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Chase Deans

Partner

Canberra

+61 2 6210 4206

Chase specialises in compulsory third-party insurance, in both the ACT and NSW jurisdictions. He has extensive expertise advising all licensed insurers. He is renowned for his ability to provide accurate advice in complex matters, while achieving commercial outcomes.

EXPERIENCE & EXPERTISE

Chase specialises in compulsory third-party insurance, in both the ACT and NSW jurisdictions. He also regularly advises ACT insurers on worker’s compensation, professional indemnity, public liability and product liability.

Chase has successfully acted for insurers in appellant litigation, including in the ACT Court of Appeal. He also frequently acts for insurers in NSW Local, District and Supreme Court litigation.

In his current CTP practice, Chase advises NSW and ACT insurers on claims brought under the Motor Accident Injuries Act schemes. He also advises ACT worker’s compensation insurers on complex cross-jurisdictional recovery actions. He frequently presents for major insurers and commercial CPD providers on the NSW and ACT CTP schemes.

Chase’s technical advice on the Motor Accident Injuries Act 2017 (NSW) and Motor Accident Injuries Act 2019 (ACT) legislation is known throughout the industry. He is often approached to advise on complex matters of statutory interpretation.

Chase is well known his knowledge of cross-jurisdictional recovery actions, and often advises key stakeholders in this sector. In particular, he provides high level advice on journey claims recovery actions.

Chase often advises on recovery claims involving dual insurance, in both ACT and NSW. His understanding of the interplay of the schemes in each jurisdiction enables him to provide unparalleled advice in this field.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

  • Chase successfully advised on a seminal case in the ACT regarding the extent of an employer’s duty of care to an employee. He carefully guided the client through this complex claim to a successful verdict for the defendant in the ACT Court of Appeal: Jancevski v WR Engineering Pty Ltd ATF WR Engineering Trust [2016] ACTMC 8; WR Engineering Pty Ltd ATF WR Engineering Trust v Nickola Jancevski [2017] ACTSC 202; and Jancevski v WR Engineering Pty Ltd [2018] ACTCA 34.
  • Chase successfully advised on the validly of cancelled contract and the scope of the duty of ‘utmost good faith’ under the Insurance Contracts Act 1984 (Cth): Greinke & Dempsey v AAI Limited Trading As AAMI [2019] ACAT 26; Greinke & Dempsey v AAI Limited Trading As AAMI (Appeal) [2019] ACAT 99
  • Chase advised on the interpretation of the journey claims provisions contained within s36 of the Workers Compensation Act 1951 (ACT): Keiziah Kabutey v QBE Management Services Pty Ltd (WC 385 of 2013).

In 2019-2020, Chase was advising clients on active litigation in the NSW Local Court; NSW District Court; NSW Supreme Court; ACT Civil and Administrate Tribunal; ACT Industrial Court; ACT Magistrates Court; ACT Supreme Court; ACT Court of Appeal; and the Federal Court of Australia.

RECOGNITION

Chase was the appointed legal expert for LexisNexis in relation the Motor Accident Injuries Act 2019 (ACT). He worked with their development team to edit the online regulatory products for the new ACT CTP scheme.

Awards

Ranked as Leading Lawyer for Compulsory Third Party in ACT by Doyle’s Guide since 2022.

Ranked in the peer-reviewed Best Lawyers® in Australia list for:

  • Insurance Law 2024
  • Litigation 2025

 

Expertise

Qualifications

  • Bachelor of Laws (Hons), Scotland
  • Postgraduate Diploma in Legal Practice, Scotland
  • Legal Profession Admission Board of NSW Diploma-in-Law Course, University of Sydney
  • Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice, Australian National University

Memberships

  • ACT Law Society Council (2017-2019)
  • ACT Law Society Pro-Bono Clearing House (since 2014)
  • Basketball ACT disciplinary tribunal (2017-2018)
  • Law Society of the Australian Capital Territory
  • Law Society of New South Wales