Insurance Defence | Asia-Pacific

Wotton Kearney is a well-regarded insurance powerhouse acting for major insurers on big-ticket disputes, including public and product liability, financial lines and professional indemnity matters. The team is experienced in claims involving the construction, infrastructure and energy sectors, among others. The firm possesses an impressive trans-Tasman footprint, maintaining nine offices across Australia and New Zealand, augmented by access to overseas markets, including those in London and Europe and across Asia, through an alliance with other specialist firms. The insurance team is active in such specialist areas as subrogated recoveries, cyber risk, class actions and medical malpractice, and especially noted for its niche expertise concerning the impact of insurance-related issues on the entertainment, leisure and sports sectors.

Barry Nilsson is a domestic firm with a very strong focus on insurance, covering a wide spectrum of insurance law issues including claims management. The team handles professional indemnity, D&O, public and product liability and cyber insurance matters, among others, for major insurers, reinsurers and insurance brokers, several of whom are clients of over 25 years' standing. It is notably adept in the handling of health and safety-related insurance issues and acknowledged for the increasingly national character of its offering, with offices in New South Wales, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria and Western Australia adding to its traditional strength in Queensland.

Colin Biggers & Paisley caters to an extensive roster of insurer clients on high-profile contentious matters, notably including high-stakes class actions and construction disputes. The firm is especially well-regarded for handling big-ticket D&O and professional indemnity disputes as well as fielding expertise with regard to coverage issues. Additionally, the team is active in asbestos litigation, personal injury and transport-related claims. Colin Biggers & Paisley advises both Australian and multinational clients from within and beyond the Asia-Pacific region and is particularly noted for assisting on work originating from the London market.

The Kennedys insurance team is a respected firm, noted for its impressive regional and broader international reach, particularly to the London market, and strength in contentious work. The firm primarily provides for insurer clients on a range of matters, covering all lines of insurance and including risk management issues, D&O disputes and public liability claims. Its insurance team operates in a wide range of areas, including the financial, corporate, construction, media and political sectors, notably developing its profile in the medical malpractice space.

The Clyde & Co team forms part of an insurance offering with global reach, represents an impressive list of well-known insurers and reinsurers, many of whom are clients of long standing, and covers a comprehensive range of insurance classes. The insurance team is regularly sought out to handle high-profile litigation as well as advisory work. Clyde & Co has substantial experience in shareholder class actions, professional indemnity and property-related matters. The firm has established expertise in the growing area of cyber liability and is also noted for its ability to assist on issues around licensing, regulation and compliance.

Hall & Wilcox acts for insurers, reinsurers, underwriters and self-insured corporations on contentious and non-contentious insurance matters, including policy wording, regulatory issues, claims recovery and settlement strategies. Its product lines include professional indemnity, management liability, general and product liability, workers' compensation, recoveries, cyber and accident and health. Hall & Wilcox also assists insurers on statutory insurance matters such as workers' compensation and compulsory third-party insurance.

MinterEllison demonstrates a broad skill set across the whole gamut of insurance issues and on a truly nationwide basis. Its insurance team is routinely sought out by both insurer and policyholder clients to handle complex front-end work including corporate advisory, reinsurance and policy wordings. The team is equally adept in handling significant contentious claims, with particular strength in medical malpractice, product liability, regulatory compliance and asbestos claims. It has a focus on emerging risk classes such as warranty and indemnity insurance and cyber risk and receives specific praise for its ability to service insurance-related class actions.

Moray & Agnew is a well-known national firm, principally focused on insurance defence issues and routinely handling back-end work for significant insurer clients, reinsurers, underwriters and government agencies. Its insurance team offers specialist knowledge in a range of areas including public liability, medical negligence, industrial special risks and D&O liability. Its clients include international insurers, niche insurers, underwriters, brokers, reinsurers, claims management agencies, government agencies and self-insured corporations. The firm is active in the life insurance space and offers niche expertise in the employment practices liability and workers' compensation spheres.

DLA Piper has a full-service offering and is well placed to act across financial lines, construction, cyber and W&I claims. The team is also noted for its non-contentious capability, with experience advising on transactional and compliance matters, as well as pricing and insurance products. The insurance team is also active in the insurtech space, representing venture capital firms and start-ups.

Gilchrist Connell is an accomplished insurance firm assisting insurers with a broad range of contentious issues, including financial lines, professional indemnity, public liability, casualty and construction-related claims. The firm also operates on life insurance, subrogated recovery and policy coverage matters. Gilchrist Connell has a broad geographical spread with offices situated in every mainland state in Australia, complemented by recent new hires and augmented by membership of the international Harmonie Group of risk industry-focused law firms.

Mills Oakley demonstrates strong litigation capability, with expertise across a broad range of insurance lines including construction, marine, professional indemnity, D&O and medical.