BERRILL WATSON - Key Persons
John is a Director of Berrill & Watson Lawyers. John is Australia's most experienced and pre-eminent plaintiff superannuation and insurance lawyer and has worked as a lawyer in superannuation and insurance since 1993. He is a pioneer of superannuation and insurance law for the individual and does not represent the insurance companies. Read More
John is a Director of Berrill & Watson Lawyers. John is Australia's most experienced and pre-eminent plaintiff superannuation and insurance lawyer and has worked as a lawyer in superannuation and insurance since 1993. He is a pioneer of superannuation and insurance law for the individual and does not represent the insurance companies.
John is a board member of the Consumer Action Law Centre, the Travel Compensation Fund, the Chronic Illness Alliance and the Superannuation Complaints Tribunal Advisory Council. He is a past member of the Financial Industry Complaints Service (now Financial Ombudsman Service), the Superstream Advisory Council, the Stronger Super Implementation Committee and the National Disaster Insurance Review Panel.
John is a highly respected industry leader and regularly features in the media as the voice for consumers in financial matters.
He has run and won more superannuation claims (including TPD claims and income protection claims) than any other lawyer in Australia.
John has also acted for many victims of poor financial advice. He acted for victims of the Commonwealth Bank Financial Planning scandal as well as many victims of Macquarie Bank, National Australia Bank and others and is also recognised as a leading lawyer in relation to financial advice disputes.
John has written hundreds of articles, run hundreds of seminars, and created many resources for Disability Support Groups, Legal Aid, Financial Counsellors, social workers and the consumer movement and is always willing and eager to help people understand their rights.
Josh is a Senior Paralegal with our firm. He started with Berrill & Watson in 2018 as a legal assistant, having previously volunteered with a community legal centre. Read More
Josh is a Senior Paralegal with our firm. He started with Berrill & Watson in 2018 as a legal assistant, having previously volunteered with a community legal centre.
Josh has experience assisting clients with all types of claims, including:
Total and permanent disablement (TPD);
Income protection (IP);
trauma;
terminal illness; and
death benefit claims.
Josh also does a lot of work with incarcerated individuals as part of the work which Berrill & Watson does in a number of prisons in Victoria. This work is important as it ensures these incarcerated individuals understand their rights and are able to access any benefits they may be entitled to.
In his spare time, Josh enjoys catching up with friends and family as well as cheering on the Carlton Football Club.
Mark is a superannuation and insurance lawyer at Berrill & Watson Lawyers. He is based in our Melbourne office and works primarily on TPD, income protection, general insurance and financial advice disputes. Read More
Mark is a superannuation and insurance lawyer at Berrill & Watson Lawyers. He is based in our Melbourne office and works primarily on TPD, income protection, general insurance and financial advice disputes. He has a particular interest in business insurance claims, including claims for business interruption from natural disasters.
Mark has worked on cases in the County Court in Victoria, along with matters in the Federal Court and the NSW Supreme Court. He has also worked on class actions against insurers for businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and has acted in multiple complaints against insurers, super funds and financial advisers at the Australian Financial Complaint Authority (AFCA).
In addition to his insurance-based work, Mark volunteers at the Mental Health Legal Centre, providing free legal representation to people with Mental Health Tribunal reviews.
Matt is a Senior Paralegal who has been working with Berrill & Watson Lawyers since June 2018.
He has run and won hundreds of claims for our clients and has a dedicated and passionate approach to helping those that need it most.
Norm is Berrill & Watson's consumer advocate.
He travels all over Victoria meeting clients and making sure that people across Victoria, and particularly in regional Victoria, get what they are entitled to.
In addition to his work with Berrill & Watson Lawyers, Norm is also on the board of Grampians Disability Advocacy and the Financial & Consumers Rights Counsellor (the FCRC- the peak body for Financial Counsellors in Victoria).
Norm is a fierce advocate and he is very skilled at bringing together health and other professionals to solve all of a client's problems (ie housing, health care etc) in addition to making sure they get their full financial entitlements.
Norm is Berrill & Watson's consumer advocate. He travels all over Victoria meeting clients and making sure that people all over Victoria, and particularly in regional Victoria, get what they are entitled to. Read More
Patrick is a superannuation and insurance lawyer at Berrill & Watson Lawyers. He is a Senior Associate in the Melbourne office and works primarily on TPD, income protection, general insurance and financial advice disputes.
Patrick has worked on cases in the Magistrates', County and Supreme Courts in Victoria along with several matters in the Federal Court and the NSW Supreme Court. Patrick has also done a lot of work on claims at the Australian Financial Complaint Authority (AFCA).
In addition to his insurance-based work, Patrick volunteers at the Mental Health Legal Centre, providing free legal representation to people with Mental Health Tribunal reviews. Patrick is passionate about helping the underdog and has a genuine desire to help others. He takes on a lot of cases that others would otherwise overlook.
Outside of work, Patrick enjoys hiking, cooking and playing social basketball.
Patrick is a superannuation and insurance lawyer who joined the Berrill & Watson team in 2018. Patrick enjoys working through the technical aspect of claims, from the major issues through to the minor detail to get optimal results for clients. Read More
Job Titles:
- Principal
- Board Member of Synapse Inc
- Director of Berrill & Watson Lawyers
Paul Watson is a Director of Berrill & Watson Lawyers and is recognised as one of Queensland's leading superannuation and insurance lawyers. He only works for the individual or the insured person and never represents the insurance companies.
Paul has worked in superannuation and insurance claims, including TPD claims and income protection claims, since 2003 and is a dedicated professional in this area. He has run and won thousands of superannuation and insurance claims.
Paul has presented hundreds of educational seminars for disability groups, financial counsellors and the consumer movement to educate the community about their rights in superannuation and insurance. He also works with disability groups and financial counsellors in Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia.
Paul is a current board member of Synapse Inc (the Queensland Brain Injury Association) and is a member of the Consumer Law Committee of the Law Council of Australia. Paul has also been awarded an Honorary Life Membership of Palliative Care Queensland.
Paul is admitted as a solicitor in the Supreme Court of Queensland as well as the High Court of Australia. He has conducted litigation in the District and Supreme Courts as well as the Federal Court and has also acted for clients through the Financial Ombudsman Service and the Superannuation Complaints Tribunal.
Paul acted for the people of the Fernvale and Surrounding Communities Action Group during the Queensland Floods Commission of Inquiry. He also assisted many members of the Superannuation Crisis Support Group in forming a class action against the Bank of Queensland and DDH Graham Limited in relation to the operation of their Self-Managed Superannuation Funds.
Paul's passion is his work for consumers, and his focus is about ensuring that everyday people get advice they understand.
Paul Watson is a Director of Berrill & Watson Lawyers and is recognised as one of Queensland's leading superannuation and insurance lawyers. He only works for the individual or the insured person and never represents the insurance companies. Paul has worked in superannuation and insurance claims since 2003 and is a dedicated professional in this area. He has run and won thousands of superannuation and insurance claims. Read More
Renella Linardon is the firm's Practice Manager and looks after the day-to-day operations of the firm.
After gaining valuable experience working with large corporate law firms, Renella has spent the last 12 years working in smaller firms where she prefers the more personal nature of engaging one-on-one with staff and clients. Renella can assist with general firm enquiries and some claim enquiries.
When not working, Renella enjoys time with family, friends and her big dopey groodle named Roxy.
Job Titles:
- Principal
- Chairman of the Board of Social Security Rights Victoria
- Director of Berrill & Watson Lawyers
Tom is Chair of the Board of Social Security Rights Victoria and is dedicated to assisting this organisation to help vulnerable and disadvantaged people with Centrelink debt, Disability Support Pensions (DSP) and other issues.
Tom is a Director of Berrill & Watson Lawyers and has worked his whole career in superannuation and insurance claims. He only works for the individual or the insured person and never represents the insurance companies.
He considered an expert in this field working primarily on:
TPD claims;
Income protection;
Trauma claims;
Terminal illness; and
General insurance claims.
Tom has approximately 10 years' experience as a solicitor working exclusively in superannuation and insurance claims.