Gilchrist Connell strengthens insurance law expertise with new hires
Gilchrist Connell strengthens insurance law expertise with new hires | Insurance Business Australia
Insurance News
Gilchrist Connell strengthens insurance law expertise with new hires
Key legal areas covered
Insurance News
By
Roxanne Libatique
Gilchrist Connell, a law firm specialising in insurance law, has expanded its legal team with the appointment of four new special counsels.
The additions reflect the firm’s strategy to enhance its expertise across several key areas of law, particularly within the insurance sector.
New Gilchrist Connell special counsels
The newly appointed special counsels include:
Shonagh Rasmussen
Mary Kinna
Erica Dobson
Kristina Nehme
Rasmussen (pictured) joins the firm with a strong background in financial lines insurance and regulatory issues.
Kinna strengthens the firm’s capabilities in public liability and property damage disputes, while Dobson brings expertise in medical negligence, health law, and personal injury claims.
Nehme, specialising in corporate advisory, regulatory compliance, and restructuring, will advise clients across the insurance, reinsurance, and financial sectors.
Richard Wood, managing principal of Gilchrist Connell, said the addition of these lawyers will significantly boost the team’s capabilities in areas vital to the firm’s clients.
“We’re confident that their contributions will further strengthen our capabilities, ensuring our clients receive the best possible service,” he said.
These appointments coincide with Gilchrist Connell’s recognition in the Best Lawyers in Australia 2025 edition, where 36 of the firm’s practitioners were acknowledged across multiple practice areas. This includes five senior associates who were named in the “Ones to Watch” category, which highlights emerging talent within the legal profession.
This peer-reviewed listing is seen as a key marker of professional excellence within the legal community.
Lawyers recognised include:
Adelaide
Zoe Dempster: Insurance Law, Personal Injury Litigation
Melissa Eaton: Insurance Law, Litigation, Personal Injury Litigation
Fiona Errington: Insurance Law, Legal Malpractice Litigation, Personal Injury Litigation
Samantha Hocking: Insurance Law
John Homburg: Health and Aged Care Law, Insurance Law
Jamie Ling: Personal Injury Litigation
Joe Parisi: Insurance Law, Occupational Health and Safety Law, Personal Injury Litigation
Alison Townend: Insurance Law, Litigation, Personal Injury Litigation
Richard Wood: Construction/Infrastructure Law, Insurance Law, Legal Malpractice Litigation, Personal Injury Litigation
Brisbane
Mark Curran: Employee Benefits Law, Labour and Employment Law, Occupational Health and Safety Law
David Flint: Personal Injury Litigation
Brett Solomon: Alternative Dispute Resolution, Insurance Law, Personal Injury Litigation, Product Litigation, Professional Malpractice Litigation
Melbourne
Jonathan Cutler: Insurance Law, Personal Injury Litigation, Product Liability Litigation
Philip Duffy: Labour and Employment Law
Jason Newman: Insurance Law, Product Liability Litigation
Nicole Norris: Insurance Law
Joel Zyngier: Labour and Employment Law, Occupational Health and Safety Law
Perth
James Duffy: Insurance Law
Justine Siavelis: Insurance Law, Product Liability Litigation, Professional Malpractice Litigation
Deborah Templeman: Insurance Law, Legal Malpractice Litigation, Professional Malpractice Litigation
John-Paul Wilson: Insurance Law
Sydney
Stephen Connell: Insurance Law, Personal Injury Litigation, Professional Malpractice Litigation
Katherine Czoch: Insurance Law
John Edmond: Class Action Litigation, Insurance Law, Litigation
Alex Haslam: Insurance Law, Legal Malpractice Litigation, Professional Malpractice Litigation
Paul Kozub: Insurance Law, Product Liability Litigation
Tiarn Pauletto: Insurance Law
Daniel Robinson: Insurance Law
Helen Tieu: Insurance Law, Professional Malpractice Litigation
Malcolm Wood: Insurance Law
Sarah Wood: Labour and Employment Law
Ones to Watch
Ashleigh Allen: Personal Injury Litigation (Adelaide)
Tegan Conserdyne: Insurance Law (Melbourne)
Arthur Hambas: Labour and Employment Law (Melbourne)
James Kyrios: Insurance Law (Melbourne)
Kate Kellendonk: Insurance Law (Perth)
Gilchrist Connell’s team expansion across offices
In addition to the new special counsel appointments, Gilchrist Connell also welcomed two new senior associates, Bryce Stevens in Brisbane and Josiah Lee in Melbourne.
Six new associates have joined the firm in Sydney, Brisbane, and Melbourne, including Shayma Sorefan, Katie Kyung, and Adam Elbanna in Sydney, Hamish England and James Taylor in Brisbane, and Lily Connell in Melbourne.
Additionally, Debra Crossley in Perth was promoted to associate after returning from leave.
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