The High Court's decision in AA v The Trustees of the Roman Catholic Church for the Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle [2026] HCA 2 has reshaped institutional liability litigation, prompting courts across Australia to reconsider long-established approaches to duty, breach, causation and the assessment of historical abuse claims.

In this webinar, Mathisha Panagoda, Partner at Colin Biggers & Paisley, examines the key lessons emerging from AA and the growing body of post-AA decisions. Drawing on recent authorities from appellate and trial courts around the country, the session explores how the law on institutional abuse claims is evolving and the practical implications for insurers, educational institutions, religious organisations and other defendants facing historical abuse claims.

• The High Court's reasoning in AA and the divergent judicial approaches that emerged from the decision;
• Key post-AA cases and the trends developing across Australian jurisdictions;
• Strategic considerations for defendants in institutional liability litigation; and
• What organisations and their insurers should be doing now to navigate an increasingly complex and evolving claims environment.

This session is essential for insurers, claims professionals, risk managers and legal practitioners involved in institutional liability and historical abuse claims.

Disclaimer: Please note, this webinar may at times make references to institutional child sexual abuse cases. 

Mathisha Panagoda
Partner

Mathisha's practice focuses on litigation, dispute resolution and managing end-to-end claims within a principled and outcome-focused framework. He also advises clients on strategic, governance, compliance and risk management issues, particularly in relation to child safety.

Read more here.