Vahini Chetty is an experienced legal practitioner based in Melbourne, acting for a diverse range of insurers and insureds.
Vahini has significant experience in handling major and complex litigation across various jurisdictions. Her expertise includes advising on and acting in casualty claims, subrogated property recoveries, construction claims, professional indemnity claims, complex indemnity disputes, dual insurance matters, strata disputes, regulatory matters, risk audits, commercial disputes, agricultural claims, equine claims, aviation claims, heavy motor claims, property damage claims, guardianship tribunal matters, public inquiries, infrastructure projects, renewable energy disputes, and disciplinary matters.
In addition to her extensive exposure to construction disputes, Vahini has gained front-end construction and construction contract management experience, providing her with in-depth knowledge of building contracts and their administration. She has acted for builders, sub-contractors, architects, engineers, and other construction-related entities. Vahini has also represented a wide range of corporations and professionals, including those in financial services, property, real estate, healthcare, public sector clients, hospitals, healthcare providers, and community organisations.
Vahini completed her Master of Laws in England, where she practiced as a corporate lawyer. During her time in the UK, she played a senior role in representing Rydon Construction in the high-profile Grenfell Tower Inquiry. This international experience has further enriched her legal acumen and broadened her perspective on complex legal matters.
Experience
- A wide range of personal injury matters for a number of public liability insurers in defending the interests of insureds such as residential landlords, retail shop owners, construction companies, formwork companies, owners’ corporations, workers’ unions, commercial landlords, shopping centres, owners’ corporations, and religious institutions and hotels.
- Insurance recovery work including property damage to both residential and commercial premises, large infrastructure failures, damage to renewable energy infrastructure, mine disasters, damage at recycling plants, storm damage to solar panels, fire damage to shopping centres, fire damage to educational institutions, loss of cattle during agistment, heavy motor, marine, retail and home insurance claims
- Business interruption claims for a large supermarket chain, an automotive business chain, a law firm, restaurants, childcare centres and professional services companies - amongst others
- Construction, cladding, infrastructure, and strata disputes
- Working as a senior member of the team representing Rydon Construction in the Grenfell Tower Inquiry in London
- Employment Practices Liability matters in conjunction with our Employment team in considering indemnity issues, responses to brokers and insureds and the best strategy to employ in order to achieve the optimal outcome.
- Health professional disciplinary matters
- Medical negligence matters including, amongst others, claims against doctors for negligent bariatric surgery, ear nose and throat surgery, eye surgery, hysterectomy, removal of basal cell carcinomas, and plastic surgery.
- Professional indemnity matters in the construction industry – including architects and engineers in various sub-specialties.
- Numerous product liability disputes – most notably playing a key role in the formulation of the case against manufacturers of materials used on the Grenfell Tower
- Vahini has also played a role in Settlement Conferences and informal dispute resolution which in most instances have achieved excellent commercial results for the insurer.
Memberships
- AILA