Liam is an accomplished advisor and litigator with a strong track record of achieving successful outcomes for his insurer clients. He specialises in property damage litigation, including mass tort subrogated recoveries arising from bushfires and fires in large commercial buildings with multiple owners and occupants.
His experience includes successfully recovering significant damages for three insurers and more than 200 plaintiffs in mass tort litigation arising from the Parkerville bushfire in Western Australia, ultimately obtaining judgment in the High Court of Australia (Electricity Networks Corporation Trading as Western Power v Herridge Parties & Ors [2022] HCA 37). He also successfully represented four insurers and 132 plaintiffs in obtaining judgment against liable landowners who caused the devastating Lucindale bushfire in 2021 (Brinkworth & Ors v Copping & Ors [2026] SASCA 50).
Liam’s practice encompasses tortious claims involving negligence, private nuisance and deceit, contractual claims and statutory causes of action under the Australian Consumer Law, Domestic Building Contracts Act, Water Act and Owners Corporation Act.
As a first-party insurance expert, Liam has a deep understanding of the Insurance Contracts Act and indemnity principles. He advises insurers on fraud, arson claims and policy coverage, assisting insurers with their internal and external dispute resolution processes, investigations, and litigation across a wide-range of policies, including Industrial Special Risks, strata insurance, contract works, business, farm, home and contents, motor and public liability insurance.
Clients value Liam for his technical expertise, tactical nous and ability to efficiently navigate complex disputes.
- Electricity Networks Corporation Trading as Western Power v Herridge Parties & Ors [2022] HCA 37: Successfully representing three insurers and approximately 200 plaintiffs in mass tort recovery litigation arising from the Parkerville bushfire in Western Australia. The High Court of Australia ruled 5-0 in favour of Liam’s clients, finding all three defendants liable for the substantial property damage losses incurred by Liam’s clients.
- Brinkworth & Ors v Copping & Ors [2026] SASCA 50: Successfully obtaining judgment in the Supreme Court of South Australia and the Court of Appeal in favour of four insurers and 132 bushfire victims, following mass tort recovery litigation arising from the devastating Lucindale bushfire in 2021. In dismissing the respondents’ appeal against the trial judgment of Chief Justice Stein, the Court of Appeal upheld her Honour’s findings that the defendants were liable in negligence and in private nuisance for causing the bushfire, and the losses suffered by Liam’s clients.
- Acting for a commercial strata, affected lot owners and their subrogated insurers, who have suffered approximately $10 million in property and business losses following a fire to commercial premises after a restaurant left cooking equipment unattended.
- Acting for insurers and their customers across a number of mass tort recovery actions involving property and resultant business losses from bushfires in Victoria, New South Wales, South Australia and Western Australia
- Acting for a conglomerate of insurers and a publicly-listed insured against four defendants in proceedings relating to fire and water damage to a licenced venue, resulting in substantial business interruption losses. Liam recovered 100% of insured and uninsured losses, as well as substantial interest.
- Acting for an insured whose property was damaged by excavation works carried out on the neighbouring property. Recovery proceedings were issued under the Building Act 1993 and 100% of damages were recovered.
- Managing and supervising a high-volume property damage litigation practice (both recoveries and defendant work) for Australian corporate insurers in Victoria and Tasmania.
- Acting on behalf of insurers in recovering sums paid out under fraudulent insurance claims as well as recovering investigation expenses and obtaining awards of exemplary damages against fraudsters.
- Successfully defending insurers in a number of litigated disputes arising from fraudulent insurance claims including arson, home and contents claims, theft, and motor vehicle collisions. In doing so, Liam has successfully interrupted organised crime syndicates, as well as recovering insurers’ investigation costs and obtaining awards of exemplary damages against fraudsters. The key to Liam’s success is his determination, his knowledge of the tactics and methods used by criminal syndicates, his targeted use of court procedures and subpoenas and his attention to detail.
- Successfully defending his client in a $21 million product liability and misleading and deceptive conduct proceeding in the Federal Court. Settlement was ultimately achieved three days into the trial whereby the plaintiff agreed to discontinue the proceeding against Liam’s client and pay 100% of the costs and disbursements incurred.
- Liam uncovered evidence which enabled an insurer to deny claims totalling $1.7M made under business and home insurance policies relating to a suspicious fire on the basis of the insured’s fraudulent misrepresentation at the time of applying for the policy.
- Managing a high-performance team with the conduct of hundreds of property damage and motor vehicle litigated disputes every year for a variety of Australian corporate insurers and government entities.