location_on Melbourne
Timothy Coghlan
Partner
Tim has worked extensively in insurance and commercial litigation for some of Australia's largest insurers. He has acted in numerous public liability, product liability and property damage matters, and in claims arising from marine and aviation incidents.
Overview
Tim has practical experience defending claims and litigation for insureds from across industries. This includes local councils, residential home owners, building companies, supermarkets, small and large businesses, shopping centres, hospitals, owners of commercial premises, exhibition centres, logistics companies and retail stores. Tim also has significant experience in occupiers liability and workers' compensation claims.
Tim has been involved in a wide range of litigated claims. He has advised on claims requiring complex expert evidence brought under the Australian Consumer Law, he has assessed property damage and personal injury claims in class action litigation, and defended and pursued claims at VCAT under the Water Act 1989 (Vic). He has represented clients at coronial inquests, advised on medical panel referrals, acted for self-insurers for matters arising, including serious injury responses, under the Accident Compensation Act 1985 and the Workplace Injury Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2013 (Vic), and defended public liability claims primarily under the Wrongs Act 1958 (Vic).
Tim has also acted in claims arising from aviation incidents, including personal injury matters and providing coverage advice. He is actively involved in the legal aviation industry and is currently a Council member of the Aviation Law Association of Australia and New Zealand and a committee member of its Victorian branch.
Tim holds degrees in journalism and law from Monash University. He was admitted to practice in Victoria in August 2013 and is also admitted to practice in the High Court. He has appeared in Victoria in the Supreme Court, County Court, VCAT and Magistrates’ Court in and has experience in New South Wales, South Australia, Queensland, Tasmania and Western Australia jurisdictions.
In the 2023 edition of the Best Lawyers in Australia, Tim was listed in the inaugural Ones to Watch category for Litigation. In the 2025 edition of Best Lawyers in Australia, Tim was recognised for his expertise in Insurance Law.
![Court of appeal overturns judgment in Rosata v City of Melbourne and Anor (Ruling) [2023] VCC 630](/getmedia/bf486d8f-aeb2-4a79-8536-d91fab5c63ff/Insurance.jpg?width=1667&height=1667&mediaprotectionhash=e4a9fc2f263c025fdb404d3da043a776058cb1acf4a68762b73c31c51b88aca6&ext=.jpg)
