Our team
Nicholas Prentice
Partner
- Telephone:
- (02) 8297 5900
- Facsimile:
- (02) 8297 5999
- Email:
- nick.prentice@ellison.com.au
Nick is a Senior Partner in the firm's insurance litigation practice and is regarded as one of Australia’s leading dust diseases lawyers.
Nick has over 40 years’ experience in personal injury litigation, acting over the past 25 years for defendants, their insurers, self-insureds and for some uninsured defendants. He has handled many workers compensation claims, common law personal injury claims and dust diseases claims, as well as Occupational Health & Safety matters.
Nick personally and the firm as a whole have acted in hundreds of matters before the Dust Diseases Tribunal of NSW and, prior to its inception, on the earliest cases involving asbestos product and workplace exposure in other Courts.
At the forefront of developments in the dust diseases law, Nick’s work has involved novel and complex legal and medical issues, advising on legislation and insurance issues and the traditional litigation claims handling role. He knows, and has worked closely with, some of the world’s leading experts in the asbestos and associated fields.
In 2008, Nick acted for the defendant, Amaca Pty Limited (formerly James Hardie & Coy Pty Limited) in the high profile Bernie Banton case. It raised important and novel legal issues, such as that of provisional damages, which was taken to the Court of Appeal for review with just 48 hours to prepare.
Nick has shown industry leadership in educating clients and industry and in supporting best practice legal practice and legislative reform. He helped to prepare a leading insurer’s submission to the Attorney General’s Department Review of Dust Diseases Claims Resolution Process.
Nick has also been on the organising committee to mark the 20th anniversary of the Dust Diseases Tribunal. He also attends relevant seminars, conferences and discussion groups in Australia and overseas to further his own understanding of developments in the area.
Nick practices in the Supreme and District Courts as well as the Dust Diseases Tribunal of NSW. His specialist expertise in dust diseases has also taken him to defend matters in other jurisdictions in Victoria, South Australia and Queensland, and given him a thorough understanding of the legal issues associated with dust diseases law nationally and internationally.
Nick’s experience enables him to provide accurate, timely and realistic advice and assistance to clients, including many of the major litigants in the field. Nick adopts a ‘hands on’ approach to litigation and usually personally attends court hearings and settlement conferences to ensure the best outcome.
Nick began his career at a major plaintiffs law firm and has worked in a prestigious London law firm, Bird & Bird. He joined A O Ellison & Co in 1978 and was made a partner in 1984.