Jessica Thurtell

Full Profile

Jessica has been practicing in the insurance industry for close to 15 years, having worked both in-house and in large national and international law firms in the space.

Her core focus is life insurance, with experience in coverage and defence of Death, TPD, IP and Critical Illness/Trauma claims; advising on and resolving AFCA disputes; assisting insurers with regulatory responses to the Financial Services Royal Commission as well as ACCC, APRA and ASIC enquiries; advising on and implementing remediation programs; supporting claims teams with their claims management; and advising on and monitoring Life Code compliance given her experience assisting with the last review of the Life Insurance Code of Practice. Jessica has an indepth knowledge of the life insurance industry, sitting on the ALUCA Claims Sub Group and having been a Lead for YALUCA (Young ALUCA) in considering strategies on how to attract, retain and upskill young life insurance professionals.

Jessica is also experienced in professional indemnity and management liability claims as both defence and coverage counsel, having worked as coverage counsel for significant insider trading litigation in Western Australia.

Experience

Life Insurance

• acting for insurers in numerous Death, TPD, IP and Critical Illness/Trauma litigated and non-litigated claims.
• acted in AIA Australia Ltd v Sharma [2023] FCAFC 42 regarding the rights of avoidance of an incoming insurer and continuing misrepresentations.
• advising a large bancassurer on its various responses to the Financial Services Royal Commission.
• assisting with the most recent review of the Life Insurance Code of Practice.
• providing advice to insurers in respect of AFCA disputes, including on systemic issue allegations.
• advising insurers on their rights of avoidance and variation in respect of non-disclosures and misrepresentations.
• advising on and assisting with the implementation of remediation programs, including CBA's Open Advice Review Program.

Management Liability/Professional Indemnity

• acting as coverage counsel on large insider trading litigation between two former mining companies in Western Australia.
• acting as defence counsel in highly publicised proceedings commenced against a large international law firm by a former Partner regarding alleged breaches of workplace and whistleblower rights.
• acting as defence counsel on large and complex construction litigation involving the Gateway Upgrade Project in Brisbane.
• advising insurers on various claims for indemnity under Professional Indemnity and Management Liability policies.