Fee Langstone

Melissa has practiced for over 20 years in insurance litigation and insurance advisory work across New Zealand, the United Kingdom and Australia.  She has undertaken work in most areas of insurance including first party property claims under both material damage and consumer policies, reinsurance disputes, life insurance, liability policies and financial lines.

One of Melissa’s strengths is the depth of her in-house experience.  In these roles Melissa has been a trusted advisor to claims, product, underwriting and customer teams and valued for her pragmatic and commercial advice.

Melissa was first admitted in Queensland, Australia.  She then spent over 6 years in London working in the insurance and reinsurance team of a firm in the City of London, and then as in-house counsel at a Lloyd’s managing agency.

In 2010 Melissa moved with her New Zealand husband to Auckland, and commenced practice with Fee Langstone’s predecessor firm.  During this time, she advised on coverage issues arising out of the Christchurch earthquake sequence and had a particular focus on drafting and reviewing policy wordings.

Melissa then returned to in-house roles, including as a claims’ solicitor for a managing agency, responsible for managing a full range of professional indemnity and professional disciplinary claims.  She also spent over 6 years with a large insurance group where she provided legal support to general and life insurance brands.  Melissa returned to Fee Langstone in 2024.

New Zealand Law Society

New Zealand Insurance Law Association

Auckland Women Lawyers' Association