David Lee

Full Profile

With more than 30 years' insurance law experience, David is regularly called upon by both underwriters and corporates for his expert advice and guidance in the handling of a wide variety of claims across the above classes. David's expertise extends to regulatory and investigative work on behalf of professionals.

In liability claims, David's experience includes construction, sport & leisure, hospitality, healthcare, retail, industrial and commercial.

David is able to implement strategic resolution strategies in complex multi-party litigation. David has many years' experience conducting complex litigation in the Supreme Court, Court of Appeal of NSW and Federal Courts.

David’s clients include insurance brokers, law firms, engineering firms, other professional firms and hold him in high regard for his technical skills with a strong client service focus. This focus has laid the foundations for long-term client relationships and panel appointments.

As an active member of the Australian insurance community he has a keen interest in industry issues. In addition to his participation across a number of associations, David is a Past President of AILA.

David is also a faculty member of the Australian College of Insurance Studies and was a committee member of the 2023 World Insurance Congress Australia.

David was recently recognised as a leading insurance and litigation lawyer by Best Lawyers 2023.

Experience

• Professional indemnity: Acting on behalf of an international leading law firm in the successful defence of an injunction in the NSW Supreme Court in relation to an alleged conflict of interest, breach of duty of loyalty and breach of confidence claims.
• Professional indemnity: Advising a local council scheme in relation to the possible exposure to risk arising from the use of cladding materials.
• Liability claims: Acting in relation to a number of catastrophic claims arising from dangerous recreational activities.
• Professional indemnity: Advising and acting in professional indemnity claims against members of one of Australia’s largest insurance broking networks.
• Professional indemnity: Global retainer for a conglomerate owned by a Singapore Sovereign Wealth Fund and engaged in engineering, construction, hospitality and security.
• Professional indemnity: Acting on behalf of an international engineer in professional indemnity claims arising out of major infrastructure projects.
• Liability claims: Acting on behalf of underwriters of a global transport company in a claim arising out of contaminated oil being supplied to transformers of various energy and electricity utilities in locations around Australia.
• Liability claims: Acting on behalf of a liability insurer of an amusement park in a catastrophic claim arising out of the use of a roller coaster.
• Catastrophic claims: Advising and assisting an insurer with the resolution of a claim concerning a ventilator assisted infant quadriplegic which resolved for a sum in excess of $25 million.
• Liability claims: Acting on behalf of a liability insurer of a global confectionary company in a claim arising out of alleged contamination.
• Property / energy: Advising a Commonwealth Government agency on business interruption issues.
• Property / energy: Advising underwriters on recovery prospects arising out of a fire to a hotel which occasioned a loss (material damage and business interruption) in excess of $15 million.