Melanie Quixley

Melanie Quixley is a Principal in the Insurance & Health team at Barry Nilsson, based in the Brisbane office. She brings extensive experience in insurance law, having begun her career within the legal liaison team of a major insurer where she developed expertise in litigation and mediation. Melanie subsequently worked at a national law firm managing a broad spectrum of claims for diverse clients and provided in-house legal advice to a significant client on an ongoing basis. This combination of experience highlighted the importance of understanding her clients’ businesses alongside the legal principles, a philosophy she continues to apply in her practice. Since joining Barry Nilsson in 2003, Melanie has focused on general liability and professional indemnity matters. She is known for her firm yet fair approach to claims management, taking a robust stance in defence of her clients’ interests. Her advisory and claims management work spans policy coverage and first party claims, public liability including personal injury, product liability and property damage, professional indemnity encompassing pure economic loss, as well as subrogated recovery claims. Melanie manages a significant range of matters for local authorities, dealing with insurance issues arising from personal injury, building and construction, development approvals, nuisance, misrepresentation and misfeasance in public office. She handles a wide portfolio of personal injury claims, including catastrophic injury and loss of dependency, alongside CTP and dust diseases claims. With particular expertise in defamation disputes, she represents insurers and insureds in cases involving social media and traditional media, including advising on concerns notices issued to publishers of alleged defamatory material. She is the preferred legal adviser to a national rail company for claims involving property loss and personal injury, and to a national construction and services company for public liability personal injury claims nationwide. While principally based in Brisbane, Melanie’s practice extends across New South Wales, Victoria, Western Australia and the Northern Territory. Melanie is recognised for her accessibility and responsiveness, appreciating the complex nature of insurance law. She strives to understand not only her clients’ businesses but also their operational drivers, enabling her to tailor her claims handling approach to align with their commercial goals. Beyond litigation, Melanie provides corporate clients with advice on risk management and contractual matters. She currently serves as President of the National Board of the Australian Insurance Law Association (AILA) and is a past President of its Queensland chapter. Melanie holds a Bachelor of Information Technology and a Bachelor of Laws. Her professional recognition includes multiple client choice awards for insurance law, recommendations in Doyle’s Guide for professional indemnity and public & product liability law in Queensland, as well as being named Lawyer of the Year in Insurance Law in Brisbane by The Best Lawyers in Australia for 2026. She has also been acknowledged consistently for her expertise in personal injury and product liability litigation. Melanie Quixley is dedicated to delivering high-quality, commercially informed legal advice that supports her clients in achieving the best possible outcomes.