Wynn Williams is widely acknowledged as being an industry leader in the specialised field of insurance law.
Our Insurance team has most recently been recommended by
The Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2022 and
Chambers Asia-Pacific 2022 where it is described as having "…
a wide breadth of experience in the New Zealand market, handling insurance matters across the board, from policy interpretation to dealing with sensitive issues in the handling of problematic claims."
The Team’s hallmark is product knowledge. We have been involved in a number of policy revision and redrafting programmes and commonly advise on coverage questions for all forms of property and liability lines, and reinsurance treaties. In addition to this, through our experience with claims arising from the Canterbury earthquakes, we have a unique understanding of insurance and building responses to natural disasters. We understand the importance of accessibility, clarity and promptness for insurer and policyholder alike, and work on the principle of providing accurate and practical advice, with cost effective resolutions for claim disputes and third-party actions.
We have longstanding relationships with many New Zealand and international insurers, and also accept instructions from businesses, bodies corporate and homeowners looking to resolve an insurance related issue, often on referral from insurance brokers, other lawyers or accountants.
Our services cover professional indemnity; product and public liability; directors’ and officers’ liability; business interruption; fire and general; disability and income protection. Our expertise in disputes involving insurers as parties is significant, and we are regularly instructed to act in:
- Disputes where the insurer has accepted liability and is indemnifying the insured.
- Disputes where the insurer's liability is disputed over questions of policy interpretation, scope of coverage and application of exclusions or endorsements arise.
Recent cases include:
- Acting for financial advisors sued for negligent advice where an insurer has declined cover.
- Successfully acting against professional advisors accused of negligence and professional liability.
