SEAN O'CONNOR

PARTNER

Email soconnor@leeandlyons.com.au
Admission Date 19 December 1997

Professional Experience

Sean practised for six years as an employed Solicitor and Senior Associate in one of Sydney's largest insurance practices before commencing with Lee & Lyons on 1 July 2003. Sean became a partner of Lee & Lyons on 1 July 2007.

Sean regularly presents papers on a variety of issues to clients and industry forums. Sean combines a pragmatic and commercial approach with meticulous and thorough preparation.

Sean recent experience includes:

Professional Indemnity

  • Acting for a group of Australian and London based insurers of a multinational firm of engineers on a claim for $10,000,000.00 resulting from the alleged negligent design and repair of a 1180kv induction motor at an oil refinery.
  • Defending a State mental health facility from a claim by a patient for negligent provided care.
  • Recovery proceedings from the liability insurer of an engine rebuilding firm following the negligent rebuild of an engine on a large pleasure craft.
  • Acting for a local insurer of a mortgage broker in claims exceeding $1,000,000.00 for fraudgently established loans.
  • Acting for the directors of a managed investment fund for the negligent investment of a client's funds.
  • Acting for pest and pre-purchased property inspectors.

Public, Product Liability and Property Damage

  • Acting for insurers of an air-conditioning manufacturer on casualty claims arising out of unguarded cooling fans.
  • Acting for London and Australian based insurers of grain and oil suppliers on various contaminated products claims for losses exceeding $5,000,000.00.
  • Acting for Australian and London based insurers of shopping centres, security company's, cleaning company's, licensed premises, industrial facilities, road authorities, civil contractors, infrastructure providers on occupiers and public liability claims.
  • Acting for the insurers of a head contractor in respect of a claim for damages arising out of a collapsed drilling rig.

Financial Lines

  • Acting in numerous fidelity and crime loss claims, advising on indemnity, the obtaining of freezing orders to preserve assets and recovery actions.
  • Advising local insurers on indemnity under Management Liability policies in respect of losses by an insurance broker following fraud by one of its subsidiaries.
  • Advising local insurers on indemnity following a claim by a mortgage broker sued for theft of confidential information.
  • Advising insurers on indemnity for the settlement sum under an employment liability policy in respect of claims based on the Trade Practices Act.

General commercial advice

  • Advice on contract wordings in particular, indemnity and consequence of loss clauses.
  • General commercial litigation, arbitration and dispute resolution.

Professional and other relevant memberships

  • ANZIIF, AILA, APIG and RMIA
  • CCH editorial committee for personal injury claims (former member)
  • Commercial Lawyers Association
  • Law Society of NSW