Luke O'Kane

Full Profile

Luke's practice includes the management of general and complex personal injury (including fatality and catastrophic injuries), general liability, property damage and professional indemnity claims.

Within his practice, Luke provides advice on both complex coverage and defence matters pursuant to the terms and conditions of policies of insurance issued by Australian, UK and US based insurers. He has conducted litigated claims at all jurisdictional levels in New South Wales, Victoria and the ACT. He has also conducted public liability cases in the Supreme Courts of Queensland and Western Australia, as well as in the Federal Court of Australia. In addition Luke frequently acts as coverage counsel for insurers in larger commercial and regulatory disputes and advises multinational insures with global presence.

Prior to joining Clyde & Co, Luke worked for the Chief Judge at Common Law in the Supreme Court of New South Wales. Arising from this background, Luke has a strong appreciation of judicial expectations for matter preparation, while at the same time effectively balancing the commercial realities of high volume litigation.

Experience

General & Public Liability

• Advising on complex liability and quantum issues in catastrophic injury claims.
• Acting in defence of entertainment premises and security contractors in public liability claims arising from alleged assaults, slip and falls and associated third party injuries.
• Providing assessment of damages for recent and historical fatality claims.
• Assessing and advising on complex liability and quantum issues arising in personal injury and general liability claims.

Coverage

• Advising national developers in relation to their contracting terms and relevant insurance coverage.
• Providing advice on the application of cross-jurisdictional legislation in product liability cases.
• Advising insurers on complex dual insurance claims and defences.
• Advising insurers on policy and insurance slip wordings, placements and exclusions.