Irena Ferraro
Irena appears regularly at WorkCover WA in both the Conciliation and Arbitration Services on various applications made pursuant to the provisions of the Workers’ Compensation and Injury Management Act 1981. Irena has excellent advocacy skills and a command of WorkCover procedure.
Irena is a well regarded workers’ compensation lawyer, having provided advice and representation to clients in relation to a range of statutory and common law issues. In addition to her work in the WorkCover and AAT jurisdictions, Irena’s experience in the District Court has included settlement of multi-Defendant claims at pre-trial conference/mediation stages, and the management of complex common law claims to trial.
Irena’s prior experience includes complex and catastrophic claims and she has a proven track record in claims management and strategic claim litigation to achieve good outcomes for her clients. In complex claims, Irena has the knowledge and skills to provide her clients with clear, accurate and reliable advice, having regard to all of the legal issues.
As well as her duties as a legal practitioner, Irena has been a panel member of WorkCover WA and has made significant contributions to the regulation of the Tribunal. She has been involved in reviewing proposed changes to the Workers Compensation and Injury Management Act 1981 and lodging submissions in regards to proposed amendments of the Act.
Experience
Irena’ recent experience includes:
- General Insurance: on settlement options and strategies, and the early assessment of legal risk in litigation and consideration of liability and quantum investigations;
- Hooker -v- Allied Pumps Pty Ltd [2018] WADC 129: on preparing matter for trial and appearing as instructing solicitor in matter involving a Plaintiff who suffered significant workplace injuries. An award of $2 million dollars was made;
- Client Confidential: in relation to appearing as Counsel across multiple Applications made by the Worker for physical and psychological injuries sustained in the course of his employment. Successful in overturning the initial liability decision before the AAT; and
- Lee and Transpacific Industries Pty Ltd [2013] FCA 1322: in regards to appearing as instructing solicitor to successfully appeal Lee and Transpacific Industries Pty Ltd [2012] AATA 553, in which the worker’s claim which had been declined when he sustained an injury whilst travelling to a medical appointment.