Debra Townsend

Rhett is Hall & Wilcox's National Insurance Practice Head and is responsible for the driving and coordinating the strategy for the firm’s national insurance practice, comprising 35 partners and over 150 insurance lawyers across Australia. Rhett has over 25 years’ experience acting for the major insurers, claims administrators, self-insurers, government agencies and statutory schemes. He also has longstanding relationships with the broking community, industry peak bodies and ot...

Joanna is an experienced insurance lawyer, specialising in statutory classes of insurance. Joanna has extensive experience advising and representing employers, self-insurers, NSW workers compensation managed fund scheme agents, treasury managed fund agents and the Workers Compensation Nominal Insurer (icare).Joanna’s practice incorporates statutory and common law claims and judicial review matters. She manages matters involving both physical and psychological injuries, litigated matters...

Julian Peake is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Professional Malpractice Litigation. Julian, who practices law in Sydney, Australia, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Julian is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Lucas Shipway is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Construction / Infrastructure Law. Lucas, who practices law in Sydney, Australia, has been recognized since 2020. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Lucas is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Frank Hicks SC is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Construction / Infrastructure Law. Frank, who practices law in Sydney, Australia, has been recognized since 2019. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Frank is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Nicholas is a highly experienced lawyer who has concentrated on insurance law, particularly claims under the NSW statutory classes of insurance, for more than 20 years. He is the service line leader for our NSW workers' compensation practice. Nicholas advises insurers on the management of claims and liability disputes and helps them to develop and implement strategies to respond to these issues. He regularly appears in the NSW Workers Compensation Commission, District Court and Supreme Courts...

Joanne Kinslor is a specialist immigration lawyer who has extensive experience and exceptional knowledge of immigration law. Her clients appreciate her dedication to solving complex immigration problems and winning difficult cases. Joanne has been accredited as an immigration specialist by the Law Society of New South Wales since 2006. There are fewer than 40 accredited immigration solicitors in New South Wales. Joanne is Course Convenor and Principal Lecturer of “Australian Immigration...

Arthur has specialised in the aged care and retirement village industry since 1995, and joined Thomson Geer as a partner in April 2018. Arthur holds degrees in both accounting and law. This background in corporate and tax allows him to advise on all aspects of the structuring, acquisition, disposal, development and operation of aged care, assisted living and independent living retirement living environments. He also provides assistance to approved providers and operators of seniors living fac...

Mark Walsh was admitted as a barrister of the Supreme Court of New South Wales in 1994, and took silk in 2015. His areas of practice include general litigation, commercial disputes, contract, tort, medical negligence, professional negligence, insurance law and coronial proceedings. Mark has a particular interest in factual disputes,evidence, causation, statutory interpretation, the operation of WCA s151Z in common law proceedings, collateral source recoveries and suggesting practical solution...

Dominic Maait is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Insurance Law. Dominic, who practices law in Sydney, Australia, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Dominic is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.