Gavin Beardsell

Background

About Gavin Beardsell

From 1995 to 2007, I practised insurance law in the UK where I acted for a number of the UK's leading insurers and their insureds. From 2008 to 2018, I continued my insurance law practice in Australia. I acted for defendants and insurers in relation to many securities and financial services class actions commenced in the Federal Court of Australia, the NSW Supreme Court and the Supreme Court of Victoria. I also defended claims against corporations, directors, officers and a range of professionals, and provided policy coverage/indemnity advice to insurers. My experience includes- acting for the successful insurer in declaratory proceedings concerning the proper construction of a major shareholder exclusion clause in a D&O insurance policy: Oz Minerals Holdings Pty Ltd v AIG Australia Ltd [2015] VSCA 346. Also acting for this insurer in the related Zinifex shareholders class action commenced in the Federal Court of Australia against Oz Minerals Limited- acting as defence counsel in two related debenture holder class actions arising from the collapse of Provident Capital Limited: Creighton v Australian Executor Trustees Limited [2015] FCA 1137- defending a claim against an accountant in Federal Court of Australia proceedings commenced by Ken Done and his group of companies seeking losses in excess of $80 million arising from allegedly imprudent and unauthorised investments: Done v Financial Wisdom Limited [2008] FCA 1706- acting for surveyors in a $75 million boundary and easements dispute arising from a major commercial development at Chatswood: CTI Joint Venture Company Pty Ltd v CRI Chatswood Pty Ltd (In Liq)(Receivers and Managers Appointed)(No 3)[2012] NSWLEC 6.From 2018 to March 2025, I worked at the global litigation funder, Omni Bridgeway in Sydney as a Senior Investment Manager and Legal Counsel. I originated, conducted due diligence, and / or managed some of Omni Bridgeway’s largest investments in Australia, including the Combustible Cladding Class Actions (product liability), the CBA Shareholder Class Action (securities), the Allergan Breast Implant Class Action (product liability), the Prawn White Spot Class Action (biosecurity), and the Spring Farm Class Action (building and construction). I was also responsible for Omni Bridgeway’s first investments in New Zealand where I managed the NZ Combustible Cladding Class Action (product liability) and co-managed the CBL Shareholder Class Action (securities). The value of the claims I managed exceeded AUD5 billion.