Directors and Officers
Legislative changes have meant that both regulators and shareholders are placing the conduct of directors and managers under greater scrutiny. Major corporations right down to SMEs and not-for-profit organisations have potential D&O exposure. The increasing availability of litigation funding for class actions has also led to an increase in claims against directors and company directors.
How we can help
We have substantial expertise in D&O matters in both simple and complex claims as well as the investigations, inquiries, disciplinary proceedings, public hearings and prosecutions that these insurance products respond to. Our understanding of the class action frameworks that operate in both federal and state jurisdictions also equips us to assist with D&O matters that are linked to complex litigation.
We have provided claims advice and acted for a range of Australian and overseas insurers, public sector risk carriers and reinsurers, including in relation to:
- High profile D&O class actions proceedings, both in a defence and coverage capacity
- Defending claims arising from ASIC and ACCC investigations and prosecutions
- Handling claims involving multiple excess layers
- Designing and implementing commercial responses to D&O claims, and
- Advising on defence strategy and acting as monitoring counsel, monitoring efficiency, effectiveness and strategy of defence counsel.
Our approach to Directors and Officers claims
We not only understand the raft of intricate legal issues that face directors and officers, managers and senior executives, we also recognise the possible impact a complex D&O liability claim can have on an insured’s reputation and keep that at the forefront when tailoring our defence.
We appreciate that all clients need a positive claims experience, and the approach is often different for each.
Some insureds are very sophisticated litigants where others might be involved in a claim for the first time, which can be foreign and worrying.
Strong proponents of collaborative stakeholder management
We closely involve insurer and insured in claims management and resolution
In-depth experience across a range of Directors and Officers claims
Supported by an award-winning, national insurance team
Our D&O Specialists
Meet our dedicated team of D&O lawyers.
"The BN team have greater expertise than any other panel firm at being able to find the appropriate balance of managing all stakeholders involved in a claim, irrespective if the stakeholder is the insured, claimant, broker or underwriter.”
Legal 500 Asia Pacific – Insurance, Australia