Our firm

Helping you make informed business decisions with confidence.

With a focus on being authentic, inclusive, and sustainable, we develop people with
specialist legal and industry expertise
who are committed to helping you succeed.

We have created an environment conducive to high-performance – our people have the skills, resources and support to achieve excellence by being the best version of themselves.

Our Expertise

Insurance

Insurance

Construction, Projects & Infrastructure

Construction, Projects & Infrastructure

Corporate Legal Services

Corporate Legal Services

Dispute Resolution & Litigation

Dispute Resolution
& Litigation

Our industries

Insurance

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Construction, Projects & Infrastructure

Construction, Projects & Infrastructure

Energy & Resources

Energy & Resources

Aviation

Aviation

Marine

Featured insight

When Can Insurers Decline Cover for the Return of Fees and Charges?

Whether a class action settlement is insurable depends on what it represents, not what it costs. The Federal Court has recently held that ANZ’s excess insurers were not required to indemnify the bank for $116.92 million paid to settle two class actions, or for the associated defence costs. The settlements constituted the return of premiums, commissions and interest that ANZ had charged its customers. As the policies did not cover liabilities of that character, there was no indemnity. The decision identifies two separate routes by which claims of this kind can fall outside cover: a carve-out from the definition of Loss, and an exclusion directed at the charging of excessive, undisclosed or otherwise improper amounts. The decision is important for all insurers writing civil liability and professional indemnity policies where the underlying claim, whatever its pleaded cause of action, is in substance about the return of fees, commissions or other amounts the insured charged and received.

Latest insights

When Can Insurers Decline Cover for the Return of Fees and Charges?

13 October 2026
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The Shortcut That Wasn’t Worth It: Site Access and the Limits of Head Contractor Liability

8 October 2026
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Dennison v Brisbane City Council: Clarifying Queensland’s Public Authority Liability Shield

7 October 2026
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Crushing Win for Quarry Operator: Key Lessons for the Extractive Industry and Local Governments

2 October 2026
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Latest presentations

Right of Entry

28 May 2026
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Contractual liability

14 April 2026
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Negotiation skills for Dispute Resolution

27 March 2026
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Historical abuse claims: the impact of the end of the Redress Scheme and emerging litigation risks

19 March 2026
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Latest firm news

Carter Newell’s insurance expertise recognised across Doyle’s Guide rankings 2026

1 October 2026
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Carter Newell wins Innovation in Legal IT at the 20th Lawtech Summit + Awards

25 September 2026
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Carter Newell claims two wins at the 2026 Australian Law Awards

31 July 2026
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Carter Newell finalists in the Lawyers Weekly Australian Law Awards 2026

28 July 2026
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Working as a team creates better outcomes, for everyone.

Whether we are brainstorming legal solutions between our internal teams or liaising with international law firm alliances – we achieve more together.

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