Insurance market participants in Australia are seeing a series of senior personnel changes, with a retirement at NTI and new partner appointments at law firms Clyde & Co and Wotton Kearney affecting marine, life and financial lines, and health liability work.
NTI has announced that Michael (Mike) Sullivan (pictured), national marine technical underwriter, will retire after a career in marine insurance spanning about five decades, including roles in underwriting, claims, and management across several states. Sullivan joined NTI in 2017 as national manager marine claims following the company’s marine acquisition. In that position, he was involved in building the internal framework for marine claims, including systems, processes, and a dedicated team as the portfolio was integrated.
Sullivan began his insurance career in the early 1970s in a junior underwriting role before moving into marine business. By 1980, he had become a marine underwriter in Perth, focusing on fishing fleets and other marine risks across Western Australia. “I travelled the length and breadth of WA, dealing with marine insurance and fishing fleets across the state,” Sullivan said. Over subsequent years, he worked in Adelaide, Brisbane, Sydney, and Melbourne in a variety of marine underwriting, state leadership, and later broader claims management roles.
In 2004, Sullivan relocated to Melbourne to help set up a new marine insurance operation for CGU after an industry restructure, before moving into a wider general claims leadership role. Looking back on industry change, Sullivan cited the role of data and information in underwriting and claims. “Thirty years ago, we didn’t have the same level of knowledge or insight about customers or their businesses. Now, we can understand much more about what our customers do and the goods they’re shipping, which helps us assess risk more effectively,” he said.
Dan Morrison, NTI’s head of marine portfolio, said Sullivan has become a reference point for colleagues and market stakeholders. “Internally, people rely on his advice and guidance, and externally, there are brokers, industry participants, and even legal professionals who seek his input because of his experience and judgement,” Morrison said. Sullivan said he plans to devote more time to family and personal commitments. “There are a few family milestones coming up and some travel planned over the next couple of years. I’m looking forward to having the time and space to focus on those things,” Sullivan said.
Global law firm Clyde & Co has hired life insurance and financial lines lawyer Jessica Thurtell as a partner in its Sydney office, joining from DLA Piper. The move adds further senior capacity to the firm’s work for insurers in Australia. Thurtell’s practice centres on management liability and financial lines defence. Her experience includes designing remediation programs, responding to regulatory requests, acting in Royal Commissions, and advising on systemic issues before the Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA). She also advises on complex coverage disputes and conducts significant litigation for large insurers across different lines of business.
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She was instrumental in establishing the Young Australasian Life Underwriting and Claims Association (YALUCA), reflecting her involvement in the life insurance community. Her arrival follows earlier appointments of partners Janine Clark, Yvonne Lam, and Malcolm Wood, the partner promotion of construction professional indemnity specialist Steven Lurie, and special counsel hires Kyle Bowles and Hugo Thomas. Rebecca Kelly, Australia managing partner, framed Thurtell’s recruitment within the firm’s broader insurance practice strategy. “I am delighted to welcome Jessica to the firm – her arrival underlines our commitment to the continued growth of our insurance offering and services to clients, with four partner and two special counsel appointments in our specialist insurance practice over the past months,” Kelly said.
Gareth Horne, head of insurance, Australia, said Thurtell’s client relationships and experience in financial lines disputes align with the firm’s national practice focus. Thurtell highlighted Clyde & Co’s global platform as a factor in her move. “I am delighted to join a firm with such an extensive global offering across all lines of insurance. It is exciting to work as part of Clyde & Co’s incredible platform and network for the benefit of our clients in the Australian life and financial lines insurance markets,” Thurtell said.
Wotton Kearney has brought in partner Eliza Faulk and a team of six from Makinson d’Apice to its national health practice in Sydney, increasing its lawyer headcount in medical negligence and related health liability matters. They join existing Health partners Breannon Bailey, Ed Smith, Chris Spain, and Lara Larking. Faulk has more than 25 years’ experience in insurance and health law in both private practice and senior corporate roles and has concentrated on medical negligence claims since 2004. Her team includes special counsel Jessica Brougham, senior associate Mali Hughes, associate Brigitte Mather, solicitors Nadia Homem and Mathilde Bache, and practice administrator Erin Lucas.
Before joining Wotton Kearney, Faulk spent close to a decade with a medical defence organisation, serving as head of practice (Civil) NSW and overseeing a substantial portfolio of civil claims. She has been ranked as a leading Medical Negligence & Malpractice (Defendant) lawyer in New South Wales in 2023 and 2024. “Eliza brings a rare combination of extensive medical negligence expertise and real insurance business acumen. Eliza understands the pressures our insurer and healthcare clients are under – not just legally, but operationally and commercially – and she knows how to deliver outcomes that genuinely make their lives easier. That perspective is incredibly valuable, particularly in today’s risk environment,” Chris Spain, head of health at Wotton Kearney, said. Faulk pointed to the firm’s client base and approach as reasons for the move. “Wotton Kearney has built a reputation as the go to firm for insurers and insureds. The firm’s focus on collaboration, straight talking advice, and real partnership with clients strongly aligns with how I practice. I’m excited to join the Sydney team and contribute to the next phase of growth in our national health practice,” she said.
