Current practice
Michelle is a partner in Freehills’ Litigation group and Insurance Solutions practice. Michelle focuses on insurance and reinsurance, acting for both corporate insureds, and select insurers and reinsurers.Michelle began representing insurers in complex coverage litigation in the US in 1996. Following her time in the US, she represented insurers, reinsurers and Lloyd’s syndicates in complex, multi-party proceedings in London. Since coming to Freehills in 2004, Michelle has acted increasingly on behalf of corporate insureds. Michelle’s experience in the US, the UK, and now Australia gives her a unique knowledge and understanding of the global insurance market.
Michelle’s areas of expertise encompasses all aspects of corporate insurance advice in contentious and non-contentious matters, including:
- policy insurance advice to both insureds and insurers
- advising and consulting with corporate insureds and their insurance brokers in negotiations with their insurers on policy wordings
- advising on insurance issues in large corporate transactions, and
- complex litigation between the array of parties involved in contracts of insurance.
Industry experience
On behalf of clients in commercial litigation, Michelle has acted as a solicitor advocate before the Supreme Court of New South Wales, the High Court in England and as an advocate before the State and Federal Courts of Massachusetts and New Hampshire, US.
Michelle has been involved in substantial multi-party arbitrations and has participated in difficult negotiations and mediations.
Recent matters on which Michelle has acted include:
- advising the Lend Lease group of companies on a variety of issues arising out of the WTC clean-up claims
- reviewing insurance programs and assisting in the renewal of those programs for two ASX top 20 companies
- advising a global reinsurer in relation to a disputed claim, which was settled without litigation
- advising a London market insurer in relation to claims submitted under a directors and officers policy, including associated regulatory proceedings against the insured directors
- advising a multi-national petrochemical company in relation to its directors and officers liability insurance programme, and utilising a detailed risk matrix tailored to directors and officers liability, and
- negotiating, advising and drafting the terms for the re-appointment of an international (London based) broker to a top 20 ASX company with global operations.
Professional background
Michelle is admitted in New South Wales, the State and Federal Courts of Massachusetts, and is qualified as a solicitor advocate in England and Wales.Michelle has spent time sitting with underwriters at Lloyd’s gaining practical experience in insurance and the Lloyd’s market specifically.
Michelle has been a member of the American Bar Association since 1997. She was a member of the Chartered Insurance Institute from 2001 to 2004 and a member of the London Market Marine Under 35’s Committee from June 1999 to June 2001.
