Gilchrist Connell is a leading Australian insurance sector law firm, operating across all Australian jurisdictions from our five offices. Our fresh approach to providing legal services is what sets us apart from the rest.

Our mantra is to ‘Listen – Engage – Solve’ which we bring to every matter for every client.

We start by carefully listening to you in order to fully understand the problem for which you seek our advice.

This informs us so that we can effectively engage with all stakeholders involved in the matter – you, your people, your insurer or insured (as the case may be), brokers, all other lawyers, experts, adjusters and counsel. Only by effective and appropriate engagement can we achieve an optimal outcome.

We can then swiftly provide you with a properly priced, tailored solution.

Specialising across lines and borders

We have tripled in size in just over a decade, with offices in every mainland state servicing the whole country.  While our focus remains firmly on general insurance, employment and defendant-side dispute resolution, our corporate and commercial law team provides front-end solutions and advice for businesses throughout all stages of their life cycle.

We are also the first Australian law firm to join forces with exclusive international law firm network The Harmonie Group, giving us access to insurance law expertise in 31 countries.

Our unique business model is custom-built to each client to deliver insurance law solutions of the highest standard.

We advise insurers, brokers, underwriting agencies, self-insureds, insureds and businesses operating nationally and internationally across most lines of insurance.

Our growth is a testament to our service

Since opening in 2008, we have grown exponentially in response to our clients’ continued demand for quality services. By 2016, Gilchrist Connell was recognised as one of the top ten fastest growing law firms in the country by Australasian Lawyer. In 2021 and again in 2022, Gilchrist Connell was again recognised in Australasian Lawyer’s Fast Firms report, which honours the 15 firms that showed the highest degree of resilience and momentum during a challenging period. Our growth has fortified a collegiate culture of continuous self-improvement resulting in job satisfaction and low attrition. This means that our clients have continuity on their files and build strong relationships with us.

To achieve this solid growth and success, we work hard to stay at the forefront – constantly adapting to offer better value and results. Our clients hold us to rigorous standards, and our skills, agility and dedication have been rewarded as we continue to service many of the world’s most sophisticated, global insurers.

How we stay ahead

We understand the importance of building strong relationships with our clients and are continually responding to their changing needs. Some of our longest standing and largest clients have been re-appointing our principals to their legal panels for almost three decades. We have remained alongside them throughout the changes, disruptions and cycles of this complex and dynamic industry.

We maintain a laser focus on delivering what our clients need – a pre-eminent commercial and tailored service, knowing we are only as good as our next job. We stay highly engaged with the industry and invest strategically – implementing innovative, streamlined systems to boost productivity and client value, while actively seeking client feedback to ensure we continue to deliver a relevant, leading service.

As the world changes more rapidly, so do risks and needs. Our areas of practice have expanded. In insurance we now have expertise in specialty insurance lines to manage key emerging risks including cyber and IT, life sciences, IP, social media and environmental impairment liability.  Out of traditional insurance, we have a national employment and workplace team and a commercial team which gives us a wider service offering to existing and new clients.

We have recently become a member of the Australian Legal Sector Alliance  – an alliance of law firms whose mission is ‘to work collaboratively to promote sustainable practices across the legal sector’.  We are continually searching for ways to work in a responsible and enlightened way and our partnership with AustLSA will greatly assist us to identify, measure and improve on our ESG commitments.

International reach

While we work across all Australian jurisdictions, we have proven experience in assisting clients with claims in New Zealand, Asia, Europe, US and the London market. In addition, we have expertise advising global insurers participating in multi-national insurance programs.

Our partnership with The Harmonie Group connects us to firms with the proven ability to serve the specific needs of the risk industry, expanding our global reach and capability to service clients in international markets.

We have more than 20 years’ experience working with the Lloyd’s market and are versed in the Lloyd’s Claim Scheme including all protocols and reporting requirements. Our experience means we understand the objectives and motivators particular to the London market. We are aware of the triggers for Lloyd’s underwriters in managing claims on the subscription platform and our reports address all key issues in a sophisticated and efficient manner.

Our market score

Gilchrist Connell was recognised as the Insurance Team of the Year at the Lawyers Weekly Australian Law Awards in 2016, and ranked in the top ten in 2018 and 2019.

We have been Insurance Specialist Firm of the Year Finalists at the Australasian Law Awards for a number of years and in 2023 we were recognised as the Australasian Law Awards Insurance Specialist Firm of the Year, and continue to be ranked in Chambers & Partners Asia Pacific as a leading insurance firm. In 2021 we have been recognised by Australasian Lawyer / Insurance Business as a 5-star Insurance Law Firm.

Best Lawyers has recognised 34 of our leading senior lawyers across each of our five offices in the current edition of The Best Lawyers in Australia.

Doyle’s Guide consistently and prominently recognises Gilchrist Connell and our principals, who are ranked as leading insurance specialists across multiple practice areas including professional indemnity, public and product liability, medical negligence and malpractice, workers compensation and CTP insurance.

Individual principals and senior staff have also achieved standout recognition. For further details of these, as well as a list of our other achievements, please visit our Awards page.

Contact us to find out how we can help you.