Insurance Defence | Asia-Pacific

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.

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 inshareholder 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 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.

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 insuretech space, representing venture capital firms and start-ups.

Mills Oakley acted for Gordian RunOff in a test case in the NSW Supreme Court involving the interpretation of a statutory limitation on cover imposed on policies of Builders Warranty Insurance by the Home Building Act 1989 and the potential application of s54 of the Insurance Contracts Act 1984 to that statutory limitation.

The Norton Rose Fulbright offering is a go-to practice for insurer clients, offering a comprehensive service, seamlessly coordinated with that of related practice groups where appropriate, and excellent cross-border capabilities. The firm is active in the class action and regulatory investigation and commission spaces. The team demonstrates extensive expertise in technology, healthcare and life sciences-related insurance issues. The firm is also acknowledged for its strong non-contentious practice, advising on new products, M&A and licensing.