Kerry Spies
Special Counsel - Litigation and Dispute Resolution
While studying accountancy at university, Kerry became fascinated with the law and how it shapes every facet of our lives. Kerry is meticulous and curious in how she approaches every aspect of her matters. The value she places on remaining organised and accountable drives her to reach the best possible outcomes for her clients.
Kerry’s expertise lies in commercial dispute resolution, including complex commercial and contractual disputes, insolvency litigation, large securities class actions, market misconduct, ASIC regulatory proceedings, Royal and State Commissions and Boards of Inquiry, and directors’ and officers’ professional indemnity and breaches of fiduciary duties.
Prior to joining Hamilton Locke, Kerry was a partner of Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr Inc, the Chief Legal Officer of SA College of Home Study Pty Ltd, and Special Counsel at Clyde & Co Australia.
AREAS OF EXPERTISE
Commercial Dispute Resolution; Regulatory Advice; Insolvency Litigation; Contract Law
QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor of Laws - University of the Witwatersrand
- Bachelor of Commerce in Accounting - University of Johannesburg
- Admitted to practice in New South Wales and South Africa
- Notary Public of the High Court of South Africa
- Right of Appearance in the High Court of South Africa
SELECTED REPRESENTATIONS
- Acted for former officer of a liquidated entity in a securities class action.
- Acted for insurers in a securities class action brought in the Federal Court of Australia, in which insurers were joined directly to the proceedings under the Civil Liability (Third Party Claims) Act 2017 (NSW) in place of a liquidated entity.
- Acted for global insurance broker in claim for broker negligence by way of breach of duty of care and breach of contract.
- Advised regarding participation in a Royal Commission of Inquiry in response to formal notices to produce and give information.
- Advised on defamatory references in online publications and removal of those references in secondary online publications, including legal capacity of online secondary publishers and their liability.
- Defended director of liquidated entity in respect of claims of breaches of fiduciary duties and contraventions of Corporations Act 2001 (Cth).
- Advised on defamatory statements made in online and print media, including potential claim for injurious falsehood in respect of evidence led during a State Board of Inquiry.
- Advised insurers regarding claims by a liquidator under professional and management liability policies.
* The above representations were undertaken while at a previous firm