Wotton + Kearney

Antony is the Managing Partner of Wotton + Kearney in New Zealand, a role that involves ensuring that the firm’s reputation for technical excellence and strong client relationships is demonstrated by every lawyer, every day. Antony acts for insurers, reinsurers and their clients on a wide range of insurance issues, with experience in New Zealand, the Pacific Islands, Great Britain and the Channel Islands. He specialises in professional liability, directors + officers liability, contract works + construction, public and product liability, and first party property claims. Antony has defended insurers in high-profile D&O claims following the collapse of Nathans Finance and Hanover Finance. He and his team are also known for having had major wins for insurers in New Zealand’s highest Courts on high-profile and precedent-setting cases. Antony has led the response of a number of global insurers, reinsurers and Lloyd’s syndicates to the Canterbury and Kaikoura earthquakes. This has included disputes about insurers’ allocation and re-allocation of losses between earthquake events. Admitted in England and Wales as well as New Zealand, Antony is highly regarded by his colleagues and clients, and is a regular speaker at industry events. Antony has been recognised by his peers and clients as a: Hall of Fame for Insurance in New Zealand – The Legal 500 Asia-Pacific, 2016-2022 Ranked lawyer for Insurance in New Zealand – Chambers & Partners, 2016-2022 Finalist for “Managing Partner of the Year” – New Zealand Law Awards 2016, 2017 and 2018

Matt acts for insurers and their clients across a range of practice areas including material damage, business interruption, general liability, professional indemnity, and statutory liability. Matt has extensive experience in the construction and property sectors having been heavily involved in the complex issues arising out of the defective repair of homes damaged by the Christchurch earthquakes, including insurers’ responsibility for this damage and recovery against responsible builders, contractors, and project managers. Matt has handled the leading cases in this area and regularly appears in the District Court, High Court, Canterbury Earthquake Insurance Tribunal, and in mediations and judicial settlement conferences. In addition, Matt helps insureds defend charges laid under the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 and Resource Management Act 1991. He also acts in disciplinary proceedings against professionals such as solicitors, accountants, builders, and electricians. Matt regularly handles subrogated recoveries for insurers. Matt has been recognised as a ‘Rising Star’ in the Asia Pacific Legal 500 2021 insurance rankings and was named in the inaugural NZ Lawyer Rising Stars list for 2020.

Andrew has worked in the insurance sector since 2010 when he joined the Auckland team. Andrew has completed secondments with three international insurers assisting their Contracts, Outsourcing and Data Protection team and their claims teams respectively. Andrew specialises in first party losses advising local and international insurers and reinsurers on complex indemnity disputes in New Zealand and the South Pacific including Fiji. He also regularly advises on subrogated recoveries. Andrew has been recognised as a ‘Next Generation Lawyer’ by The Legal 500 Asia-Pacific since 2016, an ‘Up and Coming’ individual in Chambers Asia-Pacific 2022 and was named in the inaugural NZ Lawyer Rising Stars list for 2020.

Hugh acts for insurers and their insureds across various sectors, with a focus on indemnity advice, professional liability and disciplinary, directors and officers and construction claims. He is a former Judges’ Clerk to the High Court at Auckland and has previously worked as a civil litigator for law firms in New Zealand and Australia. Hugh has undertaken post-graduate studies in law at the University of Toronto and New York University.

Shane is experienced advising on material damage, business interruption and general liability matters, including litigation arising from the Canterbury and Kaikoura earthquakes. He regularly appears in the District Court, High Court, Canterbury Earthquake Insurance Tribunal, and in mediations and judicial settlement conferences. He also advises on compliance, fire and general, public and product liability, and statutory liability matters. He is recognised as an effective advocate with a particular specialty in negotiating and/or mediating successful outcomes. Clients praise his ability to collaborate with their businesses, distil issues, and provide digestible, pragmatic and commercial advice that is easily understood by all. Shane has been recognised as a ‘Rising Star’ in the Asia Pacific Legal 500 2021 insurance rankings and was named in the inaugural NZ Lawyer Rising Stars list for 2020.  He was also a finalist for Young Private Practitioner of the Year in NZ Lawyer for 2020.

Peter is an insurance litigator who is particularly known for advising on complex coverage disputes in both property and liability claims. In recent years, this has included novel claims involving liability for defective repair of earthquake damage. Peter also has a strong interest in defending professional indemnity claims against engineers. Peter is ranked as a leading individual for insurance law in New Zealand by The Legal 500 and a Band 2 individual for insurance by Chambers & Partners, with one source commenting: “Peter’s level of knowledge is a real asset to the insurance industry. He is always a reliable source when seeking advice pertaining to the application of the law in this space.”

Caroline has extensive experience in handling contentious insurance issues. She regularly assists insurers with complex material damage and business interruption claims and has acted in a number of landmark material damage proceedings up to Supreme Court level. She is also experienced in policy drafting and has led major policy wording projects for insurers across the whole suite of insurance and reinsurance policies. Caroline has a reputation for being able to help insurers, brokers and insured corporations navigate their way through complex disputes. She has local and international experience, having worked in New Zealand and the United Kingdom in matters involving both litigation to Supreme Court level and arbitration. Caroline is ranked a leading individual for insurance law in New Zealand by The Legal 500 and a Band 2 individual for insurance by Chambers & Partners, with one client commenting: “She is a highly respected insurance lawyer with a deep understanding of critical issues.” She was also named by NZ Lawyer and Insurance Business NZ as a 5-Star Award winner, recognising the 12 highest-ranking insurance lawyers in New Zealand.

Richard acts for insurers and their clients on a variety of insurance disputes, with a focus on professional indemnity and management liability, including statutory liability and environmental impairment claims. Richard has specific experience in the construction, agricultural and healthcare sectors. An advocate for alternative dispute resolution, Richard believes strongly in proactive and constructive litigation management to achieve commercial and efficient outcomes for his clients. In addition to his experience in the civil and criminal jurisdictions, Richard has significant experience acting in disciplinary proceedings against professionals such as healthcare providers, engineers, real estate agents and solicitors. Richard also handles a number of significant subrogated recoveries for insurers. Richard has been recognised as in the Asia-Pacific Legal 500 2021 as a ‘Next Generation Partner’ .

Rebecca advises on professional liability and employment law claims and disputes. Her professional liability experience is extremely varied, having advised on a broad range of claims and disciplinary complaints against professionals, including engineers, solicitors and accountants. She also has expertise in coverage issues, particularly with employment practices liability and professional indemnity, but also public and product liability and property insurance. In her employment practice, Rebecca handles personal grievances, manages bullying and disciplinary investigations, and advises on employment processes. Approachable and responsive, Rebecca is recognised in the Asia-Pacific Legal 500 as a ‘Next Generation Partner’ providing “cost-effective, sound strategic advice”.  Focused on the issues that matter to clients, she achieves effective and efficient outcomes, including through mediation. She has also been recognised as a leading lawyer for insurance law by The Best Lawyers in New Zealand 2022 and 2021. A committed pro bono and CSR advocate, Rebecca is a member of the CSR Committee of Wotton + Kearney’s Auckland office. She is admitted to practice in England and Wales, as well as New Zealand.

Misha advises and acts for insurers and their insureds clients with a focus on liability claims – general liability, construction liability, third party property claims, and product liability. Misha is an experienced civil litigator who regularly represents insureds in litigated and contentious claims across a wide range of sectors. She is particularly known for her work in the construction sector and in the health and life science sector (utilising her science degree). She also regularly represents insureds in regulatory and disciplinary investigations and proceedings and assists insures with coronial inquiries and complaints. Misha is ranked by Chambers & Partner as an Up-and-Coming individual for insurance law in New Zealand and as a Next Generation Partner in The Legal 500 Asia-Pacific.