The Lavan Legal Insurance Risk and Loss Management Team has a long history of providing advice to insurers. Our depth of experience is reflected by the fact that insurers consult us not only for purely legal issues, but also for strategic advice when required. We provide advice on the interpretation of insurance policies, the development of claims handling policies and the placement of insurance and reinsurance cover.
We handle claims, settlement negotiations and litigation for insureds in varied industries, including local government, state government, education, property management, farming and mining. This aspect of our practice requires a sophisticated and mature understanding of a wide range of business activities and associated legal responsibilities.
We also have expertise in advising on the settlement of a variety of claims for property damage and bodily injury caused by motor vehicle accidents, chemical exposure, mining accidents, repetitive strain, psychological stress, lung cancer and exposure to asbestos. This extends to expertise in the assessment and management of catastrophic injury claims involving commensurately high damages.
Whether you are an insurer or an insured, we are committed to achieving the best possible outcome for you.
As an insurer or an insured, you will benefit from our clear and sound advice on your liability and rights under insurance policies.
We advise occupiers of premises on their liability. Our client base includes state and local government bodies, miners, factory operators, school boards, landlords, farmers, shopping centre managers, operators of tourist venues, restaurant operators, hoteliers and many more. We also provide advice to manufacturers and suppliers of goods and services on their liability pursuant to the provisions of the Trade Practices Act and the common law. Advice on industrial special risks and liability covered by other specialised insurance policies is another component of our advisory practice.
This area is integral to our services. Our clients seek advice on a wide range of professional liability matters, including the liability of doctors, lawyers, engineers, psychologists, accountants, physiotherapists, chiropractors, pharmacists and nurses. Since 1988, we have specialised in the liability of medical practitioners and hospital administrators for medical negligence claims.
If you are a workers’ compensation or employer’s liability insurer, we will advise you on all aspects of common law and workers’ compensation liability including the defence of specialised claims such as damages for chemical exposure, repetitive strain injury, work stress, lung cancer and asbestos-related diseases claims. We provide employers with prompt and relevant advice on their relationships with and/or disputes with their insurers.
Integral to our team is our skill in litigation. Our litigation services comprise representation at coronial inquests and WorkSafe investigations, inquiries into professional conduct by relevant professional associations and boards, and general legal representation. In particular, we have enormous experience and expertise in the conduct and successful resolution of personal injury claims.
Our experience is highly valued in the key area of directors’ and officers’ insurance matters, both in advice to insurers and also to the boards and management of public and private companies. In the event that disputes proceed to litigation, we have expertise in managing both the risk of litigation and the requirements of insurers.
Clients seek and obtain our advice in various matters involving contract works insurance policies.
We can assist you in all facets of occupational health and safety. We have defended parties on a number of WorkSafe prosecutions. The most notable of these was the prosecution of the structural engineering company and its director that erected the Treetop Walk in Walpole. In addition, we successfully represented the Augusta/Margaret River Shire after the collapse of the Willyabrup cliffs on the beach at Gracetown.
We have extensive experience and expertise in representing professionals and companies at coronial inquests and in defending civil claims arising from such.
Via our regular online publication we keep clients apprised of significant developments and challenges in the industry, including changes in regulation, draft bills before government and new compliance regulations.
