Medico-legal Team

After completing her law degree at the University of Western Australia, Victoria commenced her legal career as a defendant insurance lawyer at Phillips Fox working in their defendant insurance and professional indemnity litigation section.  Over the years, Victoria has gained extensive experience in the areas of personal injury litigation, professional indemnity and worker’s compensation working in both small and large law firms.  Victoria has represented clients at conciliations, arbitrations and in District and Supreme Court matters.

Victoria joined MDA National in July 2009 as a Claims Manager.

Denise graduated from the University of Technology, Sydney with a Bachelor of Arts / Bachelor of Law and admitted to practice law in 1999. She began her career in private practice, working for plaintiffs and then defendants in personal injury claims.

Prior to joining MDA, Denise specialised for over 10 years in medical negligence litigation, assisting public hospitals, their employees and VMOs in the defence of litigated and unlitigated claims.  She has also represented public hospitals in Coronial proceedings and assisted their employees in preparing statements and giving evidence at Inquests.  In these roles, she has worked at GILD (General Insurance Law Department), Curwoods Lawyers and the Crown Solicitor’s Office as a Senior Solicitor.

Sara trained and worked as a GP before commencing work as a medico-legal adviser and claims manager in 1998. She has a particular interest in clinical risk management. Sara is the author of the Medicolegal Handbook for General Practice and co-author, with John Murtagh, of Cautionary Tales.

In her role as Executive Manager Professional Services, Sara assists Members and their staff with medico-legal enquiries, complaints, investigations and medical negligence claims.

Kristy has broad experience in health law with a focus on vocational regulation and civil litigation. Prior to joining MDA National in 2018, she had stints at the Legal Profession Complaints Committee and as Legal Counsel (Litigation) for Wesfarmers. Before that she was in-house legal counsel for the former Medical Board of Western Australia and Manager, Legal Services for the Western Australian office of the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency.

Prior to moving in-house, Kristy practised insurance litigation at Jackson McDonald and Jarman McKenna. She also spent several years practising as a legal adviser for the litigation departments of Zurich (UK) and Calyon (UK).

Kristy has a special interest in mental health and is also a Sessional Legal Member for the Mental Health Tribunal.

Fiona holds a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) and a Bachelor of Laws (Grad) degree. She has specialised in health law since 2001. 

Before joining MDA National in March 2021, Fiona worked in private practice where she acted for allied health practitioners in the defence of professional negligence claims and disciplinary complaints. Complementing her litigation experience, Fiona has performed general advisory work for allied health professional associations.

Nerissa joined MDA National as a Claims Manager in 2008 before moving into a Medico-legal Advisory role in 2010. She holds a Bachelor of Communication (Journalism) from Griffith University and a Postgraduate Certificate in Workers’ Compensation, Practice and Management from Curtin Business School.

Her main areas of interest are Medical Board, Coronial and Medicare investigations, as well as keeping up to date with the ever-changing medico-legal landscape. Nerissa has been published in a number of internal and external publications, and is currently the sub-editor of Defence Update.

Kym is a graduate of the University of Queensland and brings the unique experience of working predominantly in plaintiff civil litigation early on in her career with primary industry employees her clients.  After moving to Sydney, she worked closely with early pioneers of class actions in Australia, arising out of faulty medical products.

After several years living in New York, Kym returned to Sydney and commenced her foray into the health law arena.  Bringing much of her earlier experience, she had the opportunity to focus on assisting doctors with employment or contractual issues, Medicare audits and review as well as disciplinary matters and medical negligence claims. Kym is committed to providing support, advice and assistance to our Members. Joining MDA National in 2016 as a Medico-Legal Adviser, Kym continues to enjoy working with doctors though our advisory service and case management.

Nicole commenced with MDA National in 2006 providing assistance to Claims Managers and the Claims Administration Manager in Perth. In 2009, Nicole moved into the role of Claims Handler, assisting in Claims and Advisory Services by providing assistance to Members as well as Claims Managers in general case management.  

Nicole completed her Bachelor of Laws (LLB) in 2015 and was admitted as a solicitor in 2016. As a Case Manager, Nicole provides advice and assistance to medical practitioners with respect to claims, complaints, performance and disciplinary issues, coronial investigations, and employment disputes.

The focus of Will’s legal career from the beginning has been in defending death, casualty and professional negligence claims/complaints made against doctors, nurses and other allied health professionals. He has experience in the Magistrates, District, Supreme and Coroners’ Courts of Western Australia as well as the State Administrative Tribunal.

Will commenced with MDA National as a Manager, Cases and Advisory Services in October 2022. He provides advice and guidance to members with respect to coronial and other investigations, complaints, privacy issues, disciplinary matters and claims.

Janet is a graduate of the University of Western Australia and has had extensive experience in insurance litigation. She has worked for a number of private legal firms, including Clayton Utz, Freehills and Kott Gunning and as In House Insurance Counsel for Wesfarmers Limited. Janet also spent a number of years with Law Mutual managing professional indemnity claims against lawyers. Janet’s main areas of practice include employers’ indemnity, personal injury and professional indemnity.

Janet joined MDA in 2011. Her role as a Medico-Legal Adviser involves assisting Members and their staff with medico-legal enquiries, complaints, investigations, medical negligence claims and legislative review and comment on areas affecting Members.

Deborah has a diverse background in the health industry. She was a Registered Nurse in Intensive Care, Accident and Emergency and a graduate in Psychiatric Nursing. She graduated from the University of Technology Sydney in 1996.

She has extensive experience in medical negligence litigation in all jurisdictions acting for doctors, physiotherapists and other allied healthcare professionals in civil and coronial hearings.

Deborah has also represented nursing homes, private and public hospitals in civil and coronial hearings, as well as drafting policies for many private Healthcare Institutions. She joined MDA National in 2003.

In addition to providing medico-legal advice, assistance with AHPRA, Medical Board, Medicare Investigations, Coronial Inquiries and claims management to all MDA National Members, Deborah regularly speaks at seminars and conferences to doctors of various disciplines advising them of developments in medical negligence in their respective state and area of practice.

Kiely graduated from the University of Western Australia in 1998 and obtained Fellowship of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners in 2003. Prior to joining MDA National in April 2019 she was a medical educator for GP registrars.

Kiely works as a Medico-legal Adviser three days a week and continues to work as a general practitioner part-time.

Her role at MDA National is to provide in-house medical opinions and assist Members with medico-legal enquiries.

Joanne graduated from the University of Otago with a Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Science in 2010 and a Master of Laws in 2012.  Prior to joining MDA National in 2021, Joanne spent over six years as a solicitor at one of Australia’s largest private health care organisations where she provided support to private hospitals and their medical and nursing staff in a number of areas including medical malpractice claims, coronial investigations and credentialing matters.

Joanne provides advice and assistance to Members with respect to claims, complaints, performance and disciplinary issues and coronial investigations.

Sam joined MDA National in 2021 as a Medico-legal Case Manager. In the role, he assists practitioners with notifications, claims, disciplinary issues, coronial investigations and employment disputes.

Sam completed his Juris Doctor in 2018 and was admitted as a lawyer in 2020. Sam has previously worked for Department of Communities and Legal Aid WA and has experience in child protection, criminal and civil litigation. He has also worked for the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency as an Investigator and has a comprehensive understanding of Medical Board investigations.

Sam holds a Bachelor of Arts, majoring in Indigenous Knowledge, History and Heritage, and is passionate about social justice and issues affecting Indigenous Australians. 

Lloyd joined MDA National in 2021 as a Medico-legal Case Manager. In the role, he assists practitioners with notifications, disciplinary issues, coronial investigations, and employment disputes.

Lloyd completed his Juris Doctor in 2017 and was admitted as a lawyer in 2018. Lloyd is experienced in insurance law, having worked for defendant insurance firms in workers’ compensation, commercial debt recovery, medical negligence, and general insurance matters. Lloyd also holds a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Commerce from UWA.

Anne commenced employment with MDA National in 2007 as a Medico-legal Assistant, working closely with the Manager of Professional Services and Medico-legal Case Managers in assisting Members with complaints, investigations and medical negligence claims.  

In June 2019, Anne moved into the role of Medico-legal Assistant Case Manager, providing assistance to Members as well as Medico-legal Case Managers in general case management.

Philippa started her career in the medical field as an Occupational Therapist, working predominantly in Industrial Rehabilitation and Acute Rehabilitation (Catastrophically injured patients) in Australia and the US.

Philippa studied law at UWA and commenced work with Talbot & Oliver in their Insurance Litigation section in 1991. Although her main practice was personal injury claim defence (Professional Indemnity, Workers Comp and Public Liability) she also handled some large personal injury claims for Plaintiffs. Philippa also worked for Parker & Parker/Freehills, Srdarov Richards Burton and Phillips Fox before joining MDA National in October 2002. 

Sarah holds a Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Science from Macquarie University and was admitted as a lawyer in 2021. Prior to joining MDA National in 2022, Sarah gained experience in insurance law, at a defendant law firm managing general liability litigation, class actions and medical malpractice disputes. In addition to her insurance specialty, Sarah gained experience in employment law working as an Associate at the Fair Work Commission.

In her role as a Medico-Legal Adviser, Sarah assists Members with claims, complaints, performance and disciplinary issues, coronial investigations, and employment matters.

Daniel commenced with MDA National as a Medico-legal Adviser in April 2022.

Prior to joining MDA National, Daniel was a solicitor at Panetta McGrath Lawyers practising in vocational regulation and medical defence. Before that, Daniel was a Legal Advisor at the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency for approximately 7 years, where he also acted as Senior Legal Adviser and Director, Notifications (WA) and worked as an investigator.

Daniel was admitted to practise as a solicitor in Western Australia in 2010.

Prior to moving in-house with Ahpra, Daniel practised Mining, Energy and Resources Law at Johnson Winter & Slattery Lawyers and Herbert Smith Freehills. He also completed a secondment at Woodside while working at HSF.

Dr Sarah Taylor graduated from the University of Western Australia in 2005 and obtained Fellowship of Royal Australian College of General Practitioners in 2011. She completed her hospital and general practice training in the Hunter New England region of NSW.

After moving back to WA in 2013 she has worked in clinical general practice and she continues to do this now, on a part time basis, since she has joined the team at MDA National.  

Sara graduated in 2008 from the University of Newcastle, with a Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Communications. She then spent ten years in private legal practice, in the sub-specialty area of Medical Law. Sara’s work primarily involved the representation of medical practitioners (as well as public and private health facilities) in relation to litigated/unlitigated claims, coronial investigations and disciplinary proceedings. Prior to joining MDA National, Sara was employed as a Senior Associate at HWL Ebsworth lawyers. She undertook three secondments to MDA National during this period.

In her role as a Medico-legal Adviser with MDA National, Sara provides assistance and advice to medical practitioners with respect to coronial and other investigations, complaints, privacy issues, disciplinary matters and claims.

Julian joined MDA National in December 2011 with both a medical and legal background. He graduated from Sydney University in 1993 and has spent the last 20 years working as a Career Medical Officer in a large Sydney private hospital with particular interests in both intensive care and general medicine.

Julian completed a law degree from Macquarie University in 2007 and was admitted as a lawyer in 2010. He spent 5 months working with a New York commercial law firm before returning to Australia to pursue medico-legal work.

His role in the Medico Legal Advisory Service at MDA National involves assisting Members and their staff with medico-legal enquiries, complaints, investigations and claims. He is also involved with the provision of in-house medical opinions, education and articles.