Founder and Partner
Christopher Fahmy
Biography
Christopher Fahmy is the Founder and Partner of GopherWood Lawyers. He practises in commercial litigation, insurance, financial services and regulatory disputes.
Before establishing GopherWood Lawyers, Christopher practised at Wotton Kearney, Kennedys and Clyde & Co. He has acted in commercial disputes, construction and infrastructure disputes, insurance coverage matters, financial services litigation, class actions, regulatory investigations and prosecutions, Royal Commissions and public inquiries.
Christopher has acted in major disputes in Australia and internationally, including construction disputes with quantum exceeding £1 billion.
His experience includes acting for a major disability service provider before the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability; defending a major construction company in SafeWork NSW proceedings arising from a workplace fatality; and representing a major Australian food manufacturer in NSW Food Authority prosecution proceedings concerning food safety and product labelling.
Christopher has acted for an Australian financial services licensee in proceedings arising from one of Australia's largest investment frauds, involving claims exceeding $500 million. He has also acted in a $200 million-plus class action concerning alleged professional misconduct in connection with the establishment of self-managed superannuation funds and the investment of clients' superannuation in related entities.
Christopher acts for corporate policyholders in insurance coverage disputes. His experience acting for insurers gives him a detailed understanding of how insurers assess coverage and manage claims, which he brings to disputes between policyholders and insurers.
His insurance experience includes coverage and indemnity disputes involving professional indemnity, construction and other commercial insurance policies. He has acted in a $5 million professional indemnity coverage dispute concerning the scope of insured professional services and a $10 million coverage dispute concerning an insurer's duty of utmost good faith under the Insurance Contracts Act 1984 (Cth).
Representative experience
Matters in which Christopher has acted.
Advised and represented a major disability service provider in hearings before the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability.
Defended a major construction company in a $40 million Supreme Court claim brought by a racing club concerning defective turf works.
Acted for an Australian financial services licensee in proceedings arising from one of Australia’s largest investment frauds.
Acted in a class action arising from alleged professional misconduct involving the establishment of self-managed superannuation funds and the investment of clients’ superannuation in related entities.
Defended a major power distribution network operator in a substantial delay dispute arising from the late provision of a permanent electricity connection for a Sydney CBD residential development, affecting occupation certification.
Represented a major Australian food manufacturer in high-stakes NSW Food Authority prosecution proceedings arising from complex product labelling and food safety issues.
Represented a major construction company in complex SafeWork NSW proceedings arising from a workplace fatality involving catastrophic machinery and confined-space risks.
Advised a leading international construction group on complex liability and litigation arising from major projects across Australia and multiple international jurisdictions, including disputes exceeding $1 billion in value.
Acted in a $5 million professional indemnity coverage dispute concerning the scope of insured professional services, and whether losses arising from a major marine matter fell within the professional business defined by the policy.
Acted in a $10 million coverage dispute concerning an insurer’s duty of utmost good faith under s 13 of the Insurance Contracts Act 1984 (Cth), including complex questions of causation arising from claims-handling conduct, delay and the underlying insured event.
Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.
Recognition
Lawyers Weekly 30 Under 30, Finalist, Commercial Law
Lawyers Weekly 30 Under 30, Finalist, Insurance Law
Australian Law Awards, Litigator of the Year, Finalist
Lawyers Weekly Partner of the Year Awards, Dispute Resolution Partner of the Year, Finalist