Sophy Woodward
Clayton Utz
Partner
Melbourne
Sophy Woodward is one of the most impressive lawyers I have ever worked with.
– Legal500 Asia Pacific
Overview
Sophy specialises in complex disputes, particularly contested insurance claims, construction disputes, regulatory investigations, and class actions. She has a strong track record of achieving results for policyholders in contested insurance claims. She also regularly advises clients on insurance and risk management issues, risk allocation, and all aspects of insurance in major transactions, as well as regulatory requirements and claims handling obligations. Additionally, she has legal counsel experience managing disputes and insurance claims at major businesses, including BHP and Transurban.
Notable Work
- ANZ: Represented ANZ in a trial for breaches of directors' duties arising out of the receivership of an ammonia plant in Western Australia.
- Construction company: Acted for a company involved in constructing the Sydney Light Rail in a claim against their PI insurer with complex coverage issues.
- LNG joint venture entity: Acted for a joint venture entity constructing an LNG facility where the paint and insulation failed resulting in a multi-billion dollar claim against the contract works insurers.
- Numerous clients: Advised numerous clients in the construction, mining, energy, IT and financial services industries on risk management and insurance coverage issues, as well as insurance policy wordings and insurance clauses in contracts.
- Large mining company: Acted for a large mining company on a claim arising from a tailings dam failure in Brazil and the associated liability and D&O insurance claims.
- Large mining company: Acted for a large mining company on a PD/BI insurance claim arising from a seismic event.
- Newcrest Mining: Acted for Newcrest Mining defending a shareholder class action and bringing a cross-claim for coverage against its D&O insurers.
- National Australian Bank: Acted for NAB on the Royal Commission into Banking Misconduct.
- Ensham Resources: Acted for Ensham Resources in its PD/BI insurance claim arising from the Queensland floods.
- SP AusNet: Represented SP AusNet in the Victorian bush fire class actions.