Advising broking houses, insurers, intermediaries, and local insureds, MinterEllisonRuddWatts advises clients from across the New Zealand insurance market and beyond. The firm is well-versed in providing general insurance claim assistance and has specialist knowledge in the life insurance, broker negligence, indemnity, and regulatory spaces. Litigation expert Andrew Horne and Stacey Shortall, a veteran in regulatory investigations, jointly lead the practice. Nick Frith is experienced in providing insurance claim advice in the context of natural disasters.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

‘Highly practical, timely advice given by subject matter experts.'
'Andrew Horne is very intellectual and delivers pragmatic advice in an easily understood way.’
'Andrew Horne a weapon lawyer who is so well read and has a deep understanding of insurance issues. Very practical and commercial advice.’

Key clients

Ando Insurance Group
Aon
AIA
Asteron Life Insurance
Marsh
Southern Cross Insurance
AA Insurance
Southern Cross Pet Insurance
Suncorp New Zealand
Tower Insurance

Work highlights

Advising Tower Insurance on a claim arising from the flood events that struck Auckland City in July 2022 and January 2023, and which are reported to have given rise to more than 20,000 insurance claims.
Representing BNZ and its insurers in a novel negligence claim against Wellington City Council relating to damage caused by the 2016 Kaikoura earthquake to the relatively new Harbour Quays building on the Wellington waterfront, which subsequently was demolished.
Acted for PIC Insurance Brokers Limited, New Zealand’s largest independent insurance broker, in defending a fourth party claim in High Court proceedings arising from the sale of a defective building.