Chris Erfurt

Clayton Utz
Partner Brisbane
Overview

Chris focuses on complex litigation, dispute resolution, investigations and insurance. His litigation expertise includes shareholder claim defence, white-collar criminal defence, claims against insurers, and environmental torts. He excels at solving complex problems and providing clear and concise advice.

Notable Work
  • Listed resources company: acted for directors and officers in successful defence of a shareholder derivative action, oppression claim and misleading and deceptive conduct claim, and associated successful insurance recovery of costs.
  • Public company: acted in successful defence of a shareholder derivative action; acting in defence of an oppression claim and ASIC investigation.
  • Insolvent listed company: acted for an officer of its subsidiary in successful defence of three white-collar criminal charges at trial.
  • Major international airport: acting for the operator in Supreme Court proceedings against a polluter and environmental liability insurer.
  • Listed US entity: acted for the Australian subsidiary in successful defence of an environmental nuisance claim.
  • Large U.S. manufacturers: acted for multiple manufacturers to successfully resolve personal injury claims in Australia and the U.S. arising from asbestos exposure.
  • Electricity generator: acted in successful recovery from its environmental liability insurers in relation to asbestos dumped at the client's site.
  • Government-owned electricity generator: acting in a very large claim against its property insurers arising from a catastrophic event which caused extensive property damage and business interruption losses.
  • "Big Four" bank: acts in its most complex financial lines insurance matters, including successful and substantial recoveries against professional indemnity insurers for remediation programs, inquiries, class actions and other disputes.
  • Private and public clients: regularly advises them and their directors and officers on insurance, indemnity and other protective arrangements, and liability risk allocation and management, for general business, transactions and projects. This spans all classes of insurance and includes captive arrangements.
Insights
Liability in nuisance derailed
11 Dec 2024 | Article
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Media Release: Clayton Utz advising Nippon Steel Corporation on its acquisition of a stake in the Blackwater Mine
29 Aug 2024 | Media Release
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CrowdStrike outage: will cyber insurance respond?
30 Jul 2024 | Article
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New PFAS ban underscores need to deal with PFAS contamination across wide range of Australian businesses
21 Feb 2024 | Article
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New Class Actions List in Queensland
5 Apr 2023 | Article
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Business interruption insurance for COVID-19 – do you have a valid claim?
2 Feb 2023 | Article
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COVID-19 business interruption insurance claims: the outcome of the Test Case process
1 Nov 2022 | Article
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UK decision on COVID-19 business interruption insurance could suggest success for Australian insureds
18 Feb 2021 | Article
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Media Release: Clayton Utz announces 1 January 2021 partner appointments
11 Dec 2020 | Media Release
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Draft Design and Building Practitioners Regulation: are you ready to declare?
10 Dec 2020 | Article
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COVID-19 claims under business interruption insurance – NSW Court of Appeal gives go-ahead in test case
19 Nov 2020 | Article
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COVID-19 and property/business interruption insurance un-occupancy exclusions? Be proactive and don't wait
30 Apr 2020 | Article
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Media Release: Businesses, interrupted may have cover for COVID-19 despite "quarantinable disease" exclusion
8 Apr 2020 | Media Release
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Combustible cladding update: a new threat emerges
21 Feb 2020 | Article
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Combustible cladding: Building a solution 01
25 Jul 2019 | Article
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Cladding – who will pay?
1 Apr 2019 | Article
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Consultants beware – you might be liable for combustible cladding following the Lacrosse Tower judgment
5 Mar 2019 | Article
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