Join us for a coffee chat with special counsel Jess Byrne from our insurance team and private client partner Scott Hay-Bartlem.

They discuss Jess's ten-year journey at Cooper Grace Ward, from starting in the firm's law clerk program in 2016 to her promotion to special counsel in the insurance team on 1 July 2026. Jess shares what she enjoys about working in the workers’ compensation and CTP space, including the variety of clients and the advocacy work she does at settlement meetings and mediations. She also gives a glimpse into her weekends, from playing hockey for a local Brisbane club to catching up with friends and family.

Welcome to Inside the Claim with CGW, Cooper GraceWard's workers' compensation podcast that offers a behind-the-scenes look at recent trial cases and expert insights from those who ran them.

In this episode, special counsel Damien Jarrett is joined by insurance claims adviser Catherine Dugdell to discuss Hoyes vWellways Australia Limited, a Queensland District Court claim brought by a residential care worker who suffered a psychiatric injury after a young person in her care threatened her with a razor blade before pushing her against a wall and threatening her with a lit lighter.

Damien and Catherine unpack the measures Wellways had inplace to manage the risk of injury, and examine the plaintiff's arguments that a second support worker should have been rostered on or that her care should have been relinquished earlier. They also discuss the modest quantum award, and impact of the pre-existing psychiatric condition that Ms Hoyes had not disclosed to her employer.

Join us for a coffee chat with special counsel Mark Cowan from our property, planning and environment team, and private client partner Scott Hay-Bartlem.

They discuss Mark's journey to Cooper Grace Ward after nearly 20 years in the industry, including time in-house and at top-tier firms, and what drew him to the firm's close-knit team culture. Mark also shares a glimpse into life at home with his wife and two young sons, and reflects on how planning and environment law has evolved into an ever-changing space touching urban development, renewables, infrastructure, agriculture and mining, along with the ongoing challenge of delivering infrastructure efficiently amid frequent shifts in government policy.