Clyde & Co hires Jessica Thurtell as Partner in Sydney

Global law firm Clyde & Co today announces the hire of Jessica Thurtell as partner in Sydney. She joins the firm from DLA Piper.

The move further underlines the firm’s growth trajectory in insurance in Australia and follows the appointment in 2025 of three lateral partners, Janine Clark, Yvonne Lam and Malcolm Wood, the partner promotion of Steven Lurie, and the hire of special counsel Kyle Bowles and Hugo Thomas.

Jessica Thurtell is a life insurance and financial lines specialist with deep expertise in defence work in the management liability space. She has experience in developing remediation programmes and responding to regulatory requests, acting in Royal Commissions and responding to systemic issues on behalf of clients through the Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA). 

She also has extensive complex coverage experience across lines of business and a substantial track record of handling significant and complex litigation for large insurers.

Jessica has strong connections in the insurance market, and her arrival will further strengthen the firm’s commercial litigation defence and major and complex coverage dispute offerings.

Jessica was instrumental in establishing the Young Australasian Life Underwriting and Claims Association (YALUCA).

In-depth Corporate Insurance and Regulatory Expertise

The hire comes following the recent partner arrivals of casualty law specialist Janine Clark, and of Yvonne Lam and Malcolm Wood who focus on corporate insurance and regulatory matters. Clyde & Co’s insurance practice has also been bolstered with the partner promotion of construction professional indemnity specialist Steven Lurie, and the hire of special counsel Kyle Bowles and Hugo Thomas. These hires and promotion further build out the firm’s comprehensive offering across all areas of corporate insurance law.

Rebecca Kelly, Australia Managing Partner, Brisbane, said: “I am delighted to welcome Jessica to the firm – her arrival underlines our commitment to the continued growth of our insurance offering and services to clients, with four partner and two special counsel appointments in our specialist insurance practice over the past months.”

Gareth Horne, Head of Insurance, Australia, Sydney, said: “Jessica has strong connections in the life insurance industry which, combined with recent growth in our corporate practice, highlights our commitment to further develop the scope of our life insurance offering. Her experience in managing major and complex litigation, as well as management liability claims, also adds further depth to our national financial lines practice.” 

Jessica Thurtell said: “I am delighted to join a firm with such an extensive global offering across all lines of insurance. It is exciting to work as part of Clyde & Co’s incredible platform and network for the benefit of our clients in the Australian life and financial lines insurance markets.”

Global Insurance Offering

The appointment further strengthens Clyde & Co’s insurance and regulatory capabilities servicing insurance clients across Australia and the wider region. 

Clyde & Co’s global insurance practice of 2,400 lawyers in over 70 offices around the world handles matters across all lines of insurance business, helping the insurance market navigate risk. 

For further information please contact Andrea de Palatis.