Gavin has a wealth of experience in law spanning over 30 years, including acting for some of the UK’s leading insurers and their insureds defending high value claims and appeals.
In Australia, Gavin has acted for defendants and insurers in relation to many securities and financial services class actions commenced in the Federal Court of Australia, the NSW Supreme Court and the Supreme Court of Victoria. He also defended claims against corporations, directors, officers and a range of professionals, and provided policy coverage/indemnity advice to insurers.
Gavin’s experience is in litigation funding and corporate leadership, having been a Senior Investment Manager and Legal Counsel at Omni Bridgeway, he originated, conducted due diligence, and / or managed some of Omni Bridgeway’s largest investments in Australia and New Zealand.
Gavin is dual-qualified in England & Wales and Australia (NSW). He holds a Bachelor of Laws with Honours from the University of Exeter and a Postgraduate Diploma in Law with Distinction from the College of Law.
Who I work with and what I do
Gavin’s experience in private legal practice includes:
- acting for the successful insurer, AIG, in declaratory proceedings concerning the proper construction of a major shareholder exclusion clause in a D&O liability insurance policy: Oz Minerals Holdings Pty Ltd v AIG Australia Ltd [2015] VSCA 346. Also acting for this insurer in the related Zinifex shareholders class action commenced in the Federal Court of Australia against Oz Minerals Limited.
- acting as defence counsel in two related debenture holder class actions arising from the collapse of Provident Capital Limited: Creighton v Australian Executor Trustees Limited [2015] FCA 1137.
- defending a claim against an accountant in Federal Court of Australia proceedings commenced by the artist, Ken Done and his group of companies seeking losses in excess of AUD80 million arising from allegedly imprudent and unauthorised investments: Done v Financial Wisdom Limited [2008] FCA 1706.
- acting for surveyors in a $75 million boundary and easements dispute arising from a major commercial development at Chatswood: CTI Joint Venture Company Pty Ltd v CRI Chatswood Pty Ltd (In Liq) (Receivers and Managers Appointed) (No 3) [2012] NSWLEC 6.
Gavin’s experience in litigation funding includes:
- the Combustible Cladding Class Actions (product liability).
- the CBA Shareholder Class Action (securities).
- the Allergan Breast Implant Class Action (product liability).
- the Prawn White Spot Class Action (biosecurity).
- the Spring Farm Class Action (building and construction).
- subrogated recovery claims for insurers.
He was also responsible for Omni Bridgeway’s first investments in New Zealand where he managed the NZ Combustible Cladding Class Action (product liability) and co-managed the CBL Shareholder Class Action (securities). The value of the claims he managed in Australia and New Zealand exceeded $5 billion. Gavin also played a key role in Omni Bridgeway’s first secondary market transactions in Australia.
What I like to do
When Gavin is not at work, he likes to keep active by jet-skiing, snowboarding, mountain biking, and playing golf. He is also a keen traveller.
