Michael Gapes

He has worked extensively with the property sector – including representing real estate agents, valuers, surveyors and other property industry participants – and the healthcare sector – including representing doctors, nurses, hospitals, dentists, allied health care professionals and primary health organisations. He has also worked with brokers, accountants and financial advisers.

In addition to representing professionals operating across a broad range of industries on behalf of their insurers, he has defended many insureds before disciplinary tribunals and investigations and has conducted the defence of numerous regulatory proceedings.

Michael also has extensive experience in dealing with directors’ and officers’ liability claims and has been involved in some of the largest and most high-profile claims and class actions in Australia, both as defence and coverage counsel.

He has considerable experience in defending management liability claims (on behalf of corporate insureds and not-for-profit organisations), as well as employment practices liability claims. Michael has also conducted many cyber claims and dealt with claims under environmental liability policies.

Whilst Michael is experienced conducting litigation in courts of all jurisdictions across Australia and regularly appearing in tribunals, he is an advocate for alternative dispute resolution and regularly represents his insurer and insured clients at mediations and arbitrations.

He has previously practiced in the United Kingdom and New Zealand and has held senior in-house roles, including for a Swiss investment bank and a large North American insurer in London.

An active contributor to the insurance and legal industries, Michael regularly provides training and risk management advice to his insurer clients and various industry organisations. He also provides advice on policy drafting and interpretation, as well as best practice advice and compliance with legislation.

Michael is the former Chair of the Queensland Law Society’s Professional Conduct Committee, an active member of the Australian Professional Indemnity Group and the Australian Insurance Law Association.