Damian Clancy

Damian specialises in financial lines insurance, with expertise in directors & officers, professional indemnity, cyber, and complex claims including policy interpretation disputes.

Damian has almost two decades of experience advising on professional indemnity claims, defending lawyers, accountants, construction professionals, and IT professionals. He regularly acts as coverage and monitoring, and defence, counsel in complex and high-value claims.

Damian has extensive experience in the directors & officers space, particularly as both coverage and monitoring, and defence, counsel in several class actions. He has also acted as coverage and monitoring counsel on large construction projects, including multi-billion-dollar roadway, hospital and water projects.

Damian has advised on cyber incidents involving employee fraud, third-party computer crime, and compromised external service providers, often working alongside forensic investigators and international cyber-crime units. He holds CompTIA Network+ and PRINCE2 certifications and is progressing toward Security+ and CISSP qualifications. Damian’s experience coupled with his technical knowledge allows him to effectively mitigate risk in PI technology liability claims by identifying evidentiary gaps, often reducing litigation appetite, and containing exposure early. Damian’s ability to coordinate incident response with internal IT teams, preserve digital evidence, and avoid unnecessary spend on betterment or out-of-scope services has delivered favourable outcomes for both insurers and insureds.

Damian’s clients include Australian and overseas insurers, including Lloyd’s syndicates and their insureds. Across his practice, Damian has extensive experience representing a variety of insureds including company directors, lawyers, conveyancers, architects, surveyors, engineers, accountants, doctors, psychologists and dentists.

'There are two things that interest me most about insurance law. First, I love the strategic and academic demands of the areas in which I practice. Second, I enjoy balancing the interests of insurers and their insureds. I work seamlessly with both groups of clients to develop early strategies which are both effective in containing cost and resolving the claim promptly.

I am acutely conscious (and conduct my claims with an awareness) that insureds often perceive Panel lawyer as an extension of the insurer, and that my stewardship of claims impacts the insurer’s claims handling reputation.'

Damian is highly regarded for his ability to develop cost-effective and proactive strategies which are designed to narrow the scope of issues in dispute, identify technical deficiencies in claimants’ cases, and drive cost-efficient approaches towards settlement and trial.

Industry recognition

• The Best Lawyer's in Australia - Insurance Law, Melbourne since 2021