Alexandra Derham
Senior Associate
Alexandra advises clients on a variety of marine, construction, energy and insurance/reinsurance related disputes. Her areas of focus include all common marine lines, professional negligence, complex casualty, construction all risks and offshore energy.
Alexandra has particular experience in providing coverage and subrogation advice to the insurance and reinsurance markets in the areas of marine cargo, marine project cargo, construction all risks and professional indemnity. She also has extensive experience defending claims on instructions from insurers against construction industry contractors, architects, engineers, surveyors, municipal officers and authorities, government bodies, real estate agents, lawyers, accountants, financial advisors and retail businesses.
Alexandra has experience practising in both an advocacy and advisory capacity in relation to a variety of disputes. Alexandra is also experienced at using alternative forms of dispute resolution such as arbitration, adjudication and mediation.
Relevant Work
- Acting for a global EPC contractor in multiple international arbitrations (under the rules of the ICC) concerning the construction of an LNG plant and associated infrastructure in Australia.
- Acting for a national civil engineering contractor in an arbitration arising out of the design and construction of a dangerous goods drainage system and the manufacture of sumps following the alleged loss of 500,000 litres of diesel from the system (a $26 million plus claim in damages), including advising insurers on indemnity with respect to professional negligence, property damage (pollutions) and product liability coverage connected with the claim (ad hoc arbitration pursuant to the Commercial Arbitration Act 2012 WA).
- Acting for an engineering consultancy in an arbitration brought against it in connection with the design and project management of a bio-cogeneration facility ($5.8 million plus claim in damages). This matter was resolved prior to mediation. The arbitration was governed by the Commercial Arbitration Act 2012 WA and IAMA Rules.
- Acting for insured construction industry clients, local governments, real estate agents, accountants, lawyers, financial adviors, architects, surveyors and engineers in defence of professional negligence claims, including all aspects of claim management including coverage advice to insurers, preparation of defence strategy, drafting court documents (pleadings, submissions, interlocutory applications, witness statements and offers), appearances in the Supreme Court, the County Court, the Magistrates Court, the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal and before Arbitration tribunals and conducting mediations and settlement negotiations.