Hannah acts for insurers, government departments, self-insurers, councils, retailers and corporate clients in general insurance litigation, liability claims, class actions and coronial inquests across Victorian courts.

Biography

Hannah acts for government departments, insurers, self-insurers, municipal councils, committees of management, large retailers, venue managers, occupiers, host employers and corporate clients. She is based in Melbourne.

Hannah defends liability claims including class actions, catastrophic injury claims, general public liability, sexual abuse and bullying claims, professional indemnity, product liability and statutory recovery actions in the Magistrates Court, County Court, Supreme Court and Court of Appeal. She also acts in coronial inquests, advises on insurance and risk management strategies, indemnity issues, policy wordings and coverage, and insurance and indemnity contract clauses.

Hannah has experience across the full range of insurance litigation, including class actions brought against government departments arising from childhood sexual abuse, major public liability claims, venue security assault claims and statutory recovery proceedings. Her background as an insurance adviser at a State government department and as a claims manager at a third-party claims administrator gives her practical understanding of reserving, stakeholder management and cost-effective litigation handling.

Hannah brings first-hand experience from both the insurer and government sides of insurance relationships, which informs her strategic approach to defence. Her background in claims management enables her to identify exposure early, advise on reserving and manage the competing demands of insurer, government and self-insured clients effectively.

Credentials

Academic qualifications:

Hannah's experience

Government department — Childhood sexual abuse class action

Acted for a government department in a class action related to childhood sexual abuse.

Municipal council — Coronial inquest

Acted for a municipal council in a coronial inquest into the death of a young girl struck by a falling tree.

Venue manager — Assault claim

Acted for a venue manager in the defence of a claim arising from an assault by security guards.

National retailer — Statutory recovery

Acted for a national retailer to successfully recover benefits paid to and on behalf of a worker from a third party.

Volunteer committee of management

Successfully defended a claim brought pursuant to section 138 of the Accident Compensation Act on behalf of a volunteer committee of management.