David Lee

Full Profile

With more than 30 years' insurance law experience, David is regularly called upon by both underwriters and corporates for his expert advice and guidance in the handling of a wide variety of claims across the above classes. David's expertise extends to regulatory and investigative work on behalf of professionals.

In liability claims, David's experience includes amusement & leisure, construction, hospitality, healthcare, retail, industrial and commercial.

In professional indemnity, David’s main experience is in the handling of professional indemnity claims made against insurance brokers where the underlying claim can arise out of every class of business.

David is able to implement strategic resolution strategies in complex multi-party litigation. David has many years of experience conducting complex litigation in the Supreme Court, Court of Appeal of NSW and Federal Courts.

David’s clients including insurance brokers, law firms, engineering firms, and trustees hold him in high regard for his technical skills with a strong client service focus. This focus has laid the foundations for long-term client relationships and panel appointments.

As an active member of the Australian insurance community, he has a keen interest in industry issues. In addition to his participation across a number of associations, David is a Past President of AILA. David has signed up to be a mentor in the AILA’s mentor/mentee initiative once again.

David is also a faculty member of the Australian College of Insurance Studies and was a committee member of the 2023 World Insurance Congress Australia.

David was recently recognised as a leading insurance, litigation and personal injury lawyer by Best Lawyers 2025.

Experience

Professional indemnity

• Advising and acting in professional indemnity claims against members of one of Australia’s largest insurance broking networks.
• Acting on behalf of an international leading law firm in the successful defence of an injunction in the NSW Supreme Court in relation to an alleged conflict of interest, breach of duty of loyalty and breach of confidence claims.
• Advising a local council scheme in relation to the possible exposure to risk arising from the use of cladding materials.
• Global retainer for a conglomerate owned by a Singapore Sovereign Wealth Fund and engaged in engineering, construction, hospitality and security.

Liability claims

• Acting in relation to a number of catastrophic claims arising from dangerous recreational activities.
• Acting on behalf of underwriters of a global transport company in a claim arising out of contaminated oil being supplied to transformers of various energy and electricity utilities in locations around Australia.
• Acting on behalf of a liability insurer of an amusement park in a catastrophic claim arising out of the use of a roller coaster.

Catastrophic claims

• Successfully defending criminal charges brought against the owner & operator of a jumping castle and zorb balls following a tragic incident at a primary school end of year function in which 6 children died with a class action and coronial inquiry pending.
• Advising and assisting an insurer with the resolution of a claim concerning a ventilator assisted infant quadriplegic which resolved for a sum in excess of AUD25 million.

Recoveries

• Advising underwriters on recovery prospects arising out of a fire to a hotel which occasioned a loss (material damage and business interruption) in excess of AUD15 million.