During the National Conference held in Sydney we proudly announced the winners of the 2013 AILA awards.
Michael Gill was awarded a life membership and Christopher Rodd was awarded the insurance law prize. Both recipients join a long list of previous high-profile winners within the insurance law industry and we extend our congratulations to both.
Here we provide some career details as to why this years recipients received the honours:
Life Membership – Michael Gill
Award definition from the Corporate Management Guidelines:
“A person who has made a significant contribution to AILA or to the field of insurance law”
Completed a Bachelor of Laws at Sydney University in 1970
Admitted to the Supreme Court of NSW in 1970, High Court of Australia in 1975 and Supreme Court of Victoria in 1991.
Held a partnership with DLA Piper for 37 years, and now consults to the firm
Has been a member of the NSW Law Society for 43 years including holding the positions of President, treasurer, vice-president and a number of committee chairmanships throughout his time
Has been a member of the Law Council of Australia for 27 years including acting as a council member for 7 years and holding the positions of president, vice-president and treasurer. Was also chairman of the Law Council Foundation, Law Council Holdings Limited and National Insurance Lawyers Group, General Practice Section.
Appointed to and a member of the Society of Notaries of NSW in 1987 for 26 years
Has been a member of and/or office bearer within the following organisations: Aviation Law Association, Law Foundation of NSW, Australian Institute of Company Directors, Financial Ombudsman Service, Canadian Bar Association, International Bar Association, American Bar Association, International Association of Defense Counsel, International Insurance Society, Australian Reform Commission, Motor Accident Authority, Westpac Services and Westpac Funds Management, Customers 1 to 1 Pty Ltd, Markel Australia, Medical Research and Compensation Fund, James Milson Village and the North Sydney Parish.
Has written and co-authored a number of articles and books including “Surveyors and Their Professional Liability: A Manual of Loss Prevention”
Nominated twice for awards for being “amongst the world’s best”
Specialises in the areas of: Insurance and reinsurance documentation, Self-insurance schemes, pools and funds, Insurance legislation, Regulatory Compliance & Corporate issues, Policy drafting, interpretation and disputes, Agency & broker agreements, Risk Management Strategies, alternative Dispute Resolution, Professional indemnity/malpractice, Directors and Officers Liability, Environment and Pollution and Material and consequential loss.
Has worked in international legal systems in New Guinea, New Zealand, United Kingdom, Singapore, United States, Indonesia, Italy, Korea and Fiji.
Was a founding Member of AILA in 1982, and has held the position of President and Inaugural Chairman.
Has been involved with a number of key AILA committees including the 1994 AIDA World Congress planning Committee, Chair of ASPAC, Australian Chair for the joint planning committee of the 2007 AILA/NZILA Christchurch conference.
Has been a member of AIDA 27 years and was elected as the first Australian President of the Association in 2010 and remains in office in 2013.
Insurance Law Prize – Chris Rodd
Award definition from the Corporate Management Guidelines:
“A person who has made substantial contributions to the insurance industry or insurance law. Without limiting the categories from which such persons may be nominated, they include insurers, reinsurers, adjusters, brokers, consultants, academics, judges and lawyers”
Has a B Juris, LLB from Monash University
Has a Graduate Diploma in Insurance Law from Melbourne University
Has over 31 years’ experience as an insurance lawyer
Is an ANZIIF fellow
Is actively involved with AIDA, Law Institute of Victoria, Law Council of Australia Insurance Advisory Committee and ACLA.
Has been a member of AILA for 25 years and joined the Victorian Committee over 20 years ago and served a two year term as Victorian President in the 1990’s. He served on the National Board from 2005 to 2012 and was National President between 2007 and 2009. He was awarded a life membership in 2011 for his contribution to the Association.
Was a lecturer at Monash University in 2011.
Is a member of the FDCC in the United States and has become the principle link between AIDA worldwide and the FDCC and is highly regarded in the US.
He is a prominent member of the climate change Working Party of AIDA and has participated in a number of international meetings across the globe. He presented in his climate change capacity at the NZILA conference in September 2013.
His key practice areas are in compliance and dispute resolution
He is a leading speaker in dispute resolution with in the insurance context
He is a leader of knowledge regarding the Insurance Contracts Act
