Sarah is a Partner in HWLE’s Health, Insurance and Workplace Relations Teams and is the Tasmanian Practice Group Head. She has over 17 years’ experience as a civil litigation and employment practices lawyer, specifically in the areas of medical negligence (litigated and un-litigated claims), public liability, personal injury, regulatory matters and employment and industrial disputation.
Sarah acts for MDOs, medical practitioners and healthcare organisations across the broad array of legal issues that arise within the sector – including civil claims, fatal accident and catastrophic injury claims, coronial inquests, disciplinary and regulatory matters, anti-discrimination and industrial proceedings, criminal, MBS and PBS investigations and other statutory investigations. She also has extensive experience in employment and industrial matters, including advising on and defending claims in the Fair Work Commission and Federal Circuit Court.
Sarah also regularly acts for insurers under public liability and professional indemnity policies, including employment practices liability claims and safety prosecutions. Sarah has been regularly recognised in Doyle’s Guide to the Australian Legal Profession as a “leading” and “recommended” lawyer in litigation and dispute resolution 2020 – 2025.
Expertise
Experience
- Medical Defence Organisations Advising on the management and defence of common law claims for medical negligence (including claims under the Fatal Accidents Act 1934).
- Medical practitioners and allied health professionals Acting in regulatory and disciplinary proceedings, MBS and PBS investigations and other statutory investigations.
- Private Employers Advising on the full range of employment and industrial claims including unfair dismissal, adverse action and unlawful termination claims, discrimination and harassment matters and investigations by the Fair Work Ombudsman.
- Insurers and their insureds Providing advice in public liability claims involving both personal injury and property damage; providing advice on matters of indemnity, liability, quantum and strategy; and undertaking major recovery actions.
- Compulsory Third Party insurers Advising on the management of statutory liability matters and common law claims for personal injury (including catastrophic injuries).
- Government clients Advising on the management of disputes and defence of claims (litigated and non-litigated).
- Statutory Insurers Advising on the defence and management of workers compensation claims.
- Not-for-profit Advising on industrial Award compliance and front-end Employment framework, including successful negotiation of Enterprise Agreement following acquisition of entities.
