Law firm Carter Newell has made its largest investment in general liability, adding two partners and a team of seven specialists to its claims defence team in Sydney.

Partners Matthew Gerathy and Rory Smith will help expand the firm’s offerings to insurers, self-insured organisations, government agencies and commercial clients.

“Both highly experienced insurance lawyers, Matthew and Rory offer decades of insurer-side defence, recovery and coverage experience to clients facing the most complex injury and property claims in Australia,” Carter Newell said.

They will work alongside national general liability partner Rebecca Stevens.

Mr Gerathy has more than 25 years’ experience in insurance law and claims disputes, acting for defendants in personal injury, first- and third-party property damage, and recoveries litigation.

He will lead the insurance law and claims disputes practice, supported by special counsels Janet Abboud and Elizabeth Allen, senior associate Amy Warren, solicitor Will Hopkins and three paralegals.

Mr Smith is a specialist in personal injury with more than 15 years’ experience in insurance defence litigation, including high-volume portfolios, catastrophic injury claims, multiparty matters and property loss claims.