Seun Idowu

Partner

Qualifications: LLB, GradDipLegalPrac, BIT and BComm

Industries

Practices

Seun works across the NSW and ACT jurisdictions and is a defendant insurance litigator and health law specialist. Seun knows the legislative framework and policies of the health system in NSW and has acted for public and private hospitals, employed doctors, allied health workers, nurses and Visiting Medical Officers in medical, surgical and mental health civil claims and coronial investigations.

Seun has particular expertise in coronial investigations from deaths in custody and civil claims arising from prison incidents. She understands the complexities of medical treatment delivered in correctional facilities, and the roles and responsibilities of stakeholders including private prison operators, health service providers, Corrective Services NSW and the Justice Health and Forensic Mental Health Network.  Seun routinely appears as a solicitor advocate for her clients in appropriate matters, most commonly in the NSW Coroner’s Court.

In addition to her personal injury and coronial practice, Seun assists individuals during regulatory investigations led by the Nursing and Midwifery Board, Medical Council of NSW, Health Care Complaints Commission and other bodies.

She provides her clients with proactive support on receipt of instructions including prompt investigation and early advice and recommendations designed to promote cost efficiency.  Her rigorous approach to matters is tempered by her empathy.  Her aim is to expeditiously resolve meritorious claims on best terms to the insurer and insured, and robustly defend unfounded and opportunistic claims.

Prior to transitioning into private practice, Seun spent almost a decade working within the NSW public service.  She provided legal and policy advice to Government and NGO stakeholders around issues concerning risk mitigation, ageing, disability, assault and trespass to vulnerable individuals, the National Disability Insurance Scheme, and home care.  She also represented agencies and individuals in coronial inquests.  Her public sector experience includes a lengthy secondment to the Commonwealth Department of Health where, amongst other matters, she provided advice about obligations arising under the Commonwealth Privacy Act 1988 and Aged Care Act 1997.

Since joining Hall & Wilcox, Seun acts for insurers in multiple party construction injury claims. She enjoys the complex liability and quantum investigations these matters entail, and also provides advice around dual insurance and coverage disputes.

Experience

Recent examples of Seun’s advocacy experience, without counsel, include:

  • Appeared for a public hospital in a medical negligence claim commenced in the Supreme Court of NSW by the partner of a deceased patient (proceedings dismissed with costs).
  • Acted for an educational institute in the coronial inquest into the suicide of a teenage student (Inquest into the death of DT13 October 2017).
  • Appeared for a NSW Local Health District in Court of Appeal proceedings involving a litigant in person (Hassan v Sydney Local Health District[2021] NSWCA 97).
  • Inquest into the death of SZ (2022).
  • Inquest into the death of CJ (2023).
  • Zubary v SRT Formwork Pty Ltd [2023] ACTSC 152.
  • Inquest into the death of GS (2023).
  • Inquest into the death of Alex Clements (2024).

Professional Membership

  • Law Society of NSW
  • Medico-Legal Society of NSW

Latest thinking

Insurance | 13 Jun 2024

Pre-filing essentials: New South Wales provisions for protected defendants in personal injury claims

We examine relevant case law and highlight the importance of strict compliance with these notice requirements to ensure fairness in case management.