Bert Smallbone

Bert is a Senior Associate in our Insurance and Health team and is based in the Sydney office.

Bert specialises in:

• Financial lines
• Casualty
• Management liability

Bert has worked in insurance since his admission in October 2020. In that time, he has acted on behalf of insurers and their insureds in a broad range of disputes in all jurisdictions of Western Australia. Bert provides dispute resolution and coverage advice primarily with a focus on professional indemnity, management liability and casualty. Specifically, he 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 with his clients. He is always mindful of his clients’ goals and any other underlying motivations and themes. This helps Bert achieve the most optimal outcomes for his clients.

Bert holds a Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Commerce (Finance & Management) from the University of Notre Dame. He is a member of the Australian Insurance Law Association, Australasian Professional Indemnity Group, and has served as a committee member of the WA branch of Young Insurance Professionals in 2023.