PROFILE
Andrew Spearritt
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Director
ABOUT
Andrew
Andrew is an insurance litigator with over 30 years’ experience as a legal practitioner. He was an equity partner at Dunhill Madden Butler, PWC Legal and Curwoods Lawyers before joining YPOL.
Andrew has recently been recognised as a Recommended Dust Diseases & Toxic Tort (Defendant) Lawyer (NSW) in the 2022 Doyles peer reviewed publication. He has been a regular presenter of papers on asbestos litigation at the International Conference on Asbestos Litigation in London 2010-2013 inclusive and has recently presented a paper on asbestos litigation in NSW for the University of NSW CLE programme. He is the author and co-author of several articles concerning asbestos and insurance litigation.
Andrew has acted for a number of insurers and reinsurers and their insureds. His areas of expertise include:
- Insurance and reinsurance claims including coverage issues
- Excess of loss claims for insurers and reinsurers
- Product and public liability
- Common law and employment claims in multiple jurisdictions
- Catastrophic and complex claims in multiple jurisdictions
- Abuse claims in multiple jurisdictions
- General litigation advice
Recommended Dust Diseases Lawyer (NSW) in the 2022 Doyle’s Guide (Recommended in 2021; Leading in 2020 and 2019)
DISTINCTIONS
AWARDS
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MEMBERSHIPS
RECENT
EXPERIENCE
Particular examples of Andrew’s experience are:
- Managing and advising on coverage, indemnity, liability, and quantum for a major portfolio of asbestos claims
- Acting in and advising on multiple silicosis claims in NSW and Qld
- Conducting proceedings concerning the interpretation of the insurance provisions in s.151AB of the Workers Compensation Act 1987 (NSW) as amended: CGU Insurance Ltd v AAI Limited [2016] NSWCA 335 and [2017] NSWCA 58; CGU Insurance Limited v Davies (2015) 90 NSWLR 337; QBE Insurance Australia Limited v Dust Diseases Tribunal of NSW [2011] NSWCA 421
- Acting for the reinsurer in a case involving catastrophic injuries arising out of a helicopter accident: Cook and Ors v Modern Mustering Pty Ltd and Ors (2017) 40 NTLR 86; (special leave to appeal to the High Court of Australia refused: Cook v Modern Mustering Pty Ltd & Ors [2017] HCASL 272
- Acting for the insurer in a case involving the categorisation of smoke as a dust: East West Airlines Limited v Turner (2010) 78 NSWLR 1 (special leave to appeal to the High Court of Australia refused: [2010] HCATrans 238)
- Representing the insurer in the landmark decision of Orica Ltd v CGU Insurance Ltd (2003) 59 NSWLR 14
- Representing the insurer in one of the earliest passive smoking cases in a common law jurisdiction:Sharp v Stephen Guinery t/as Port Kembla Hotel and Port Kembla RSL Club [2001] NSWSC 336
- Acting for insurers in catastrophic and complex claims in Tasmania, New South Wales, ACT, and Queensland
