Gilchrist Connell strengthened its professional indemnity, liability and recovery capabilities with the addition of three new special counsel.
To round out the year, insurance firm Gilchrist Connell has added special counsel Shehan Gunatunga to its Melbourne office, and Francine Custovic and Kaveetha Kumar to its Sydney office.
Commenting on the appointments, CEO Belinda Cohen said they marked “an important milestone in our growth strategy”.
Since the start of the financial year, Gilchrist Connell’s team has grown by almost 20 per cent, spanning all offices and areas.
“Each of these senior lawyers brings specialist expertise that enhances our ability to deliver exceptional outcomes for clients across Australia,” Cohen said.
Gunatunga has extensive experience in professional indemnity and coverage disputes, having advised insurers and insureds on complex claims involving professionals across real estate, construction, accounting, and legal sectors.
Gunatunga has also acted in significant indemnity matters, including business interruption disputes.
With particular expertise in strata insurance and policy interpretation, Custovic has strengthened Gilchrist Connell’s liability and recovery capability.
Custovic will advise on personal injury, property damage, contract disputes and workers’ compensation.
Kumar brings her experience to coverage and defence of directors’ and officers’ (D&O) claims and professional indemnity matters.
With over 18 years of experience, Kumar has acted for a wide range of professionals and has regularly advised on complex coverage issues and large-scale litigation.
Naomi Neilson is a senior journalist with a focus on court reporting for Lawyers Weekly.
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