Peter Burt was a founding partner of Burt & Davies. He remained the senior partner up until his passing in December 2025.
Peter was an expert in compensation law in Australia and Victoria’s leading TAC claims lawyer, for more than four decades. As was noted by a former opponent and professional colleague at the TAC, Peter was considered “the most outstanding personal injury lawyer of his generation. Astute, empathetic, generous to a fault and always client focused. A worthy opponent and most of all a supportive friend.”
Peter practised in Victorian transport accident law for 45 years. He conducted numerous landmark compensation cases. He was widely acknowledged as an expert on the intricacies of the Victorian Transport Accident scheme.
Peter was a Law Institute of Victoria Accredited Specialist in Personal Injury Law. Also, the former Chairman of the Personal Injury Law Advisory Committee set up by the Specialisation Board of the Law Institute of Victoria. Additionally, he was a past President of the Victorian Branch of the Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA).
He had a particular interest representing clients with catastrophic injuries, including severe spinal cord injuries, together with a keen interest in acquired brain injury. He specialised in TAC claims involving overseas visitors injured in Victorian transport accidents. He acted for residents of the United States, Canada, Iraq, Switzerland, France, Denmark, Germany, United Kingdom, Brazil, Hong Kong, China, Thailand and New Zealand.
Peter was recognised by Doyles Guide as a “preeminent Plaintiff-focused Motor Vehicle Accident Compensation Lawyer“ from 2017 through to 2025.
In 1999 he gave expert evidence on the Victorian Transport Accident Scheme to the Satchwell Commission of Enquiry in Pretoria, South Africa. He authored many articles and was a regular presenter of papers at seminars and conferences organised by the Law Institute of Victoria, Leo Cussen Institute and Australian Lawyers Alliance. He co-authored Chapter 3.8, “Claims Under the Transport Accident Act”, of the Lawyers Practice Manual Victoria with Clara Davies.
At Burt & Davies we will aim to honour Peter’s legacy and see it live on through the highly specialised work we perform for those seriously injured in transport accidents in Victoria, always striving to provide the highest levels of personal for each of our clients.