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Barry Nilsson takes team from global rival Norton Rose Fulbright
Barry Nilsson (BN) has taken a five-member team from Norton Rose Fulbright (NRF) to expand its role in Australia’s insurance and health law markets.
Jess Feyder
Former head of NRF’s Australian life sciences and healthcare practice, principal Toby Biddle, will join BN from today (3 April).
BN’s Sydney office expansion comes just a month after the firm added another well-respected five-member insurance and health law team from Sparke Helmore to its Adelaide office.
The expansion also follows a large set of 18 promotions made for the beginning of 2023.
BN board chairman and national insurance and health lead, principal Rhett Kennedy, said the appointment of the specialist team in Sydney was part of the firm’s 2025 strategic commitment to further develop its national practice through a mix of client-driven organic growth and targeted expansion.
Mr Kennedy commented: “Toby and his team have acted for a range of clients, including insurers, healthcare product manufacturers, and corporate and individual healthcare providers, in some of the most significant class actions over the past decade.”
“Combined with their expertise in providing representation and advice on individual medical malpractice and healthcare product liability actions, regulatory investigations, inquests, and commissions of inquiry, their experience will significantly strengthen the firm’s capabilities in this high-demand specialist area of law.”
Mr Kennedy continued: “We are delighted to welcome Toby and his colleagues, who will enhance BN’s already highly regarded health offering and further strengthen our firm’s ability to achieve excellent outcomes for our clients.”
The latest appointments bring BN’s staff total to 384 nationally — 84 of which are located in the Sydney office — boosting the firm’s total number of principals to 37 nationally.
Mr Biddle said he was excited to be joining forces with BN’s existing health practice.
“My team and I are excited to be joining BN to expand the firm’s existing strong health practice with our specialist life sciences expertise, with the ultimate goal to assist BN’s clients who participate in, and insure, Australia’s healthcare industry,” he said.
Demand for BN’s legal advice remains strong, the firm said in a statement, with a 7.5 per cent increase in its case load over the past 12 months.
