Clyde & Co appoints Luke O’Kane as Partner in Australia

Appointment reflective of firm’s commitment to growth in casualty insurance

Sydney, 20 December 2023: Global law firm Clyde & Co today announces that Luke O’Kane, currently a Special Counsel based in Sydney, has been made up to partner, to take effect early in 2024. Luke will lead a team of seven lawyers across the firm’s Australia offices with a focus on acting for insurers in defence of litigated and un-litigated general and public liability claims, regulatory investigations and inquiries. 

Focus on complex casualty claims 

Luke’s practice involves the management of general and complex personal injury (including fatality and catastrophic injuries), general liability, historical sexual abuse, property damage and professional indemnity claims. 
 
Within his practice, Luke provides advice on both complex coverage and defence matters to major Australian and London insurers and reinsurers, brokers and corporations. 
 
He is engaged in litigation in every Australian state and territory and has litigated claims at all jurisdictional levels. In addition, Luke frequently acts as coverage counsel for insurers in larger commercial and regulatory disputes. 
 
Luke also has significant expertise in the management of claims involving defective products and product recalls, with a particular focus on mass tort litigation.  
 
Prior to joining Clyde & Co in 2017, Luke worked for the Chief Judge at Common Law in the Supreme Court of New South Wales.  
 
Simon McConnell, Chair of the APAC Board, Partner at Clyde & Co in Hong Kong, said: “Luke’s elevation to partner is testament not only to his exceptional abilities, but also to our focus on growing our global insurance practice and our casualty practices as a key part of that.” 

Rebecca Kelly, Australia Managing Partner, Brisbane, commented: “Luke is an exceptional addition to the partnership in Australia, and his practice is very well set up to handle the increased client demand in this area. With the appointment of Luke we ensure we continue to handle some of the most complex work in this market, as well as beyond Australia.” 

Luke O’Kane says: “Joining the partnership of Clyde & Co is a fantastic milestone – working for the world’s leading insurance law firm, in an area of speciality that is continuously seeing rising market demands, and with clients who come to us with their complex cases. We have a great team going into 2024 and I look forward to growing our practice and supporting our clients.”