Deborah Templeman

Deborah leads Gilchrist Connell’s Perth office. With over 25 years of insurance law experience, she holds panel appointments for many well-known insurers. Deborah’s work for these clients involves handling complex matters, many litigated, for insured professionals and businesses, including recoveries work for major losses.  Her expertise ranges across tort-based, contractual and trade practices legislative causes of action, reaching as wide as defamation and injurious falsehood, as well as complex coverage advice.

Deborah has consistently been ranked in the Doyle Guide for her expertise. In 2017 she was awarded the title of Lawyers Weekly Partner of the Year – Insurance, a prestigious national award not commonly given to Western Australian practitioners in any field.

When Deborah and her team joined Gilchrist Connell, founding the Perth office, it was noted as one of the top 25 partner moves of 2011 by Lawyers Weekly.

Publications

Deborah is a Lexis Nexis Editorial Board member for the Australian Civil Liability publication and a past long-time Editorial Board member, Australian Health Law Bulletin.  She has frequently published nationally on various topics of interest to the readership of these publications.  Deborah’s publications include:

• The sad case of the part-eaten wedding cake: Harrington Estates (NSW) Pty Ltd t/as Harrington Grove Country Club v Turner (2017) 14(2) CL 24
• Kronenberg v Bridge — lack of evidence saves the day for claimants (2014) 11(10) CL 136
• A view from the West on joinder of insurers : QBE Insurance (Aust) Ltd v Lois Nominees Pty Ltd (2012) 9(3/4) CL 45
• WA Court Upholds Finding of Gross Carelessness Based on Registrar’s Disputed Evidence — (2005) 14(2) HLB 26
• A Failed Attempt to Attribute Nerve Damage to a Cannula Insertion: Leheste v Minister for Health — (2012) 20(8) HLB 126
• A Warning to General Practitioners: Refer Your Patients – Case Note; Almario v Varipatis (No 2) — (2013) 21(3) HLB 224Ryan Tozer and Deborah Templeman
• Unconscionable Conduct in the Context of Providing Medical Treatment – Case Note; Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v ACN 117 372 915 Pty — (2015) 23(8) HLB 156
• Case Note – Wood v Strempel Survives Attempted High Court Challenge — (2006) 15(1) HLB 8
• Court of Appeal Finds Hysterectomy Inevitable – Case Note; Hassan v Minister for Health — (2008) 16(10) HLB 164

Awards & Recognition

• Winner – Lawyer’s Weekly Partner of the Year Award – Insurance 2017
• Rated in Doyle’s Guide - see professional indemnity, public liability and medical malpractice categories.
• Included in ‘The Best Lawyers in Australia - 2019’

Speaking Engagements

Deborah has frequently given talks to the industry and profession, including the Australian Insurance Institute (ANZIIF), the National Insurance Brokers Association (NIBA), the Australian Insurance Law Association (AILA) and the Australian Professional Indemnity Group (APIG) such as:

• presentations for Law Mutual on ‘Client Engagement Agreements – Planning for Success’ in 2017/2018 – to a total of hundreds of legal practitioners
• ‘The Year that Was’ presentation to the Australian Insurance Law Association (AILA) WA chapter (twice).

Professional Organisations & Memberships

• Australian Civil Liability Newsletter, LexisNexis, Editorial Board Member
• Past secretary, Australian Professional Indemnity Group, Western Australian Chapter Committee
• Australian Insurance Law Association
• Law Society of Western Australia
• Australian Professional Indemnity Group (Past Secretary WA Chapter)
• LEADR (now Resolution Institute) (Past WA Chapter Committee Member)
• Australian Health Law Bulletin (Past Editorial Board member)
• Anglican Youth Ministries Foundation Inc. (Past Secretary)
• Anglican Diocese of Perth’s Legislation Committee (Past Member)
• Swanleigh Residential College (Past Board Member)