Major insurance law firms integrate Australia, NZ operations

After joining forces earlier this year as part of the Legalign Global alliance, major insurance law firms Wotton + Kearney (W+K) and DAC Beachcroft announced on Monday they have integrated their Australian and New Zealand operations.

The move aims to strengthen their focus in the region, a statement from W+K said. As a development of Legalign, two offices in Auckland and Wellington – previously part of DAC Beachcroft – will become Wotton + Kearney (W+K) in New Zealand from 9 October.

“This expansion is consistent with our motivation to continue to build on our strong and collaborative global alliance and we look forward to enhancing our regional W+K team as we work with other Legalign Global member firms to deliver insurance legal services to our clients,” said W+K chief executive partner David Kearney.

Apart from W+K and Beachcroft, other founding members of the alliance are German firm BLD Bach Langheid Dallmayr; and US-based Wilson Elser. Although the members offer services beyond services to insurers, Legalign focuses on insurance/reinsurance coverage, insurance/reinsurance defence, and insurance regulatory & compliance.

“Given our existing relationship with W+K and their knowledge of the New Zealand insurance market, we see this as an exceptional opportunity to reinforce our local market presence and build on the Legalign Global brand across Australasia,” said Anthony Holden, W+K managing partner of the New Zealand practice.

For his part, Beachcroft managing partner David Pollit said the firm’s clients in the Australasia region will be better served under the initiative. “It is a really positive move, a strong sign of the commitment of Legalign Global to serving our clients and we wish our colleagues all the best."


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