Key People

Bryan McMahon I Practice Director / Principal Lawyer – Litigation/Dispute Resolution / Insurance


Bryan was admitted to practice in 1977. He holds a Master of Laws Degree from the University of Sydney and is a Law Society of New South Wales Accredited Specialist in Commercial Litigation Law (only one of about 75).

In more than 30 years of practice, Bryan has conducted litigation in almost every jurisdiction in the country as well as conducting most forms of alternative dispute resolution including International Chamber of Commerce arbitrations.

He has been involved in numerous reported decisions in the Supreme Court of New South Wales and the High Court of Australia.*

Bryan's particular areas of expertise include insurance, professional liability, financial services law, insolvency and defamation law.

With regard to insurance law, Bryan has in the past acted for every major Australian insurer as well as many small insurers and underwriting agencies. He has also acted for Lloyds of London syndicates and other overseas insurers.

Bryan is just as comfortable acting for insureds in respect of indemnity disputes with insurers and has conducted many such actions successfully over the years. In a recent case, Bryan’s client, an accountant, was denied indemnity in respect to a professional negligence action brought against him by a business client because part of the claim related to work done by the accountant as a company director. Bryan successful challenged the denial of indemnity and reached an agreement whereby the insurer agreed to pay the bulk of the claim and to fund the bulk of the defence costs including the costs associated with the denial of indemnity. Bryan successfully defended the action and obtained costs orders.

During his career Bryan has acted in virtually every type of insurance related dispute. He has during that time conducted through to trial more than 30 cases involving insurance indemnity disputes and resolved many more prior to trial.

Bryan specialises in disputes concerning construction and engineering issues, mechanical breakdown etc. He has many years litigation experience within the construction industry.

Bryan is a member of the compliance committee of a prominent fund manager and advises clients on financial services law issues including professional negligence actions against financial advisers.

Bryan is also experienced in bankruptcy and insolvency law as well as defamation.

*The following are some of the recent, reported cases in which Bryan has been solicitor on record:-

• Andrew George Robinson -v- Lyn Dulcie Brighton & Anor (2007) NSWSC 1125.

• Anderson Group Pty Limited -v- Tynan Motors Pty Limited (2006) NSWCA 22.

• Baresic -v- Slingshot Holdings Pty Limited & Anor (2005) NSWCA 160.

• Boskov -v- Barclay Mowler Construction Limited (2006) NSWSC 168.

• Cat Media Pty Limited -v- Allianz Australia Insurance Limited (2006) NSWSC 423.

• MRT Performance Pty Limited -v- Mastro Motors Inc. (2005) NSWSC 316.

• Nguyen -v- Canley Heights RSL Sporting Club Limited (2005) NSWCA.

• Smith -v- Rynne (2005) NSWCA 73.

• Treadwell -v- Hickey (2009) NSWSC 1395

• Peter A. Simon Real Estate Pty Limited -v- Ghabash & Ors; Chung & Anor -v- Ghabash (2004) NSWCA 467.

• Bartie -v- Manly Boat Shed (2003) NSWSC 443.

• Joslyn -v- Berryman (2003) HCA 34; 214 CLR 552.

• Wright -v- Australian Associated Motor Insurers Limited (2002) NSWSC 165.