Bert Smallbone

Bert has worked in insurance since his admission in October 2020 and provides dispute resolution and coverage advice primarily with a focus on professional indemnity, management liability, and casualty.

Bert specialises in:

• Financial lines
• Casualty
• Management liability

He has acted on behalf of insurers and their insureds in a broad range of disputes in all jurisdictions of Western Australia.

More specifically, Bert has acted for accountants, architects, builders, engineers, financial service providers, government agencies, company directors and officers, and mining companies in claims involving professional negligence, contractual disputes, defamation, and directors’ liability. He has also acted for mining companies brought by regulatory and disciplinary proceedings including work health and safety prosecutions.

'Insurance requires understanding the core nature of different industries as well as the specific circumstances of each business. Without that understanding, it is difficult to return insured clients to their individual businesses in the most pragmatic way possible. My approach to claims is at all times consistent with that understanding.'

Bert adopts a 'listening' approach to all matters and dealings and is always mindful of his clients’ goals and any other underlying motivations and themes. This helps him achieve the most optimal outcomes for his clients.