Michael Tan

Michael has over 5 years’ experience practicing exclusively in insurance. His practice includes advising in relation to claims made against employers, insurers and government bodies across several industries. He also has experience advising and acting on behalf of local and London insurers in public liability and property damage (third party) claims, recovery actions, disputes regarding indemnity and claims for child sexual abuse.

Michael’s aim is to deliver objective, transparent and accurate advice in a succinct and clear format. Michael prides himself in providing consistently clear communication at the appropriate level to all key parties.

He is experienced in providing early intervention strategies to assist in containing financial risk. Michael provides clients with a roadmap to outline their situation, available options, preparation for possible outcomes and potential mitigation strategies.

 

Qualifications/Memberships

• Bachelor of Science (Computer Science), Bachelor of Laws (University of New South Wales)

• Law Society of NSW – Member

• Australian Insurance Law Association - Member

 

A word from Michael

For me it’s not just about saving money or being able to commercially resolve matters for my clients, that much is a given.

I enjoy getting to personally know each of my clients including their operational objectives and needs which for the most part, will not be conveyed in their instructions. It is extremely gratifying to have my clients reach out to me for ad hoc advice because they trust what I say and trust that I know them.

 

Career highlights

• Obtained verdict for the defendant in a $1.5mil+ casualty claim litigated in the Supreme Court. We formed a strategy based on one small piece of evidence in the plaintiff’s rehabilitation records which allowed us to discredit him before the judge and cause his lawyers to start thinking twice about pursuing the matter. We were also faced with no less than five expert reports from the plaintiff’s mechanical engineer who made numerous assertions of deficiencies regarding the Insured’s system of work. By working closely with the Insured and our own expert, we were able to marshal evidence to counter every assertion, essentially nullifying the value of the plaintiff’s expert opinions.

• Working closely with Insurers and Insureds in relation to the implementation of early intervention strategies on workers compensation claims for psychological injury to mitigate and reduce overall claims costs. 

• Acted pro bono in an application for judicial review from the Federal Circuit Court to the Federal Court for an immigrant couple who were essentially defrauded by their lawyer after their visa applications were rejected in the Administrative Tribunal. The couple were induced by their lawyer into spending a significant amount of money (money which they had borrowed from their family and friends) to appeal the tribunal’s decision in the Federal Circuit Court, which ultimately failed. The Federal Court determined the previous lawyers had no basis for certifying that the Federal Circuit Court proceedings had reasonable prospects of success. The Federal Court allowed the couple’s appeal and issued an order for the previous lawyer to repay the couple their money. 

 

Specific areas of focus

• General insurance and public liability claims

• Claims for workers compensation, work injury damages and s151Z recoveries

• Acting in matters in the Workers Compensation Commission and District, Supreme and Federal Courts

• Alternative dispute resolution

• Early intervention strategies