Risk Mitigation for Professional Service Providers

Risk Mitigation for Professional Service Providers
2 Formal CPD Points

Whether you’re an engineer, architect or builder, litigation risk is a threat to you and your business.

With construction projects rife with complaints over any number of issues – waterproofing, cladding, faulty workmanship it’s a litigious environment that we are working in and engineers, architects, and associated support professionals (legal counsel, planners, surveyors, consultants) need to be prepared and minimise any chance of litigation.

This CPD session, to be presented by leading Construction Lawyer, Natasha Stojanovich, (Lander & Rogers) and Insurance experts Cos Cirocco and Adele Monaco, (Planned Cover) will provide practical guidance about ways to mitigate litigation risk

The session will look into:

• Client selection - choosing the right client partners

• Managing risk in consultancy agreements by making smarter decisions contracting

• Understanding professional indemnity insurance – what are you actually covered for?

• Professional Standards Schemes – what are they and how do they impact liability risks in construction?

• Case studies of the types of PI claims made against consultants – examples of what happens when it all goes wrong

• Claims dealing with the time limits contractual limits of liability - how does it all play out in the event of a dispute?

• Risk management tools to reduce the risk of claims - practical tools to mitigate liability risk/s.

Meet the Experts

Natasha Stojanovich | Partner, Lander & Rogers, Lawyers, Melbourne

Natasha handles complex disputes involving construction professionals. Over the years, she has acted for numerous architects, engineers and building surveyors as well as property valuers and real estate agents. She has also acted for local councils, Government departments and various statutory authorities and has extensive experience defending professional indemnity claims against councils. Natasha has extensive experience in claims involving non-compliant building products, including flammable cladding. Natasha has considerable experience handling litigation in the Federal, Supreme and County Courts as well as VCAT. Natasha was recognised in the 2019 Legal 500 rankings in the category of insurance. She is also recognised in the best lawyers in Australia for her expertise in Construction/Infrastructure Law and Insurance Law.

Cos Cirocco | National Business Manager, Planned Cover

Cos is an Economics graduate and a qualified practicing insurance broker (QPIB). He is also a member of the Australian Insurance Law Association and has over 30 years of insurance experience. As National Business Manager for Planned Cover, Cos specialises in the provision of Professional Indemnity/Liability Insurance and risk/claims management advice to construction professionals.

Adele Monaco | National Claims Manager, Planned Cover

Adele moved into insurance from banking in November 1995 when she was appointed a Legal & Claims Manager at CGU Professional Risks. In July 1999, she was approached by Planned Cover to take on the role of Facilities Underwriting Manager. Adele held this role from July 1999 to May 2001, and upon returning from parental leave in early 2002, she accepted a role in the claims department as Claims Manager where she found she could utilise her legal training in a more focused way. In July 2005, Adele was appointed National Claims Manager and is responsible for the management of facility long tail claims emanating from all Australian States. Adele’s qualifications include a Bachelor of Arts Degree from the University of Melbourne, a Law Degree from Monash University and a Graduate Diploma in Arts Management, from the Victorian College of the Arts/University of Melbourne.

CPD Learning Outcomes - at the conclusion of this webinar attendees will be able to:

1. List 3 practical tools to mitigate risk in construction projects

Design Project Briefing 1.1

2.List 3 "red flag" issues in consultancy agreements

Design Project Briefing 1.1

3.Describe 2 key features of professional indemnity insurance policies

Design Project Briefing 1.1

4.Explain key steps to undertake in the case of a claim

Design Project Briefing 1.1