Bell Gully advises many of New Zealand’s major insurers, insured companies and associations on regulatory compliance and policy wording, as well as M&A matters in the insurance industry. It continues to work with leading insurers in negotiating the Natural Disaster Response Model. Described by clients as a ‘first choice for particularly difficult insurance law issues’, senior litigator David Friar leads the practice alongside corporate partner Glenn Joblin, with the assistance of special counsel Katie Dow, whose practice covers policy documentation and the regulatory aspects of corporate transactions, with a focus on the financial services industry.

A national practice with multiple offices across the country, Duncan Cotterill is well known for its work in insurance claims and disputes, as well as its advice on corporate restructuring and governance issues. The team is also well versed in issues relating to indemnity and liability and reserve reporting. Experts in professional indemnity insurance work Jonathan Scragg in Wellington and Auckland’s Duncan McGill act for insurers and professionals in defending civil liability claims and disciplinary processes. Paul Smith and Rob Coltman specialise in litigation, handling a wide range of disputes, including subrogated recovery claims and defence litigation for insurers.

Based primarily in Auckland, insurance is the cornerstone of Fee Langstone‘s practice. Renowned for its expertise in policy advice and indemnity matters, its capabilities also extend to regulatory and compliance work and professional disciplinary complaints. Department co-heads Philippa Fee, who clients describe as a ‘true insurance expert‘ with ‘wide ranging experience across various insurance lines’, and Craig Langstone are leaders in the industry, with Langstone advising across the whole spectrum of insurance matters, including professional indemnity, public liability, business interruption and parametric insurance. Pauline Davies is highlighted as ‘extremely knowledgeable and approachable in the marine field’. Litigators Cecily Brick, Matthew Atkinson, Virginia Wethey and counsel Bradley Alcorn are key practitioners in Auckland.

Market-leading practice Wotton + Kearney represents major players in the New Zealand and London markets, as well as local brokers and corporate insureds. Key areas of work include general liability, financial lines, complex property claims, employment practices liability, cyber/privacy and subrogated recoveries. Managing partner in Wellington Antony Holden is supported by a sizeable team in Auckland and Wellington including professional indemnity specialist Mathew Francis, experts in material damage and business interruption claims Richard Flinn and Caroline Laband, as well as senior partner Peter Leman. Misha Henaghan, Shane Swinerd and counsels Andrew Moore, Matthew Booth and Hugh King are also recommended for such claims. Rebecca Scott leads on employment litigation.

With a global network of overseas insurers and reinsurers doing business in New Zealand, DLA Piper New Zealand is routinely instructed on W&I insurance, regulatory matters, policy drafting and privacy issues. In Wellington, Rachel Taylor focuses on the consumer law aspects of offering insurance, and general commercial and corporate advice. Emma Moran is the lead litigator for insurers and insureds on claims, including those connected to professional liability and indemnity.

Known for its insurer representation in complex and sensitive indemnity matters, Gilbert Walker is sought after for a range of property damage and earthquake-related claims. Matthew Harris, Martin Smith and Iva Rosic are the lead litigators for insured clients in civil proceedings, regulatory investigations and prosecutions, appearing in both courts and in arbitration proceedings. Harris is noted for his expertise in product liability, disciplinary complaints against barristers and solicitors as well as professional negligence.

Hesketh Henry demonstrates strength in coverage, business interruption, cyber, professional indemnity, health and safety, and regulatory matters. With over three decades of experience, Alan Sherlock leads the practice, specialising in supporting insurers and pursuing or defending claims as they relate to marine insurance, fire insurance, reinsurance and third-party liability. Litigator Helen Macfarlane and managing partner Christina Bryant are also key practitioners. Counsel Stephanie Corban also defends insureds in relation to negligence claims.

MinterEllisonRuddWatts focuses on representing international underwriters, brokers and insureds on their claims against local and international insurers, advising on regulatory investigations, health insurance claims and broker negligence. Andrew Horne and Nick Frith are the key contacts in Auckland, with Frith being described as ‘someone you can trust to do a really spectacular job’ and Horne specialising in commercial disputes, corporate and regulatory issues, financial services insurance as well as matters in the cyber and technology fields.

Founding partners Michael Robertson and Helen Twomey at Robertsons are well regarded, highlighted by one client as 'happy to look for outside-the-box solutions’. The team expanded with the addition of commercial and civil litigator Tom Pasley from Fee Langstone in January 2023. As one of a handful of New Zealand’s specialist insurance law practices, the team is noted for its capabilities in defending property damage and construction claims and for its ‘strong experience with policy wording drafting’, while also remaining active in professional liability and general liability cases.

Russell McVeagh continues to be known for its advisory and contentious work with the Toka Tū Ake Earthquake Commission regarding its obligations arising from the Canterbury earthquake sequence. Acting principally on coverage disputes, Marika Eastwick-Field co-heads the practice alongside Nathaniel Walker, who is knowledgeable in claims arising out of natural catastrophes. Tom Hunt is the lead partner for insurance regulatory work.

Simpson Grierson‘s team are liability specialists, working across all policy lines for national and international insurers. For insureds, the practice continues to handle material damage and business interruption claims arising from the Canterbury earthquakes and Cyclone Gabrielle. Practice head Helen Smith is an experienced defence counsel in professional indemnity, public and product liability. Special counsel Robert Gapes is highly recommended for product liability, as are litigators John Shackleton and Jania Baigent.

Wynn Williams advises major New Zealand and offshore insurers, Lloyds syndicates, national brokers and corporate insureds on professional liability, statutory liability, and fire, property and health insurance claims. Richard Hern is active in disputes involving real estate agents on instructions either directly from real estate firms or their insurers, as well as complex and high-value life insurance claims. In Christchurch, professional indemnity specialist Richard Hargreaves defends lawyers, architects, project managers and real estate agents. Greg Simms heads the practice. Emily Walton left the firm in January 2023.

Wilson Harle excels in coverage advice and disputes, often acting for overseas insurers or reinsurers in specialised or disputed claims, particularly Lloyd’s syndicates or London market firms. The team is comprised of litigation expert and practice head Ian Denton, senior partner Chris Browne and Felicity Monteiro.