Patrick Gallagher | Partner BA (University of Sydney), 1990 Dip Law (LPAB) 2002 t: 61 (2) 8231 6231 e: patrick.gallagher@curwoods.com.au   Construction | Dispute Resolution | Professional Indemnity | Public & Products Liability

Main areas of practice

• Professional Indemnity
• Public Liability
• Construction and Infrastructure
• Retail Insurance Products
• Public and Government Authorities

Background

Patrick joined Curwoods as a Partner in April 2009.

Prior to joining Curwoods, Patrick practiced for over 10 years with DLA Phillips Fox before launching a respected and successful boutique insurance law practice with former colleagues.  Patrick practiced extensively in construction, infrastructure and primary industry litigation.  He advised insurers, brokers and corporations on policy drafting and interpretation, particularly regarding policy indemnity.

Patrick attracted recognition as an expert on insurance and indemnity clauses in commercial contracts. He acted in major professional indemnity matters and represented public authorities and government instrumentalities.  Patrick also developed and maintained a large public liability litigation practice, with an emphasis on catastrophic personal injuries litigation.

Patrick's move to Curwoods was inspired in part to harness the significant resources and profile of the Curwoods Construction and Insurance teams and to enhance their expertise across retail insurance lines.

Experience

Patrick’s experience covers a wide range of advice and representation in insurance matters, including:

• Representing insurers and excess-layer underwriters in the defence of a wide variety of multi-million-dollar professional indemnity claims relating to construction and infrastructure projects;
• Representing public and government authorities in numerous professional indemnity, property loss and catastrophic personal injuries matters, including inquest representation;
• Advising and representing life and health insurers in federal compliance, ombudsman and claims matters;
• Drafting insuring and indemnity clauses for commercial contracts;
• Advising companies, from small businesses to large national firms, on matching insurance coverage to contractual obligations and risk;
• Advising insurers and excess layer underwriters in coverage disputes ranging from multi-million dollar geotechnical claims, to health insurance pre-existing condition exclusions, to insureds’ contractually assumed liabilities;
• Bringing recovery claims on behalf of insurers under joint tortfeasor principles, dual insurance principles, contractual liability claims, and under insurance procurement clauses.

Professional activities

Member, Australian Insurance Law Association

Member, Australian & New Zealand Institute of Insurance and Finance

Member, Risk Management Institute of Australasia

Member, Society of Construction Law

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