Natasha is an experienced insurance litigator based in Sydney, with expertise in property, professional indemnity and general liability claims across a broad range of commercial, construction and financial lines risks.
Natasha has a large and varied practice including the defence of professional negligence and general liability claims against insolvency practitioners, accountants and construction professionals as well as large-loss property recoveries on behalf Australian domestic insurers, including expertise in multi million class action-type recoveries by insurers.
She also regularly acts for Australian and overseas insurers on policy interpretation and indemnity disputes in respect of all policies including professional indemnity, third party liability, industrial special risk and strata policies.
Natasha is known for her technical expertise and pragmatic approach to litigation, which enables her to provide cost-effective and strategic advice on complex claims and solutions tailored to her clients.
Construction and general liability risks: builders, engineers, product suppliers, property occupiers, strata
- Providing coverage advice and acting as defence counsel with respect to an $15 million claim against hydraulic/plumbing contractor arising from the failure of a hydraulic fitting during construction of a large commercial project in Sydney CBD.
- Advising international insurers on the application a ‘physical or legal control’ exclusion in relation to claims by the Insured’s landlord and adjacent property owners for property damage from a catastrophic explosion caused by the Insured’s business activities. We were able to establish the insurer’s liability for the significant claims was capped at a $250,000 sublimit.
- Acting as defence counsel in litigated claims against suppliers of goods and services including air-conditioning units, underground tunnelling services, design services and concrete coating products relating to property damage to, of failure or collapse of, commercial developments.
- Advising on high-quantum nuisance, earth movement and removal of support claims under the Conveyancing Act, including run off or tunnelling causing removal of support to boundary walls or buildings and managing an uninsured counter claim for breach of licence in relation to access against the neighbouring property.
- Acting for international insurers of a sheet piling contractor in a claim brought by an Owners Corporation directly against Underwriters under the Civil Liability (Third Party Claims Against Insurers) Act for removal of support to an adjacent mixed-use building, following the insured entering liquidation.
- Providing coverage advice to insurers regarding the use of defective ACP cladding on buildings in Victoria, including successfully running a separate point question on the question of notification of fact under s40(3) of the Insurance Contracts Act on a “claims made” professional indemnity policy. See MS Amlin Corporate Member Limited v LU Simon Builders Pty Ltd [2023] FCA 581.
- Providing cost-effective coverage advice and acting as defence counsel in respect of a variety of low-value (less than $250,000) construction disputes. Natasha focusses on early assessment of indemnity, identifying early settlement opportunities and ensuring that defence costs do not become disproportionate to the claim value.
- Advising strata insurers on a range of indemnity and liability issues, navigating party dynamics and achieving settlements of liability claims particularly on claims where there is only partial coverage.
Financial risks: accountants, insolvency practitioners, brokers
- Successfully defending a multi-million claim against insolvency practitioners in both the Supreme Court of NSW and NSW Court of Appeal. The claim sought seeking damages for alleged breaches of fiduciary duty and knowing assistance in a dishonest and fraudulent design. See Salmon v Albarran [2025] NSWCA 42
- Advising a major Australian general insurer in relation to a $6 million professional indemnity dispute involving an accountant’s sophisticated fraud schemes.
- Acting in accountant professional negligence claims arising from audits; taxation advice; superannuation advice and broader business advice.
First Party Claims and Property Recoveries
- Extensive practice in recoveries for private and commercial large loss property damage claims including fires, floods, large losses, asbestos, builder’s warranties and bushfire claims. Natasha has deep expertise across negligence, nuisance, contracto and Australian Consumer Law claims and takes a pro-active involvement from pre-litigation expert appointment and preservation of evidence through to successful recovery.
- Acted in $60 million recovery proceedings for 400 plaintiffs across five domestic insurers in a bushfire recovery action, including individual damages assessment and liaising with customers in relation to uninsured losses.
- Acting in a recovery action against a supplier and manufacturer of a plumbing part which failed and caused major flooding (and loss in excess of $15 million) to a commerical building in Sydney CBD.
- Providing coverage advice in relation to claims under ISR and Retail Insurance policies across numerous heads of loss, including engagement of appropriate experts at a claim stage.
- Advising insurers in relation to over 100 indemnity disputes across construction, plumbing, business, industrial special risk, home, motor and travel insurance policies, including preparing IDR and EDR responses.
- Handling a high volume of litigated motor vehicle claims for a variety of domestic insurers, including managing claims involving fraud, staged collisions and exorbitant claims by credit repairers and hire car companies.
Awards and Recognition
Best Lawyers in Australia 2024-2026
Insurance Law ('Ones to Watch')
The Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2025
Insurance
Memberships
- Women Lawyers Association of NSW
- Young Insurance Professionals network