Our People
Monaco Solicitors
When you are with Monaco Solicitors, you are assigned to one of our lawyers specialising in the particular area of compensation law who works closely in tight knit teams to achieve the best outcome for you. Our people are always available and pride themselves in being here to advise you and answer any of your questions.
Our People
Leon Monaco
Leon is the managing partner of Monaco Compensation Lawyers. He has approximately 23 years' experience in representing clients injured in accidents of all kinds or as a result of medical malpractice.
Leon’s main focus is mostly substantial and demanding claims, usually involving complex matters of facts and law. His experience extends to Workers Compensation, Motor Accident, Public Liability and Medical Negligence Claims of all kinds.
Leon’s work has taken him to the highest courts in Australia, including the Supreme Court of NSW, Court of Appeal of NSW, and the High Court of Australia.
Leon never forgets that he works for and on behalf of his clients. He is driven by a desire to obtain the best possible outcome in each and every case. Leon also mentors young lawyers within the firm.
Leon is a member of the Australian Lawyers Alliance. He is committed to advancing the rights of injured people all over Australia. He is active in lobbying and making representation to various government agencies to ensure that the law does not discriminate against persons who suffered harm and loss as a result of someone’s negligence.
Kelly Keane
Kelly is an Accredited Specialist in Personal Injury Law, a Partner of the firm and has approximately 20 years experience in acting for both plaintiffs and insurers/self-insurers. The first half of Kelly's career was spent working as a solicitor and partner of a legal firm whose sole practice involved acting for insurers and self-insurers in all aspects of personal injury litigation. Kelly managed the Sydney office of a national defendant personal injury law firm which included the supervision, mentoring and training of solicitors and other staff whose practice areas included all aspects of personal injury litigation.
Currently, Kelly is the supervising partner and Team Leader of Monaco Solicitors in relation to a large portfolio of plaintiff clients in the areas of workers compensation, work injury damages, motor accident, public liability, dust disease law, TPD & superannuation policy based claims. Kelly's experience is diverse and extends also to the mentoring and training of other compensation lawyers and staff within the practice as well as personally handling the more complex personal injury matters within the practice.
Kelly has provided advice and representation for plaintiffs and defendants in all areas of personal injury litigation and has valuable insight into how defendant organisations handle their workers compensation and other claims and employees. Kelly was also the liaison partner for a number of high profile government and private employers when working in her previous role as a solicitor for a defendant legal firm.
Kelly works out of Monaco Solicitors' Sydney and Coffs Harbour offices and also travels regularly to visit clients in the firm's other north coast branch offices.
Vanessa Mouawad
Vanessa Mouawad, a solicitor admitted in the Supreme Court of New South Wales and High Court of Australia brings to the Monaco Solicitors team a wide range of legal experience and knowledge, having worked as a paralegal for Counsel and a national firm in the past.
Vanessa practices in numerous areas of law, including:
• Motor vehicle claims;
• Public liability and occupiers liability claims;
• Compensation to relatives claims;
• Work injury damages claims; and
• General negligence claims.
Vanessa has extensive experience lodging applications with the State Insurance Regulatory Authority, including lodging Medical Assessment Service ('MAS') and Claims Assessment and Resolution Service ('CARS') applications for the purposes of determining a client's rights to pain and suffering damages. She has substantial experience in assessing complex and demanding claims. As part of her experience, she has a thorough understanding of the American Medical Association Fourth Addition Guidelines (AMA4), which are used for assessing damages with respect to motor accident claims of all kinds. Vanessa's experience extends to fully preparing all kinds of matters for CARS Assessments, District and Supreme Court hearings and instructing both Junior and Senior Counsel/Barristers.
Vanessa has also frequently worked on public liability and occupier's liability cases against large insurance companies. Her work has lead to substantial exposure to ligation and appearing in the District and Supreme Courts on behalf of her clients. She has a very good understanding of procedures used by the courts, which she gained as part of preparation and appearance at directions hearings, summons, motions, preliminary and status conferences. Vanessa has also had experience in managing cases the Court of Appeal, which is the highest court in her particular state.
Vanessa aims to expeditiously finalise her client's matters through alternative dispute resolution processes, ensuring that they receive the best outcome, but would not hesitate to defend her client's rights in court should it be necessary.
Vanessa is fluent in Arabic.
Audrey Pham
Audrey is a personal injury lawyer specialising in Workers Compensation claims. She is admitted as a solicitor in the Supreme Court of NSW and the High Court of Australia. With over 7 years of experience in personal injury, Audrey has handled a variety of additional plaintiff compensation claims including Work Injury Damages (employer negligence) claims, Compulsory Third Party (CTP - Motor Accident) claims, Total & Permanent Disability (TPD) claims.
As part of her work, Audrey regularly attends the Workers Compensation Commission ('WCC') and District Court. She also has substantial experience in navigating medical assessment claims through the WCC Medical Assessment process. She is particularly good in identifying complex assessment issues, which has resulted in a very high rate of favourable assessments obtained by her clients. She has also managed a large number of claims through the medical appeals process with WCC and, again, over the years obtained a very high rate of favourable outcomes at this level. This insight into the processes and procedures of workers compensation claims, along with extensive knowledge of the AMA5/Whole Person Impairment has enabled Audrey to add value to all of her workers compensation matters. Audrey is also very good at identifying potential additional claims on behalf of her clients, including negligence by third parties (not the employer), labour hire cases and superannuation claims. This has resulted in additional benefits paid to her clients in a large number of Workers Compensation claims handled by Audrey.
Audrey is a WIRO Approved Legal Service Provider (ALSP). Her extensive experience as a paralegal in personal injury developed her end to end knowledge of personal injury claims.
Audrey is bilingual, speaking fluent Vietnamese.
Jacky Li
Jacky, a solicitor admitted in the Supreme Court of New South Wales and High Court of Australia has over three years of experience working in plaintiff litigation. Jacky is experienced in the full range of personal injury matters, including:
· Motor vehicle claims;
· Public Liability and occupiers liability claims;
· Compensation to relatives claims;
· Work injury damages claims; and
· Other general negligence claims.
His focus has been on general negligence claims, motor accident claims and appellate matters. He has a lot of experience preparing matters for the Claims Assessment and Resolution Service (CARS), the District Court and Supreme Court of New South Wales. Jacky has helped prepare a number of special leave applications to the High Court of Australia. He is familiar with both the substantive laws in each of these areas and also the procedural requirements of the courts and tribunals.
Jacky works closely with Ms Mouawad, senior associate and under her guidance he has become a well balanced litigant adept at case management and strategy to advance his client’s claims.
Jacky is bilingual, speaking fluent Cantonese.
Anthony Porthouse
Anthony is an Accredited Specialist in Personal Injury Law and Special Counsel at Monaco Solicitors. He has over 25 years experience acting for plaintiffs as both solicitor and advocate.
Anthony has a wide experience of all areas of personal injury law, but has particular expertise in medical negligence, complex claims and catastrophic injury. Anthony has a detailed understanding of the medical and legal issues that arise in these types of claims.
Anthony is a skilled litigator, driven to obtain the best possible result for clients at trial or by alternative dispute resolution. He has a special interest in the practice and procedure of the courts and works to obtain a tactical advantage for the client in those areas. He believes that thorough preparation is the key to obtaining the best result possible for each and every client.
Anthony relishes litigation and has achieved a number of multi-million dollar verdicts in difficult and novel cases. He works predominantly in the bullring of the District and Supreme Court, but has extensive experience in most courts and tribunals, including the Federal Court, Conciliation and Arbitration Service and Workers Compensation Commission, as well as all appellate levels up to the High Court.
Anthony is also committed to alternative dispute resolution and will work to achieve a suitable outcome for the client without the additional costs of a court hearing, where possible.
Cameron Burge
Cameron is a Special Counsel of the firm and has been a solicitor for over 23 years, practising primarily in the field of personal injury and medical negligence law. He is a Law Society Accredited Specialist in Personal Injury Law and spent over a decade practising at the New South Wales Bar.
Cameron spent the early years of his career representing insurers in a large firm. Since that time, he has acted for both plaintiffs and defendants across all States and Territories of Australia, and in jurisdictions from State-based Tribunals and Local Courts to the High Court of Australia. He has provided advice to plaintiffs across all areas of personal injury litigation and currently works in Monaco Compensation lawyers' Medical Negligence team.
Currently, Cameron works out of our Sydney office but travels within NSW and interstate to consult with clients at our various offices.
Warren Bennett
Warren Bennett is a solicitor and is admitted in the Supreme Court and the High Court of Australia.
• Superannuation TPD claims;
• Income protection claims;
• Death benefit claims;
• Family provision claims; and
• Financial advice disputes.
He specialises in Superannuation insurance benefit claims including, Total and Permanent Disablement (TPD) claims, Income Protection (IP) claims (also known as Salary Continuance benefits) and Death benefits claims. His extensive experience includes handling superannuation claim matters from the very initial stages to drafting submissions and preparing further evidence to submit for internal review. He is also constantly litigating these matters in the Supreme Court.
Warren also has extensive experience in Family Provision claims. He can very quickly tell you by the documents you provide, whether or not you are an 'eligible person' prescribed under the Succession Act, and determine whether there is infact inadequate provision made for you in estate. Warren regularly litigates for deserving clients who have been left out of the will or feel that their share in the deceased estate was inadequate.
Warren is also experienced in fighting the big banks and insurance companies for client's who have suffered economic loss through the negligence advice of financial advisers, and we also make claims against banks or insurance companies based on weaknesses in the product you invested in, and any misleading and deceptive conduct in relation to representations made about the product. Warren is not afraid to take a claim to the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS). He aims to finalise his client's matters through alternative dispute resolution, ensuring that they receive the best outcome, but would not hesitate to defend his client's rights in court should it be necessary.
Elizabeth Utting
Elizabeth Utting is a solicitor admitted to the Supreme Court of NSW. Specialising in medical negligence, she brings to the team her skills and experience gained as a barrister's assistant previously where she worked on a range of complex personal injury cases in the Supreme and District Courts and learnt the ins and outs of litigation.
Elizabeth has a keen interest in medical law and is fascinated by the complexities of the human body and medicine. She enjoys the challenge of working on difficult cases including misdiagnosis, delayed diagnosis, improperly performed procedures/surgeries and improper advice given by doctors and hospitals. She is not afraid to fight for her clients when they have been wronged through medical advice and treatment. No matter how big or small the case, she recognises and appreciates the suffering that can arise as a result of medical negligence.
Elizabeth is committed to providing quality advice and service to her clients at all stages of their claim, and is readily available to discuss any issues arising throughout the course of their claim.
Megg Ross
Megg Ross was admitted as an officer of the Supreme Court of NSW in 2015 after having obtained a Bachelor of Laws at Southern Cross University and a Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice at the College of Law. Megg was also awarded membership into the Golden Key International Honour Society for achieving a grade point average within the top 15% of her university whilst undertaking her studies.
Since her admission, Megg has been practising exclusively within the field of personal injury law. Megg works closely alongside Partner Kelly Keane in relation to a variety of personal injury law matters including public liability claims, work injury damages claims, CTP claims, common law assault claims, and workers compensation claims.
Megg takes pride in assisting those injured achieve all of their entitlements under the law, as well as building a rapport with each and every client. Megg understands the trauma associated with not only injuries sustained as a result of someone else’s negligence, but the daunting nature of the legal framework and legal proceedings. Megg tries her best to keep clients regularly updated on all developments in relation to their matter, and is always happy to have a chat.
Mallika Uppal
Mallika Uppal is the Executive Legal Assistant to our Managing Partner and has been working in the legal industry for over four years.
She works closely with the Managing Partner and assists him with marketing, expansion of legal service areas and legal research. She has also worked with senior solicitors in relation to a variety of personal injury matters, from assisting initial stages of preparing claim forms, through to assisting with the preparation of claims in the Supreme Court.
Mallika will be graduating with Honours in her Law degree achieving a grade point average in the top 15% of her university.
She is bilingual and speaks fluent Hindi.
Al Hughes
Al Hughes is a paralegal in our Workers Compensation Team with vast experience in assisting individuals who have sustained an injury as a result of their employment.
He works closely with Ms Kelly Keane, Partner, to review documentation, organise the medical assessment of worker's injuries, prepare applications to the insurer for review and brief counsel for claims that are litigated in the Workers Compensation Commission (WCC). His ability to communicate with clients on complicated insurance issues, their legal entitlements and the best strategy in order to achieve these entitlements has earned him very positive feedback and gratitude to date.
Al has extensive knowledge of the Workers Compensation process and this insight has led to a very high rate of favourable outcomes for injured workers.
Monique Essey
Monique Essey is a paralegal in our Workers Compensation team and has over three years experience in personal injury law. Monique is also experienced in a variety of additional plaintiff compensation claims such as Work Injury Damages claims, Compulsory Third Party claims and Public Liability claims.
Monique works closely with both Ms Kelly Keane and Ms Audrey Pham, attending to the day to day tasks of various Workers Compensation claims. This primarily involves, liaising with clients and insurance companies, reviewing documentation, drafting applications to WIRO for ILARS funding, organising medical assessments for workers, drafting court documents and pleadings, and more. Monique possesses the key ability to communicate with clients and provide them with a strategy that best suits their situation.
Monique's substantial experience and knowledge in regards to Workers Compensation claims has led to a number of positive outcomes for plaintiffs.