Kerri Thomas
PartnerAbout Kerri
Kerri has over 30 years of litigation experience representing clients in a variety of insurance claims. She is regularly singled out in local and international guides, including Best Lawyers, as being one of the country's leading insurance lawyers.
Her areas of focus are professional indemnity, health, aviation and general liability classes of insurance. Kerri leads Sparke Helmore’s national Health team, made up of partners and senior lawyers who have extensive experience in both health and insurance law.
Kerri was a finalist for Insurance Partner of the Year in the 2023 Lawyers Weekly Partner of the Year Awards.
What she does
Kerri's professional indemnity expertise spans professionals in the health, allied health, insurance, construction and the engineering sectors.
She has acted in matters dealing with civil liability claims for personal injuries and has represented clients in complex catastrophic claims. Kerri has extensive experience in defence of public liability claims, including for personal injury and property damage, on behalf of national and international insurers and underwriters, including Lloyd’s syndicates.
Kerri has deep expertise in professional negligence proceedings brought against doctors, hospitals and allied health professionals. She has acted for a number of medical defence organisations and insurers and also acts for pathology and radiology practices, psychologists and other allied health professionals. Kerri is also experienced in medical indemnity matters.
Kerri’s experience also includes acting in general liability claims arising from construction, mining and tunnelling activities, including the defence of claims by contractors and third parties and including compensation claims arising out of fatalities.
She regularly appears in the Victorian Civil and Administrative Appeals Tribunal, County and Supreme Courts of Victoria and the District and Supreme Courts of New South Wales, including at appellate level. Kerri also regularly appears before the Health Complaints Commissioner and AHPRA and has extensive coronial experience advising nursing homes and medical practitioners.
Who she works with
Kerri works with Australian and international insurers, brokers and intermediaries.
Qualifications
Kerri has a Bachelor of Science (Architecture) and a Bachelor of Laws degree.
Life before Sparkes
Before joining Sparke Helmore, Kerri was at Corrs Chambers Westgarth and before that, she worked at a small firm advising on the statutory classes of insurance.
