Fiona joined TurksLegal in 2002 and is a Partner in our Life Insurance, Superannuation and Advice group. With a career spanning 25 years, Fiona has established a strong reputation as a commercial litigator with particular expertise in financial services.

TurksLegal has enabled her to add to her expertise as a specialist in this field, acting on behalf of life insurers and superannuation trustees across a wide range of disputes in relation to claims on individual and group risk products including death, disability, and trauma claims. While she has been with the firm she has been responsible for conducting a number of major cases, several of which have become leading authorities in the area.

She is an expert on issues involving the Insurance Contracts Act 1984, policy construction, legislative interpretation, distribution problems, and compliance as well as underwriting and avoidance issues arising out of non-disclosure and misrepresentation. In addition, Fiona advises trustees and administrators on their obligations under trust deeds and relevant superannuation legislation in relation to death and disability claims and prepares submissions in relation to disputes referred to the Financial Ombudsman Service and the Superannuation Complaints Tribunal.

Fiona has also had significant commercial litigation experience in other financial services areas including investment products, deposit bonds, and financial planning advice, and has played a leading role in major litigation conducted by the firm in relation to managed funds in NSW and Victoria.

She has benefited from the opportunity of working “in house" with the firm’s clients on secondment and has provided advice to claims departments in relation to disputes under individual and group policies while acting as a member of the client’s legal team.

Fiona has been a co-presenter of the annual review of life insurance law and is currently well known as a speaker on issues to do with life insurance risk products with TurksLegal. She has authored papers and client alerts and conducted training sessions on behalf of the firm. She has also been invited to speak at industry seminars including the ALUCA national conference and ALUCA’s Claims Management Group.