Jason Chew

Jason is an insurance and litigation specialist who acts for a range of local and international insurers in a wide variety of disputes, including complex coverage issues.

Experience

Jason is known for handling complex matters, including multi-party building and construction and third-party property damage claims involving professional indemnity and public liability policies, with particular experience in claims involving infrastructure damage, for example, resulting from fire and/or water.

Having undergone several secondments, Jason has a deep understanding of clients' needs. He uses his effective strategies and negotiation skills to assist clients in resolving matters in a timely, commercial and pragmatic manner.

Career highlights

He has successfully represented numerous clients (both as plaintiffs and defendants) in high-stakes, contentious and high quantum property damage claims and construction claims, securing favourable settlements and verdicts. Examples include:

• defending retailers and manufacturers in claims relating to alleged defective products that caused fire, resulting in catastrophic property damage, with quantum ranging from the hundreds to millions of dollars
• acting on behalf of an owner and an Owners Corporation against a builder regarding alleged building defects, including cladding and waterproofing issues, at an apartment complex
• defending Water Authorities in claims alleging unreasonable flows of water made under s.16 of the Water Act 1989
• defending a sewerage contractor against a claim made by a commercial tenant
• managing and defending a large construction company against multiple homeowners alleging property damage to their homes from construction works on nearby roads
• providing insurers with complex coverage advice relating to a domestic builder in a claim relating to damage to a residential home, where the claim was in the vicinity of $1.5 million
• providing insurers with coverage advice relating to a claim involving an insured builder who has allegedly caused damage to a neighbouring property
• defending an architectural firm in a $15 million claim for cladding-related defects and water ingress issues in a large residential block of apartments
• assisting a building surveyor in a multi-party claim before the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal against allegations of negligence in approving a residential apartment complex. The claim was withdrawn by the applicantsassisting a building surveyor in a multi-party claim before the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal against allegations of negligence in approving a residential apartment complex. The claim was withdrawn by the applicants
• acting for insurers in a coverage dispute in a claim made by a home owner following an alleged flooding event causing damage to a house
• defending a builder against a property damage claim made by a developer involving a sewerage pipe
• acting for a water authority against a claim by a property owner regarding damage to a home following alleged water ingress for a commercial sum.