DLP Piper has welcomed veteran insurance litigator, Caroline Laband, as Partner. She has more than 15 years of experience in both New Zealand and the UK.
Laband worked most recently as a senior associate at
Russell McVeagh and has been named in
Who’s Who Legal 2013 and 2014 as one of the country’s leading insurance and reinsurance experts.
Laband graduated with a BA (Hons) and LLM (Hons) from Cambridge University, and practised as a barrister at the 7 King’s Bench Walk Chambers – London’s pre-eminent law insurance chambers.
She moved to New Zealand in 2008 seeking a change from the London life and an environment suited to adventure and travel.
“I am buzzing about working for this partnership. It’s dynamic, youthful and optimistic. It’s also a practical, down-to-earth partnership which is appealing to me,” she told
NZ Lawyer.
Because of
DLA Piper’s global reach, Laband said she feels the firm offers two special prospects for any lawyer: the ability to tap into knowledge of international case law and global legal trends, plus the opportunity to do top level multi-jurisdictional work for worldwide as well as local clients.
“DLA Piper’s global connection means that there is often a networked, international legal strategy as well, so there’s a great collegiality with offshore partners that you don’t get working in a New Zealand-only firm,” she added.
When asked what qualities she brought to the firm, Laband pointed to her lengthy and diverse legal experience.
“I practised as a barrister in London, and was therefore self-employed. That meant that I was solely responsible for the quality of my work and my practice right from the outset of my career.”
While in this role, Laband said she gained valuable experience in a short amount of time working with some of the top QCs in insurance law, including Lloyd’s of London.
She ended up specialising in the field of reinsurance – a field which expanded her insights and understanding of the mechanics behind the insurance industry.
“Operating in that market, I was exposed to a broad range of insurance trends and legal issues, often dealing with new issues that would set a precedent for insurance law in a number of jurisdictions.”
She has handled claims dealing with damage caused by major global events such as the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the Boxing Day tsunami in Phuket and hurricanes in the Caribbean.
She has continued this work since moving to New Zealand. As well as handling issues arising from the Canterbury earthquakes, she said she is also looking forward to facing future challenges such as changes to Fire Service funding, the new EQC Act, and the rise of cyber insurance.
