The Legal 500

HWL Ebsworth’s 21-partner insurance practice provides ‘skilled, astute and prompt service’ and displays proficiency across ‘a broad spectrum of matters’. Robert Johnston is leading the defence of Parsons Brinkerhoff in the A$130m Lane Cove Tunnel litigation. Other clients include MDA National Insurance, QBE, Chartis, Chubb, ACE and Allianz. Matthew Harding is ‘respected within the industry’, Andrew Miers is ‘strong on black letter law and coverage advice’, and Tim Griffiths and Nicholas Matkovich are also recommended. Mark Kimberley, formerly of Henry Davis York, recently joined the team.

Mallesons Stephen Jaques’ insurance practice handles policy, coverage and related disputes, including professional indemnity, D&O and product liability. Peter Stockdale recently led the team’s advice to the insurers of councils affected by the Victorian bushfires in 2008 and related liability issues. Philip Ward is also recommended.

The ‘exceptional’ Minter Ellison is ‘truly a client-centric law firm’, and provides a ‘full-service insurance practice’ with ‘top-class knowledge’. Recent highlights include defending clients including Allianz and QBE in asbestos litigation claims. It is representing PEET in a A$23.5m class action and associated multi-party litigation concerning migration of harmful gas from a landfill site at Cranbourne. Peter Coats is ‘particularly knowledgeable’; Pamela Madafiglio is also highly regarded.

Allens Arthur Robinson handles corporate, regulatory and contentious matters relating to insurance. The group recently advised Western Australia-based health fund HBF on the sale of its general insurance business to CGU. Other clients include general insurers ACE, Allianz and Chubb, as well as certain life insurers, governments, brokers and intermediaries. John Edmond heads the practice.

Particularly strong for insurance regulatory and advisory work, Blake Dawson counts a number of general and life insurers and other industry participants as clients, among them ANZ, Telstra, Marsh, Allianz and GE Insurance. Rehana Box, who has ‘deep knowledge of insurance’, is leading advice to the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation on insurance arrangements for a new alliance agreement to develop nuclear waste treatments.

Clayton Utz’s insurance and risk group acts exclusively for policyholders. The team is acting in a series of disputes concerning liability insurance recovery matters arising from the Storm Financial Group collapse. It also has an ongoing retainer to advise voluntary administrator PPB on recoveries under US and Australian liability insurance covering Lehman Brothers Australia. John Rowland QC, formerly of London’s 4 Pump Court, is a significant new addition to the team. Fred Hawke and Peter Mann are also key names.

DLA Piper Australia’s 29-partner insurance practice provides ‘a very high level of service’, ‘advising on the commercial nature of the matter as well as the law’. The team is representing the Insurance Council of Australia in the Queensland Floods Commission of Inquiry and in the Federal Review into Natural Disasters. Among those recommended in this ‘technically proficient, reliable and responsive’ group are: Lindsay Joyce, Andrew Sharpe, John Goulios and David Leggatt, who are ‘all very good at quickly getting to the root of the issue, advising on the position and providing a strategy for resolution’.

Freehills has a solid reputation for representing corporate insureds in litigation. The group, headed by Michael Mills and Michelle Fox, is advising Babcock & Brown International on regulatory investigations, D&O liability insurance issues, liability issues and a potential class action.

Special counsel Claire Machin joined Henry Davis York’s insurance group in early 2011. Machin joined from Allens Arthur Robinson, bringing with her particular expertise in advisory, regulatory and compliance matters. Practice head Rebecca Whittle acted for AICF to secure payment to it under facultative reinsurance policies taken out by HIH with London Market insurers.

Specialist insurance firm Moray & Agnew manages everything from large litigation to routine claims. ‘All-rounder’ Geoff Connellan is defending five officers of the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) in a A$150m class action. David Giacomantonio is recommended for his ‘practicality and commercialism’; Peter Tredinnick recently joined from DLA Piper Australia and is ‘one of the go-to people for financial institution and D&O work’; and Peter Utiger is ‘accessible and knowledgeable’. Phil Keays joined the team from Sparke Helmore.

Norton Rose Australia has a strong reputation in financial lines insurance and capabilities in other areas including construction and medical liability. Highlights included advising AIG on regulatory approvals relating to the proposed $35.5bn sale of AIA to Prudential. It is also acting for the Australian Capital Territory government (ACT) in proceedings brought by over 2,500 plaintiffs regarding personal injury and property damage claims arising from the Australian bushfires. Tricia Hobson, Marnie Mcconnell and Nicole Wearne are recommended.

Peter Moran and Greg Skehan of Colin Biggers & Paisley are ‘strong players’ in the insurance space, operating a broad practice serving a range of needs.

Corrs Chambers Westgarth has particular strength in construction-related insurance matters, but also acts across a number of other areas. Frank Lawson is advising Thiess in a A$70m professional indemnity dispute. In late 2009, Michelle Carr acted for Aon Risk Services in litigation in which the High Court established new precedent by reversing an earlier judgment that had permitted adjournments to amend case strategy in civil litigation. Other clients include Suncorp-Metway and Air New Zealand.

Recent work for the corporate risk and insurance group at Gadens Lawyers includes advising clients on property damage and business interruption claims arising from the Christchurch earthquakes. It has also been involved in advising in insurance claims arising from the Japanese tsunami and related causation issues and nuclear exclusions. Practice head Wendy Blacker and Ray Giblett are recommended.

Holman Fenwick Willan advises a range of clients including insurers, captives, intermediaries and run-off service providers. Richard Jowett’s strengths include professional indemnity and liability as well as insurance-related matters in the marine, construction and energy sectors.

Kennedys is particularly strong in insurance litigation, particularly financial lines and D&O coverage. Suncorp and CGU Professional Risk are core clients of the group. Veronica Chapman, who stands out for her ‘deep experience’, successfully acted for the professional indemnity insurers of Face Accountants in Supreme Court of NSW litigation. Raylee Hartwell is also recommended.

Sparke Helmore’s 26-partner practice is a ‘solid team with in-depth knowledge’. Geoff Pike’s ‘in-depth knowledge’ and John Coorey (‘strong market contacts’) are particularly recommended, as is Gillian Davidson, who is a ‘great lawyer, very strong technically but balanced always by a strong commercial approach’. The group acted for Telstra in claims arising from damage to its infrastructure. ACE, Axis and Qantas Airways are among the practice’s panel appointments.

TressCox has 20 partners operating from offices in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. Mark Sheller is expert in professional indemnity matters and Jason Newman is recommended for product, public and professional liability claims.

Founding partners David Kearney and Phillip Wotton of Wotton & Kearney Insurance Lawyers have enviable reputations in the insurance space. The specialist insurance boutique handles mandates across the spectrum including reinsurance, regulatory and compliance matters.

Carter Newell fields ‘very professional’ lawyers with ‘strong technical and negotiation skills’. Key specialisms of the group include D&O liability and professional indemnity. Practice head Paul Hopkins is recommended along with Michael Gapes, ‘who uses a very logical approach in very difficult situations’.

Cooper Grace Ward houses the well-regarded Quentin Owen, whose practice includes public liability, product liability, and arson and fraud claims. Mark Sainsbury is recommended for aviation and professional indemnity matters. RACQ Insurance is a key client of the group.

Thynne & Macartney’s John Moore is recommended for his expertise and experience in professional indemnity. Shipping and transport is also an area of focus for the practice.