Rhett Slocombe

Rhett has over 30 years’ experience acting for the major insurers, claims administrators, self-insurers, government agencies and statutory schemes. He has longstanding relationships with insurers, the broking community, peak industry bodies and other stakeholders across the Australian insurance sector.

Between 2015 and 2023, Rhett acted in the role of National Practice Group Leader overseeing the Firm’s insurance practice. This involved interaction with key government clients, encompassing the Queensland, NSW, Victorian and WA compensation schemes, national insurer clients and other key stakeholders. His role also involved the oversight of 45 partners and over 250 insurance lawyers across all of the mainland states and territories. During his time in the national role the Firm’s insurance group grew fivefold.

He is an experienced litigator and has a breadth of experience and knowledge in insurance law across Australia, specialising in common law, workers compensation claims, public liability and dust and silica related claims. He also has experience in coronial inquests, specialist inquiries and industrial and safety law.

Rhett’s practice encompasses work across both the private and government sectors.

In the private sector he has specialist expertise in the mining, shipping, labour hire, education and public facility management sectors.

Rhett also has extensive experience acting for government across a wide range of portfolios, including public education, police, correctional services and health. He has a large portfolio of common law claims for a variety of government agencies and is often called upon to act in highly complex and sensitive claims involving child protection, first responder trauma, disciplinary and ministerial level issues.

Rhett has a deep understanding of government and the importance of developing strong relationships across those agencies that he represents. He is often called upon to present briefings on complex, high profile matters.

Rhett has acted for government agencies and self insurers in relation to dust and more recently, silica related claims for damages commenced in the NSW Dust Diseases Tribunal.

He is cognizant of and operates in accordance with model litigant principles.

Rhett’s experience and understanding of the Australian insurance environment enables him to assist clients with issues relating to claims management initiatives and best practice, legislative, regulatory and compliance issues.

Rhett is recognised in The Best Lawyers in Australia in Insurance Law (2014-2022). He is also a leading public liability and a pre-eminent workers compensation lawyer in NSW in Doyle’s Guide to the Australian Legal Profession, and a recommended insurance lawyer in The Legal 500 Asia Pacific (2020-2022).

Rhett is an Accredited Specialist in personal injury law in NSW.