Compensation Lawyers Hurstville

Dora has practiced as an insurance lawyer for 25 years and has a wealth of expertise in insurance litigation, particularly in the areas of professional negligence and life insurance. Following her graduation from the University of Sydney with a Bachelor of Arts/Law with Honours, she worked in a top-tier global firm with a team specialising in medical malpractice. She has subsequently held senior roles in the insurance and dispute resolution teams of mid-tier firms with a strong national presence and has also worked in-house as a senior lawyer for Australia’s largest medical defence organisation. She has represented doctors, health districts, medical practices, pathology companies and other professionals, including lawyers, in both litigated and unlitigated civil claims. She has also acted for healthcare clients in disciplinary matters (including with respect to complaints made to the Health Care Complaints Commission) as well as in coronial investigations and inquests. Dora has also represented clients in public liability claims with excellent results.

In addition to the above, Dora has significant experience in the area of life insurance. She has worked for the in-house insurance legal teams of two major banks/life insurers on secondment and has advised on and acted in Total and Permanent Disablement (TPD), Death and Income Protection claims. This has included providing detailed advice on policy interpretation and privacy issues, giving strategic advice in relation to the management of potential and litigated claims and representing clients before the relevant complaints authorities. Dora has also advised government organisations, major life insurers and general insurance companies on a broad range of insurance issues including indemnity, non-disclosure and fraud.

Some of the matters Dora has had carriage of include:

• Obstetric claims, including claims alleging mismanaged pregnancies and mismanaged deliveries resulting in catastrophic brain damage to the newborn child.
• Plastic surgery procedures (including a breast enlargement procedure which was the subject of high-profile proceedings in the NSW District Court and in which a verdict was delivered in favour of Dora’s client).
• Claims alleging a failure to diagnose (including a failure to diagnose a terminal illness) and/or provide timely and appropriate treatment. This has included acting in claims which progress to a strict and shortened timetable to accommodate the claimant’s poor prognosis.
• Claims alleging a failure competently to perform surgery and/or a failure to provide the correct advice and/or risk warnings in relation to the nature of the surgery the patient should undergo.
• Claims concerning multiple medical specialties including surgical, cardiology, orthopedic, general practice, neurosurgery, gynaecological, immunology and obstetric practices.
• Acting for prominent life insurers in TPD claims and income protection claims, including high worth claims.
• Acting in disputes against lawyers concerning family law, conveyancing, commercial litigation and migration law.
• Acting in a multimillion-dollar reinsurance recovery claim against the liquidators of HIH.
• Acting for a major life insurer in a Federal Court discrimination claim.
• Providing risk management advice to medical and legal professionals.

As a result of her extensive insurance experience, Dora has developed the technical skill set to manage a broad range of disputes with a view to achieving optimal outcomes for her clients. She has a keen eye for detail and works strategically to advance the interests of her clients. She personally runs all of her matters which ensures that they are conducted efficiently, knowledgably and cost effectively. Dora also prides herself on running a practice which is client focused. As well as being a strong advocate for her clients, she is a compassionate and caring practitioner who ensures her clients are supported and kept well informed of developments in their matters.

As an experienced litigator, Dora is also well-versed in alternative dispute resolution and has represented clients in numerous informal settlement conferences and mediations. In the interest of minimising costs, emotional stress and reputational risk for her clients, Dora is keen to explore an early resolution of claims where possible and where such an outcome is in the best interests of her client.

Importantly, in light of her experience, and having worked with and for many of Australia’s leading insurers in the fields of professional indemnity and life insurance, Dora appreciates the competing business and personal interests of parties involved in insurance and personal injury disputes. She is accordingly well-placed to understand the opposing party’s position and to utilise this knowledge to her injured clients’ advantage.

Dora’s expertise and strategic insights will no doubt be of significant benefit to our clients. She looks forward to using her unique skill set and knowledge to assist injured persons.