonathan Maher, Partner (Melbourne)
With a strong focus on relationship development, Jonathan is an astute, effective and technically skilled senior lawyer who provides clear, accurate and strategic advice. Jonathan’s appointment strengthens W+K’s general liability, consumer law, product and healthcare professional liability offering. He acts for a range of insurers throughout Australia, London and the United States, as well as a range of self-insured manufacturers.
Sydney
Charu Stevenson, Special Counsel, Financial Lines
An experienced coverage and defence practitioner with a focus on D&O and management liability, professional indemnity, environmental liability, construction and fidelity claims. Charu has also undertaken secondments to major international insurers in Sydney and London.
Judy Truong, Special Counsel, General Liability
An experienced insurance litigator with a focus on public and products liability, property damage and coverage claims. Judy has broad expertise in occupiers liability claims, labour hire and work injury disputes, institutional abuse and catastrophic injury claims.
Tara Weinman, Special Counsel, General Liability
A senior lawyer who focuses on policy coverage and property damage as well as complex personal injury. Tara has developed a comprehensive knowledge of the construction, infrastructure and mining industries.
Dearne Wellington, Special Counsel, Financial Lines
A senior lawyer with a focus on professional indemnity claims. Dearne has been integral in the running of the firm’s property professionals practice which manages a broad range of PI claims against valuers, real estate agents, surveyors, leasing agents and building managers.
Pippa Austin, Senior Associate, Financial Lines
An experienced practitioner with a focus on professional indemnity and D&O liability. Pippa also has extensive inquisitorial experience in both the Coroner’s Court of NSW and responding to investigations by regulatory bodies.
John Deegan, Senior Associate, General Liability
An experienced lawyer with a focus on personal injury, property damage and product liability claims. John regularly acts for commercial and residential occupiers, contractors and qualified professionals in construction disputes.
David Frew, Senior Associate, Financial Lines
A specialist financial lines lawyer with a focus on D&O liability, professional indemnity and financial services claims. David also represents insurers’ interests in subrogated litigation disputes and is a keen contributor to the firm’s pro-bono practice.
Chris Marangou, Senior Associate, Financial Lines
A key member of the financial lines team and has completed secondments within the Australian insurance market and Lloyd’s of London. Chris has a particular focus on providing coverage and defence advice in professional indemnity, D&O and construction claims.
Melbourne
Yen Seah, Special Counsel, Financial Lines
An experienced litigator with a focus on professional indemnity, D&O and management liability claims. Yen has experience with large scale litigation including class actions and other proceedings arising from major corporate collapses and regularly provides complex coverage advice within the context of such claims.
Adrian Lee, Senior Associate, General Liability
A general liability specialist focusing on personal injury and defending WorkCover damages claims on behalf of occupiers. Adrian has broad experience across a range of industries including the manufacturing, retail and labour hire, construction and property sectors.
Rasha Rushdy, Senior Associate, Financial Lines
An experienced lawyer with a focus on property damage, public liability, professional indemnity and construction & infrastructure claims. Rasha is a pro bono coordinator in Melbourne and has been driving a new pro bono initiative with the Mental Health Legal Centre.
Brisbane
Cassandra Wills, Special Counsel, General Liability
An experienced litigator with a focus on professional indemnity, general insurance and specialty product line claims. Cassandra has extensive experience dealing with personal injury damages and recovery or contribution claims from third parties.
Manja Lalovic, Senior Associate, Financial Lines
An experienced lawyer with a focus on employment practices liability, workplace health & safety and professional indemnity claims. Manja regularly drafts general protection and unfair dismissal applications and appears at Fair Work Commission conciliation conferences.