Bell Gully has a strong track record in insurance-related M&A transactions, acting for a range of market-leading entities on big-ticket acquisitions and financing deals, among others. The practice continues to undertake a substantial number of insurance claims, engaged by the likes of Southern Response Earthquake Services Limited, Resolution Life Group Holdings and Vero Insurance New Zealand, to name a few. Following the departure of Simon Ladd to Shortland Chambers in December 2021, ‘rational thinker’ David Friar - who advises on cutting-edge insurance cases and corporate claims - jointly leads the practice alongside Glenn Joblin, who regularly acts for insurers on transactional work, in addition to regulatory and general corporate matters. Both team members operate from the firm’s office in Auckland.

Specialist insurance and commercial litigation firm Fee Langstone ‘has a great depth of knowledge’, a ‘solid grasp of New Zealand insurance matters’ and ‘long-standing relationships with insurers’, both domestic and overseas. Praised as a ‘true superstar’, Philippa Fee has demonstrable experience in negligence claims and disciplinary complaints, in addition to professional indemnity, product liability, D&O and statutory liability policies. Fee jointly leads the practice alongside Craig Langstone, who has appeared before the High Court, Court of Appeal and New Zealand’s Supreme Court, and is noted for his expertise in earthquake litigation. Pauline Davies is ‘extremely knowledgeable’ in maritime and aviation insurance law, while Cecily Brick provides a ‘offers KC-level performance’ and Virginia Wethey is praised for her ability to ‘tackle a wide range of complex claims’. Other key members of the team include Matthew Atkinson, Russell Stewart and special counsel Bradley Alcorn. All named practitioners are based in the firm’s Auckland office.

Wotton + Kearney, which ‘brings together the biggest collection of insurance specialists in New Zealand‘, has further bolstered its ‘depth of talent’ with a series of hires from DLA Piper New Zealand in February 2022: Peter Leman; ‘excellent litigator’ Caroline Laband; and Misha Heneghan, whose client service is praised as ‘second-to-none’. The team acts for global and London market insurers, as well as local brokers and corporate insureds, on matters concerning general liability, financial lines (including D&O and professional indemnity), property and MDBI claims, cyber/privacy claims, product liability and subrogated recoveries. In the firm’s Wellington office, Sean O’Sullivan heads the medico-legal practice, managing partner Anthony Holden advises on property and financial lines issues, while Sophie Lucas focuses on professional indemnity and disciplinary claims. The Auckland office is home to Rebecca Scott, who leads the employment practices liability group, professional indemnity expert Mathew Francis, Richard Flinn, who handles statutory liability and environmental impairment claims, and Katie Shanks. In Auckland, special counsels Hugh King and Andrew Moore, and Wellington-based senior associates Shane Swinerd and Matthew Booth are all key figures.

Wellington-based Rachel Taylor and Emma Moran jointly lead DLA Piper New Zealand’s insurance practice, following the departures of Caroline Laband, Peter Leman and Misha Heneghan to Wotton + Kearney in February 2022. Taylor provides ‘thoughtful and pragmatic commercial advice’ on non-contentious insurance matters, including regulatory compliance and IPSA, as well as the contract and consumer law aspects of selling insurance. Commercial litigator Moran advises client on a range of insurance claims, from professional liability and indemnity to healthcare and local government. The team counts AIG New Zealand, Tower Insurance and FMG, to name a few, among its key roster of clients.

Noted for its expertise in ‘constructed-related litigation and associated insurance issues’, Hesketh Henry also has demonstrable experience in the transport sector, and counts professional indemnity claims, business interruption, health and safety, cyber risk and regulatory matters in its caseload. Alan Sherlock, who focuses on marine insurance, fire cases, reinsurance and third-party liability claims, leads the practice alongside construction expert Helen Macfarlane, and managing partner Christina Bryant, who handles professional indemnity claims. Special counsel Stephanie Corban has experience in negligence claims and policy coverage issues, while senior associate Charlotte Robertson is praised for leaving ‘no stone unturned’. Transport and trade law specialist Simon Cartwright is another key member of the team.

MinterEllisonRuddWatts frequently acts for local and international underwriters in dealing with New Zealand’s financial services regulators, as well as advising on the drafting and interpretation of insurance policies. The team also counts life and health insurance claims, reinsurance matters, property issues, professional indemnity and general liability work in its caseload. In the firm’s Auckland offices, ‘knowledgeable and pragmatic’ Andrew Horne leads the practice and continues to act for global broking firm Marsh, in addition to leading domestic insurers. Nick Frith defends negligence claims against brokers, and advises on litigating property damage and business interruption claims for both insureds and insurers.

The multi-disciplinary practice at Russell McVeagh offers an ‘indispensable service’ by combining the expertise of its litigation, regulatory and corporate teams to advise insurers, domestic corporates and other industry players on insurance-related transactions and disputes. The practice continues to act for the Earthquake Commission (EQC) on statutory obligations and high-profile insurance claims, as well as commercial and regulatory matters. In the firm’s Auckland office, ‘capable partner’ Marika Eastwick-Field has experience in insurance coverage disputes relating to material damage, professional indemnity and business interruption claims. Eastwick-Field jointly leads the practice alongside Wellington-based Nathaniel Walker, who advises on contentious insurance matters, with a focus on natural disaster insurance claims.