The promotions boost the NZ branch’s offerings in financial lines and medico-legal/employment
Wotton + Kearney (W+K) has elevated two lawyers to special counsel and senior associate positions.
James Dymock from the Auckland office ascends to special counsel on 1 January, while Kate Wills will become the newest senior associate in the Wellington branch.
Dymock focuses on insurance and reinsurance-related dispute resolution. He has handled a variety of matters associated with financial institutions, professional indemnity, large E&O claims, casualty claims, construction, property and commercial general liability.
He has experience with ad hoc international arbitrations, as well as those based on rules such as UNCITRAL. His clients include primary, umbrella and pure excess insurers.
Dymock’s recent cases include advising local and overseas insurers on property and business interruption losses resulting from the Canterbury earthquakes. He has also defended architects, project managers, insurance brokers, lawyers and accountants in civil proceedings.
Wills has particular experience in medico-legal, employment law and general litigation issues. She has assisted in investigations conducted by regulatory bodies, providing advice to medical practitioners on the instruction of the Medical Protection Society.
She has guided clients through complaints processes and court proceedings, and has appeared before the Health Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal as well as in coronial inquests as a junior counsel. She has also come before the Human Rights Review Tribunal, Professional Conduct Committee and the High Court in appeal proceedings.
Wills has also gained overseas experience in medico-legal matters, having spent time in Ireland focusing on medical negligence and personal injury law. She has also worked on contentious and non-contentious employment matters, such as restructuring and redundancy, dismissal, performance management and workplace health and safety obligations.
In addition to the promotions of Dymock and Wills, W+K also elevated 15 lawyers in Australia to senior roles.
“These senior promotions, which are across all of our offices and practice groups, together with the 13 promotions we made in July this year, reflect Wotton + Kearney’s commitment to offer our clients deeper expertise,” CEP David Kearney said. “With our people-first culture, we do this by recognising emerging talent and growing our ranks of senior specialists in key insurance lines.”
