Matthew Harding
Matthew has extensive experience in the areas of financial services/insurance, professional indemnity and D&O litigation, intellectual property litigation and Royal Commissions (Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, Financial Services and Disability Royal Commissions).
His experience stems from acting in the defence of large claims against directors and officers, solicitors, financial advisers, responsible entities, life agents, investment managers, building and construction and other professionals. He has acted in commercial disputes for IT and telecommunications companies, and in trademark and passing off disputes.
Matthew also has particular expertise in life insurance and financial services litigation and regulation. He has advised life insurers on large portfolios of TPD and other claims, AFCA complaints, ASIC notices and acted in Federal Court litigation for life insurers.
Matthew was a guest lecturer from 2006 to 2018 in Insurance as part of the University of NSW LLM and JD insurance course.
Matthew has been named for many years in Best Lawyers™ Australia for Alternative Dispute Resolution Law, Insurance Law and Professional Malpractice Litigation Law, including the current 2020/2021 edition. Matthew has been recognised in Doyle’s Guide as a leading and recommended Professional Indemnity Lawyer since 2015, including in 2020.
Experience
Matthew’s recent experience includes:
- Portfolio of NSW claims: Acting in defence of very large portfolio of NSW emergency and other related services post traumatic stress claims;
- YMCA NSW: Acting for YMCA NSW in Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse;
- Confidential solicitor: Acted for solicitor in claims arising from Ponzi scheme – group claims by investors and liquidator’s claims of $157 million;
- Firm of solicitors: Acted for a firm of solicitors successfully defending a $36 million multi-party claim from failed technology contracts. Judgment in favour of the solicitors with costs.
- Fincorp: Advising on claim of $15 million arising out of the collapse of Fincorp;
- Major insurer: Advising insurer on series of on fraudulent cheque claims under commercial crime policies;
- Multiple companies: Acting in complex frauds and double insurance cases; and
- Arson claim: Acting in complex arson claim involving financial fraud, building and construction issues relating to prior litigation concerning same property. Supreme Court judgment obtained in favour of insurer client.