K&L Gates joins Guild legal panel

For some years now, the ADAVB Defence Scheme, underwritten by Guild Insurance Ltd., has sought to have two legal firms on the panel available to assist members requiring legal defence.  This ensures that should a conflict of interest arise for one firm, the other is equally well equipped to step in and offer the required legal support.

Meridian Lawyers and DLA Piper (previously known as Phillips Fox) have been the two legal panel members until recently.  Following recognition that DLA Piper was increasingly being asked to provide prosecutorial services for AHPRA, across a range of health disciplines, and mainly in other States, the ADAVB and Guild agreed that the panel should be revised.

Consequently, capability statements for a number of legal firms were jointly reviewed, and K&L Gates (formerly known as Middletons) were identified as the most suitable firm to replace DLA Piper.

The ADAVB acknowledges with deep appreciation, the many years of outstanding legal work done on behalf of members by DLA Piper lawyers, in particular Mr Peter Rashleigh and Mr David Leggatt, whose insights into dento-legal matters have been of enormous benefit to the profession.

K&L Gates has strong experience in defending claims against health professionals, including AHPRA and Health Services Commission cases, and is well placed to work closely with Guild and the ADAVB Defence Committee as the second legal firm on the panel, alongside Meridian Lawyers.
Whichever firm is assigned to member cases, members can be assured that they are in good hands.