Helen Stavridis

Helen is a commercial litigator with more than 25 years’ experience including over two decades dedicated to insurance litigation. She specialises in public and product liability, as well as professional indemnity, and is known for providing clear, commercially focused advice across complex claims.

Helen is highly skilled in multi-party claims, representative actions, and quantum assessments on significant property, catastrophic, and complex injury claims. Her practice also includes occupier’s liability, property and construction (both residential and commercial), and alternative dispute resolution.

Helen acts for clients across a wide range of industries, including mining, abattoirs and processing plants, engineering and electrical, food and manufacturing, cleaning contractors, road works, farm practices, allied health, fitness clubs, nightclubs, and event organisers. This breadth of exposure gives her a strong understanding of the commercial and operational contexts in which claims arise.

Helen gained early experience in the London insurance market, beginning her career there in 2004 before returning to Australia in 2006 to continue her practice. Her background spans both contentious and non-contentious matters, with experience in the Courts, the Crown Solicitor’s Office and commercial dispute resolution before specialising in insurance. This breadth of experience has given Helen a strong commercial foundation and the ability to perform effectively under pressure. It underpins her practical, considered approach and her ability to advocate for her clients’ interests while building strong, collaborative relationships with stakeholders across a range of industries, backgrounds and seniority levels.

'My colleagues at Barry Nilsson take a similar commercial and pragmatic approach to matters keeping the client as their focus which is why they have been recognised within the industry, and the team as a whole is friendly and approachable, all of which attracted me to joining the national practice.'

Helen enjoys the investigative and problem-solving aspects of insurance work, particularly the opportunity to engage with a broad range of industries. Her approach is grounded in breaking down complex issues into clear, practical solutions that are accessible to all parties. Helen is proactive in identifying opportunities to resolve disputes early, with a focus on extracting the insured or client from proceedings where possible and managing claimant expectations from the outset. She works towards achieving fair, cost-effective and commercially sound outcomes for her clients, whether through negotiation, mediation or, where necessary, the trial process, always with careful consideration of the technical, practical, and strategic dimensions of each matter.

Current industry recognition

• Doyle's Guide - Public & Product Liability Lawyer (Defendant), SA
• The Best Lawyers in Australia - Personal Injury Litigation, Adelaide
• The Best Lawyers in Australia - Alternative Dispute Resolution, Adelaide
• The Best Lawyers in Australia - Insurance Law, Adelaide
• The Best Lawyers in Australia - Litigation, Adelaide