Steven is a special counsel in the insurance team in Sydney. He has over 19 years' experience working as a solicitor in commercial litigation, professional indemnity, construction, liability insurance and financial lines.
Steven has a depth of practical experience in commercial litigation including; contractual disputes, trade practices litigation, intellectual property disputes, building and construction litigation, banking law, planning law, property litigation, administrative law and general commercial litigation.
Steven also has over 10 years' experience acting for and against legal practitioners, including on behalf of Lawcover and Law Mutual. He has acted for insurers, as both defence and coverage counsel, and in recovery proceedings, including international arbitration proceedings.
Steven holds a Masters of Laws and Bachelor of Commerce (UNSW). He was admitted to practice in the Supreme Court of NSW in 2000 and the Supreme Court of WA in 2007. He joined Clyde & Co in 2019.
Experience
Insurance:
Acting for geotechnical engineers in professional negligence proceedings arising out of the Lane Cove Tunnel collapse
Acting as coverage counsel for the D&O insurers of construction, engineering and mining companies in shareholder class actions, and proceedings brought by Liquidators for breaches of directors’ duties
Acting for the D&O insurers of New Cap Reinsurance Limited in insolvent trading proceedings brought by the Liquidator, and in avoidance proceedings brought by executive directors and officers
Acting for insurers of financial institutions in claims arising from margin calls made during the Global Financial Crisis
Acting for insurers in defending professional negligence claims against accountants, architects, auditors, certifiers, construction companies, engineers, finance brokers, lawyers, medical service providers, real estate agents, software providers and valuers
Commercial litigation:
Administrative law: Including appearing as advocate in the Administrative Appeals Tribunal, and conduct of proceedings in the Companies, Auditors and Liquidators Disciplinary Board
Arbitration: International arbitration proceedings against a US manufacturer arising from a product defect claim
Arbitration: Acting for a multinational company in arbitration proceedings arising out of the construction of an ammonium nitrate plant
Banking: Acting for a major Australian bank in defence of claims alleging fraudulently altered cheques, breach of mandate, and conduct of proceedings for enforcement of mortgages
Building and construction: Acting for a Government Authority in an expert determination relating to a contract for the design and construction of a commercial wharf
Contract:Garratt’s Ltd v Thangathurai - Defence of Supreme Court of NSW Commercial Division proceedings arising out of a venture capital agreement between an Australian and a BVI company
Intellectual property: Gambro Pty Ltd v Fresenius Medical Care Australia Pty Ltd - Federal Court proceedings for the assessment of damages consequent upon patent infringements arising from the sale of haemodialysis machines
Planning law:McClenahan v North Sydney Council - Class 1 Land & Environment Court applications against refusals of development applications, including successful appeal to the NSW Court of Appeal
Property law: Conveyancing and leasing disputes in the District Court, Supreme Court of NSW, Federal Court and the NSW Court of Appeal
Trade practices:Bective Station v AWB Australia Ltd - Proceedings in the Federal Court to establish misleading and deceptive conduct against the Australian Wheat Board
General commercial litigation: Including disputes over valuations of privately held companies, and applications to set aside statutory demands