Wotton + Kearney > Perth, Australia > Firm Profile

Wotton + Kearney Offices

Wotton + Kearney
Level 49
108 St Georges Terrace Perth
WA 6000
Australia
Visit website 61 8 9222 6900

Wotton + Kearney > The Legal 500 Rankings

Australia > Insurance Tier 1

Wotton + Kearney is recommended for general liability, financial lines and complex property, energy and construction claims. It’s also growing its capabilities in cyber insurance, general liability and class actions with the recruitment of Amanda Beattie (from King & Wood Mallesons) and Cheryl Phillips (from Minter Ellison), both in early 2023. Name partner and chief executive David Kearney and Cain Jackson, who is head of financial lines, are the group's key senior partners. Andrew Moore is an expert in D&O and financial institution claims, management liability issues and environment claims. Charles Simon is well placed to advise on catastrophic losses, and building and construction-related incidents, as is Adam Chylek for indemnity disputes.

Practice head(s):

David Kearney; Cain Jackson; Charles Simon; Adam Chylek

Other key lawyers:

Amanda Beattie; Cheryl Phillips; Andrew Moore

Testimonials

‘The team collaborate well and the partners allow access to associate lawyers. This is important for development and future pipeline of legal professionals.’

Key clients

AIG

Allianz

AXA XL

Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance

Chubb Insurance Australia

DUAL Australia

Liberty Specialty Markets (LSM)

Zurich Australian Insurance

Work highlights

  • Acting for the Sydney Olympic Park Authority in the Opal Tower class action proceedings.
  • Acting for a large global market of more than 20 insurers that provided the Contract Works project insurance for the construction of the onshore facilities for Inpex’s Ichthys LNG project in Darwin.
  • Defending representative proceedings brought in the Supreme Court of NSW on behalf of potentially thousands of owners of residential lots at Spring Farm, NSW.

Australia > Data protection Tier 4

Kieran Doyle heads up the cyber, privacy and data security team at Wotton + Kearney from Sydney; he is ‘a leading cyber coverage lawyer’ who works across multiple jurisdictions on a range of cyber incident response matters. The team has a dedicated cyber incident hotline and particular experience using AI tools to support clients. Alongside incident response work, the team provides privacy advice, including in regards to regulatory investigations.

Practice head(s):

Kieran Doyle

Other key lawyers:

Nicole Gabryk

Testimonials

‘Kieran Doyle is approachable and is seen as a leading cyber coverage lawyer in our market.’

‘Up to speed on legal developments, fast to respond, with bench depth on team that allows them to handle multiple matters at once. These are professionals you want to work with.’

‘The data protection and cyber security team at Wotton+Kearney are leaders in the field. What truly sets them apart is their ability to explain complex concepts to their clients, putting them at ease at what can be an overwhelming time. Coupled with this, the team have excellent technical understanding in addition to their legal expertise.’

‘Kieran Doyle heads the practice, and goes beyond just providing legal advice.’

‘The team at Wotton + Kearney are incredibly supportive during substantial and major incidents.’

‘Lead partner Kieran Doyle is amazing, no answer was unexplained.’

Australia > Transport: shipping Tier 4

Naraya Lamart leads the group at Wotton + Kearney, which is described as ‘an excellent team, developing a real name in the market’, which will ‘always go beyond to arrive at the right contractual answer’. The team has a strong marine insurance practice and has experience acting in a range of proceedings, including hull and machinery, P&I, FD&D, cargo, freight forwarder and marina operator liability claims. On the regulatory side, Richard Howard is highlighted for his capabilities in negotiating with port authorities and regulators.

Practice head(s):

Naraya Lamart

Other key lawyers:

Richard Howard

Testimonials

‘Naraya Lamart and the team will always go beyond to arrive at the right contractual answer. Her ethics and ability to see through any complexity is brilliant.’

‘Naraya Lamart is establishing herself in the market.’

‘An excellent team, developing a real name in the market.’

Key clients

Chubb Insurance Australia

Zurich Australian Insurance

QBE

NTI

AM&T

Australia > Dispute resolution: class actions

Amanda Beattie joined Wotton + Kearney in Sydney from King & Wood Mallesons in March 2023, along with Georgie Austin and Richard Leder, in Melbourne, who moved over from Corrs Chambers Westgarth in January 2023; the new team combines commercial litigation experience with the firm’s existing insurance expertise.

Australia > Dispute resolution: litigation

Wotton + Kearney‘s dispute resolution team is headed by Richard Leder in Melbourne, who joined the firm in January 2023 from Corrs Chambers Westgarth, along with Georgie Austin. In Sydney, Amanda Beattie joined the team from King & Wood Mallesons in March 2023.