Gillian Davidson
Sparke Helmore Lawyers

Gillian Davidson has been with Sparke Helmore Lawyers for over 20 years and currently leads the firm’s national liability team of 50 lawyers. In the last year, she has focused on supporting her team through the uncertainty of the pandemic, keeping them connected and cohesive while championing flexible working as the way of the future.

As a senior partner and market leading expert specialising in general commercial insurance, Gillian advises many of the largest Australian and international insurers and corporates on the management of litigated and unlitigated large-scale, multi-party claims. In this role she is involved in the consideration of policy wording, coverage disputes, and contribution and recovery opportunities from third parties.  Disruption, innovation and transformation are at the forefront of the conversations Gillian has with her extensive client base as she collaborates with them to respond to the rapidly evolving insurance environment.  

Gillian serves as a board member of Global Insurance Law Connect (GILC) and chairs the Asia Pacific regional group. Sparke Helmore belongs to this global network of independent insurance law firms. Gillian’s contribution to GILC involves strategic responses to the many burning platforms impacting the global insurance market today.

Gillian is passionate about diversity and inclusion. As the inaugural Chair of the firm’s Diversity & Inclusion Advisory Committee, she is in the vanguard of the development and advancement of the firm’s diversity and inclusion strategy. In acknowledgement of her leadership in this area, Gillian was recently the recipient of a Highly Commended in the Diversity & Inclusion category in the latest Chambers Asia Pacific 2021 awards.

Gillian is the founder of the firm’s Six Degrees network, which supports Sparke Helmore's community of women through networking, leadership, mentoring and collaboration. Gillian says, “I’ve spent more than a decade championing improved outcomes for women in law, exploring the push/pull factors leading to women lawyers falling out of the talent pipeline and addressing the need for male champions to be part of the solution.”   

Outside of Sparke Helmore, Gillian plays an active role in the not for profit sector where she has been a director and Chair of a number of key community organisations.  

“It’s an honour to receive this recognition. I am grateful for the work of Insurance Business for calling out elite women in the insurance industry and I am humbled to be included amongst such an exceptional group of women.”