Level 18, 607 Bourke Street,Melbourne, VIC 3000

Our People

HomeOur People

Mark Da Silva

Lawyer – Principal
+61 3 9999 1061

Elaine Choy

Lawyer – Special Counsel
+61 3 9999 1060

Carmela Danet

Lawyer – Special Counsel
+61 3 9108 7298

Simon Hill

Lawyer – Special Counsel
+61 3 9999 1058

Steve Ivcovici

Lawyer – Special Counsel
+61 3 9999 1062

Lachlan Nicholls

Lawyer – Special Counsel
+61 3 9108 7297

Special Counsel

Melissa Sayers
+61 9999 1056

Sandra Tadros
+61 2 9127 3991

Associates

Jade Shields
+61 3 8373 4083

Stacy Thalluri
+61 3 9108 7307

Lawyers

Jessica Ding
+61 3 9108 7292

Justin Grulke
+61 3 9108 7293

Jennilyn Yu
+61 3 9108 7322

Anneke (Nikki) Berezin
+61 3 9108 7308

Graduates of Law

Alex Li
+61 3 9999 1054

Mariam Madiha
+61 3 9108 7313

Paralegals

Montgomery Herbert-Morgan
+61 3 8373 4741

Margaret Macdonald
+61 3 9999 1059

Rachel O’Sullivan
+61 3 9108 7295

Special Projects

Team Manager

David Gallagher
+61 3 9999 1053

Deputy CEO

Camille de Niese
+61 3 9999 1065

Chief Financial Officer

Valerie Mary
+61 3 9999 1051

Administration Team

Manager & Wellness Officer

Penny Fitzgerald
+61 9109 1545

Business Administration Manager

Jennyfer Quintero
+61 3 9109 1540

Maddison Cantwell
+61 3 9108 7310

Jacinta de Niese
+61 3 9108 7314

Christine Langmaid
+61 3 9108 7323

Mark Da Silva

Mark has over 27 years’ experience in insurance law and focuses on property damage matters – both defended and recoveries – as well as public and product liability claims, indemnity disputes and marine/transit matters.

He acts for many of Australia’s largest general insurers, mutuals, underwriting agencies, debt recovery firms and transport companies. Mark also manages below deductible claims for clients.

Mark delivers advice to clients in writing and via in-house seminars on insurance policy interpretation with a focus on indemnity disputes and advises, inter alia, on the impact of legislative provisions of legislation such as the Insurance Contracts Act, the Privacy Act, Australian Consumer Law, the General Insurance Code and various Australian road rules.

After working as an in-house corporate lawyer for a major insurer, Mark is aware of the need to provide timely and sound advice to claims handlers. He understands the critical need to develop strong relationships with brokers to involve them in the legal process and keep them updated on a regular basis especially when attempting to recover the insured’s uninsured loss. Mark provides his clients with legal services that allow them to react to situations quickly and decisively in a cost-effective manner.

Education

Bachelor of Arts

Bachelor of Law

Date of admission

Admitted to practice – 1992

Professional involvement

Law Institute of Victoria

Australian and New Zealand Institute of Insurance and Finance

Director, Tennis Australia 2019 – present

Sponsorships

Civil Procedure Prize La Trobe University, 2015 – ongoing

Leo Cussen Institute Solicitors Award, 2003 – ongoing

Cricket without Borders

Bayside Tennis Association Junior Development Squads

Phone

+61 3 9999 1061

+61 410 473 001

Elaine Choy

Elaine has over 20 years’ experience in insurance litigation, specialising in motor vehicle property damage claims. Her practice includes property damage recoveries and defence work on behalf of national insurers across several jurisdictions including Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland. Elaine has extensive experience with heavy haulage claims.

Her focus is to provide legal services that are practical, timely, cost effective and within her clients’ commercial expectations.

Elaine joined Hoyle Da Silva three months after the firm was established in 1997 and is a Senior Associate.

Education

Bachelor of Laws
Bachelor of Arts
Leo Cussen Practical Legal Training Course

Date of admission

Admitted to practice – 1996

Phone

+61 3 9999 1060

Carmela Danet

Carmela joined Hoyle Da Silva Lawyers in 2014 as Special Counsel. She has a diverse range of experience in all areas of insurance litigation and has acted for national insurers and their insureds in all phases of a dispute including the provision of indemnity advice.

Carmela advises clients on recovery prospects and conducts litigation in relation to subrogated recovery claims against manufacturers, tenants, builders or their subcontractor’s, bailees in possession, drivers, and heavy haulage operators.

Her objective is to progress claims to resolution in accordance with the client’s interests, focusing on early consideration of settlement strategy to achieve the best commercial outcome for every claim.

Carmela has practised in Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland.

Education

Bachelor of Law

Masters of Law

Bachelor of Science

Date of admission

Admitted to practice – 1992

Phone: +61 401 909 584

Simon Hill

Simon joined Hoyle Da Silva Lawyers in March 2016 and was appointed as an Associate on 1 July 2020.

He has over 20 years’ experience in insurance litigation in both the UK and Australia. Prior to working in insurance law, Simon was a personal injury claims specialist at Aviva Insurance Plc (formerly Norwich Union Insurance) in the UK for a period of 4 years.

Simon has extensive expertise in motor vehicle and property damage recovery, and defence claims across all jurisdictions within Australia with extensive experience with General Division matters in NSW.

He provides measured and commercial advice for a diverse range of both defended and recovery matters as well as advising on indemnity disputes.

He is well regarded for his pragmatic and rational approach to contested matters to achieve the best outcome for his clients.

Education

Bachelor of Laws

LPC Diploma

Date of admission

Admitted to practice – 2018

Contact

+61 3 9999 1058

Steve Ivcovici

Steve has been with HDS since admission to the profession in 2012. He has become highly specialised in motor vehicle recoveries and settlements. Steve is very experienced in complex litigation and credit for hire claims in NSW and Victoria which currently includes handling several matters in the County Court involving a bushfire and damage to a rural bridge.

Education

•Bachelor of Laws

•Bachelor of Commerce

•Leo Cussen Practical Legal Training Course

Date of Admission

•Admitted to practice – 2012

Phone

+61 3 9999 1062

Lachlan Nicholls

Lachlan focuses on motor vehicle and property damage claims, and advises clients on both recovery and defence matters across all jurisdictions within Australia. He has extensive experience with motorcycle insurance claims.

He works closely with clients to achieve successful results. Lachlan has extensive knowledge of QLD, WA, SA and ACT jurisdictions

Lachlan was admitted to practice in 2012 and joined Hoyle Da Silva in 2014. He is an Associate.

Education

Bachelor of Laws

Bachelor of Business

Leo Cussen Practical Legal Training Course

Date of admission

Admitted to practice – 2012

Phone

+61 3 9999 1054