Geoffrey Watson SC

Admitted to the Bar 1984

Appointed Senior Counsel 2002

Experience

Geoffrey Watson specializes in product liability, professional negligence, general insurance and appeals. He has a national practice, appearing in the High Court, the Federal Court and the Supreme Courts of each of the States and Territories.  His clients have included the Australian, British, American, New Zealand and Fijian governments; the NSW and other State governments; many State and federal government agencies; all major insurers; and the major mining, industrial and banking houses.

Mr Watson has appeared as counsel assisting in several large scale public inquiries, investigating allegations of corruption amongst NSW politicians and police misconduct and corruption.  He is a director of The Center for Public Integrity, and has acted as an adviser to federal, State and Territory politicians on integrity and corruption issues.

Mr Watson is active in pro bono work for asylum seekers, especially for the children on Nauru.

Mr Watson has been recognized as Preeminent in the 2019 Doyles Guide for Leading Insurance Law Senior Counsel.

In addition to his professional commitments, Mr Watson pursues an interest in academic work.  He writes and lectures on the subjects of tort law, insurance, anti-corruption law, and legal history. He is an Adjunct Professor at the University of Notre Dame.