Our People
Kasarne Burgan
Kasarne is the firm’s Principal, having established Burgan Lawyers in 2016. Kasarne is an Accredited Specialist in Personal Injury Law, with over 20 years’ experience in representing people who have been injured in accidents, or as a result of medical negligence.
Kasarne has expertise in all areas of personal injury compensation so you can rest assured your claim will be handled by an expert with many years’ experience.
Kasarne has worked as a Partner and Director in large firms and chose to set up Burgan Lawyers, a boutique client focused firm, to provide individualised personal service to each of her clients. Kasarne has been recognised as a pre-eminent, leading and recommended Plaintiff-focused lawyer in the area of personal injury compensation in the Doyle’s Guide since the firm’s inception, which means she is recognised by her peers as an expert in her field.
Kasarne has authored sections of legal texts including the Thomson Reuters Goudkamp & Morrison Personal Injury Law Manual, Lexis Nexis Practical Guidance and The Law Handbook. For more than a decade Kasarne has been an active Committee Member of the Australian Lawyers Alliance, a national association of professionals dedicated to protecting the rights of the individual.
Kasarne is known by her clients as being warm, caring and approachable. She makes the whole claims’ process as stress-free as possible so her clients can focus on the important things, like their rehabilitation and recovery.
Lidia Monteverdi
Lidia Monteverdi is a Senior Associate at Burgan Lawyers who practises in our medical negligence team. She was admitted to practise as a solicitor in 2015 and has expertise in all areas of personal injury law.
Lidia joined Burgan Lawyers in February 2024. Before joining Burgan Lawyers, she worked for a national firm to successfully establish and develop a medical negligence practice in Newcastle, the Hunter region and Northern-NSW.
As a testament to her expertise in personal injury and medical negligence, Lidia became an Accredited Specialist in Personal Injury Law in November 2024.
Her experience coupled with her knowledge of the law and medicine means that Lidia is able to explain the often-complex aspects of the claims process in a clear and simple way. She enjoys seeing clients’ claims reach successful conclusion, but most of all, she values the connections she is able to build with clients whilst assisting them through often life-changing experiences. She has an open and honest manner which she views as essential to putting clients at ease that their claim is in good hands.
Lidia has been involved with the Australian Lawyers Alliance first on their NSW committee, and more recently as a member of the Medical Law Specialist Interest Group, since 2018. Through her work in this space, she has been involved in law reform and policy issues including in relation to the regulation of healthcare practitioners Australia-wide and changes to plastic and cosmetic surgery regulations. She views this work as an important way of effecting change and ensuring safety for the public.
Lidia is a valued part of the Burgan Lawyers’ team.
When she is not working hard for her clients, Lidia loves being outside riding her mountain bike.
Jacqueline Rimington
Jacqueline Rimington is a Solicitor at Burgan Lawyers.
Jacqui joined Burgan Lawyers in 2025, specialising in Worker’s Compensation and TPD. Before joining Burgan Lawyers, she worked for a national firm in personal injury litigation.
Jacqui takes great pride in being a plaintiff personal injury lawyer. She enjoys helping injured workers obtain their entitlements and helping them through their time of need.
Jacqui is warm, friendly and professional, and is an avid advocate throughout the claims process.
When she is not working hard for her clients, Jacqui loves spending time with her family.
Alex Forbes
Alex Forbes is a Solicitor at Burgan Lawyers.
Alex joined Burgan Lawyers in 2025, focusing on Medical Negligence law. Alex has a strong commitment to understanding the human story behind every claim, ensuring that clients receive not only expert legal advice but also compassionate support throughout the process.
Highly motivated and driven, Alex thrives on finding efficient, practical solutions to complex legal issues. His dedication to delivering clear, timely communication ensures that clients are always kept informed and reassured.
Known for his integrity, and curiosity, Alex is passionate about learning the details of each case, and he works relentlessly to achieve the best outcomes for his clients. Whether navigating a difficult legal issue or advocating for clients’ rights, Alex approaches every case with professionalism and empathy.
Outside of work, Alex enjoys spending time with his golden retrievers, building Lego sets, go-karting, and is committed to continuous learning both professionally and personally.
Joanne Maslowski
Joanne is Kasarne’s Personal Assistant and a very experienced senior legal assistant.
With over 30 years of experience as a legal assistant in personal injury claims, Joanne’s wealth of knowledge and insightful expertise significantly contributes to the firm’s success. Joanne worked for a number of a reputable personal injury firms prior to joining Burgan Lawyers in 2019. From working on claims in the Personal Injury Commission to tackling large and complex litigious matters in the Supreme Court, Joanne’s breadth of experience sets her apart in the modern legal landscape, where her three decades of expertise stand as a testament to her fabulous work ethic and love for this area of the law.
One of Joanne’s many strengths lies in her ability to understand and empathise with clients during difficult times. She is a favourite among our clients and is known for calming any nerves as they navigate the complex legal landscape. Burgan Lawyers is privileged to have Joanne as a member of the team, benefiting from the wealth of knowledge she has accumulated over the years. Her combined years of experience and her diverse skill set make Joanne an invaluable member of the Burgan Lawyers’ team, embodying the firm’s dedication to delivering expert, professional, and caring legal services.
Sharnee Heywood
Sharnee is a highly experienced Senior Legal Assistant
Having started her career working in law firms over 23 years ago, Sharnee is a highly experienced and valued Senior Legal Assistant. Sharnee has significant knowledge and experience in most areas of law, however her heart belongs to assisting personal injury claimants.
Sharnee has worked for a number of a large national personal injury firms prior to joining Burgan Lawyers in September 2023. Sharnee prides herself in providing a positive, professional, and caring service and takes the time to listen and empathise with all clients.
Outside of Burgan Lawyers, Sharnee is also a Zumba Instructor. Sharnee loves spending time with friends and family and often enjoys an early morning swim at the beach before work or a workout at the gym.
Monica Tarlinton
Monica is Burgan Lawyers’ Senior Medical Negligence Secretary
Monica has decades of experience working as a legal secretary and has worked across many different areas of law throughout her career. Monica has spent the last 10 years working in the area of medical negligence and is very proficient in this area.
Burgan Lawyers was delighted when Monica, such a talented and experienced Senior Legal Secretary, joined the firm in May 2024.
Monica is professional, caring, empathetic and very competent. Monica is a crucial part of the medical negligence team and works seamlessly with the team to expedite clients’ claims and helps makes the claims process as easy as possible for clients.
When Monica is not at work she spends her time with friends and family, and, in the warmer weather, enjoys time on the water in her family’s boat.






