Wotton Kearney - New Zealand

Wotton Kearney - New Zealand Wotton Kearney is Asia Pacific’s insurance and risk legal business.

Earlier this week, WK attended the New Zealand Underwriting Agencies Council (NZUAC) Expo in Auckland Tāmaki Makaurau.It...
20/08/2026

Earlier this week, WK attended the New Zealand Underwriting Agencies Council (NZUAC) Expo in Auckland Tāmaki Makaurau.

It was great to catch up with familiar faces, meet plenty of new ones, and discuss the issues shaping today’s insurance market.

The rapid roundtable sessions sparked some interesting discussions, with Special Counsel Meredith Karlsen and Senior Associate Matt Hutcheson sharing insights on upcoming legislative and regulatory developments – including the proposed proportionate liability regime and RMA enforcement trends.

A big thank you to NZUAC for putting on another fantastic event and for the opportunity to get involved as a sponsor.

Last week, WK gathered in Christchurch Ōtautahi to connect with law students from , holding a panel discussion and shari...
19/08/2026

Last week, WK gathered in Christchurch Ōtautahi to connect with law students from , holding a panel discussion and sharing insights into careers in insurance law and litigation.

The group discussed what a law career at Wotton Kearney looks like on a daily basis. The conversation covered the wide range of work new lawyers rotate through, training, support, mentorship and development. Students got some great tips on how to stand out at work and during the recruitment process – such as the value of being open, curiosity and tenacity, and the importance of being your authentic self.

It was great to see students so engaged throughout the session, asking thoughtful questions and staying on afterwards to continue the conversation.

Thank you to and for having us. We always enjoy connecting with future legal talent and supporting the next generation of lawyers.

New Zealand’s Resource Management Act has attracted significant attention, with a new maximum fine of $10 million for co...
13/08/2026

New Zealand’s Resource Management Act has attracted significant attention, with a new maximum fine of $10 million for corporate offenders.

For large corporates, the message from New Zealand Parliament appears clear. What was once a $600,000 maximum fine has become $10 million. The intent is plainly to expose serious environmental offending to significantly greater penalties.

In this article, Neil Beadle and Finlay Watson from our Statutory Liability team share what this change means for dairy farmers and small commercial operators.

Read here: https://www.wottonkearney.com/new-10-million-environmental-fines-what-dairy-farmers-and-smes-need-to-know/

The New Zealand Court of Appeal has reaffirmed the principle of non-intervention in discretionary trustee decisions, cla...
13/08/2026

The New Zealand Court of Appeal has reaffirmed the principle of non-intervention in discretionary trustee decisions, clarifying the distinction between reviewing a trustee's decision-making process under the Trusts Act 2019 and second-guessing discretionary decisions, which remains outside the court's remit.

The decision is particularly significant for professional trustees and their insurers, confirming the heightened standards of care that apply while reinforcing the limited grounds on which discretionary decisions may be challenged.

In this article, Mathew Francis, Rebecca Scott, James Dymock and Alison Cupples share their key takeaways from the decision.

Read here: https://www.wottonkearney.com/new-zealand-court-of-appeal-clarifies-trustee-discretion-and-duty-of-care/

New amendments to New Zealand’s Lawyers and Conveyancers Act 2006 could significantly change the way complaints against ...
10/08/2026

New amendments to New Zealand’s Lawyers and Conveyancers Act 2006 could significantly change the way complaints against lawyers are managed.

The Regulatory Systems (Occupational Regulation) Amendment Bill, which received Royal Assent on 9 July 2026, introduces a new complaints triage process that shifts the initial assessment of complaints from Lawyers Standards Committees to the Lawyers Complaints Service.

The amendments aim to improve efficiency, reduce administrative burden, and strengthen conveyancing regulation, including making practitioners' undertakings enforceable in the High Court.

In this article, Mathew Francis, Emily Whiteside, Alison Cupples, and Filip Nikolic examine the key reforms, the practical implications for practitioners and insurers, and the questions that remain regarding implementation and review rights.

Read here: https://www.wottonkearney.com/new-zealands-lawyers-and-conveyancers-act-2006-a-new-complaints-framework/

This week we’re excited to announce the integration of leading New Zealand maritime and fisheries practice Oceanlaw with...
30/07/2026

This week we’re excited to announce the integration of leading New Zealand maritime and fisheries practice Oceanlaw with Wotton Kearney, effective 1 August.

This milestone expands our specialist marine offering and establishes WK's fifth New Zealand office in Nelson, strengthening our presence across the region and enhancing the support we provide to insurers, brokers and businesses operating in the maritime and fisheries sectors.

The Oceanlaw team brings deep expertise across maritime, fisheries, aquaculture and the Māori sector. Partners Hamish Fletcher and Karyn van Wijngaarden will join WK alongside consultants Justine Inns and Mike Sullivan, and lawyers Hayley Campbell and Daniel Jackson.

Their arrival further strengthens our growing marine practice, complementing the expertise of Caroline Laband and Neil Beadle, while extending our reach and capability across New Zealand's South Island.

By bringing together two highly regarded firms, we're creating one of the region's leading marine practices – combining specialist expertise, local knowledge and an expanded APAC footprint to deliver even greater value to clients.

This is an important step in our continued growth across New Zealand and reflects our commitment to investing in specialist capability to support our clients.

Find out more: https://www.wottonkearney.com/wotton-kearney-expands-its-marine-practice-across-asia-pacific-with-oceanlaw-integration

Last week, we had the pleasure of bringing clients together to mark the official opening of our Tauranga office – a mile...
24/06/2026

Last week, we had the pleasure of bringing clients together to mark the official opening of our Tauranga office – a milestone we've been working toward since establishing a local hub here in early 2022.

It was a wonderful evening: great conversation, familiar and new faces, and views over the Tauranga Harbour that made for a fantastic backdrop.

It was great to celebrate alongside Murray Grant, Charles Henley and Caitlin Barclay, who are already doing great work for clients across the Bay of Plenty and throughout New Zealand, and who continue to lead our presence in the region. A special thanks also to Managing Partner Antony Holden and Partners Rebecca Scott, Misha Heneghan and James Dymock for travelling to mark the occasion with us.

We're grateful to everyone who has been part of this journey – and look forward to spending more time with our clients and out in the community of Tauranga!

Heading to the ANZIIF New Zealand Liability Conference next week? So are we! Partners Misha Henaghan and Rebecca Scott a...
19/06/2026

Heading to the ANZIIF New Zealand Liability Conference next week? So are we!

Partners Misha Henaghan and Rebecca Scott and Senior Associate Meredith Karlsen will be joining the conversation – with Special Counsel Charles Henley taking the stage at 10.35am to present 'From Incident to Evidence: Forensic Case Analysis in General Liability, Fire and Property' alongside Russell Joseph, Managing Director at Corporate Risks. Charles will explore how forensic case analysis is shaping the way liability, fire and property claims are investigated and resolved.

As liability risks continue to evolve, this conference is a valuable opportunity for insurance professionals to stay at the forefront of a rapidly changing sector.

We're proud sponsors of this year's event and look forward to connecting with peers and contributing to the conversations shaping the future of liability in Aotearoa.

Find out more: https://anziif.com/professional-development/events/new-zealand-liability-conference

MBIE’s latest construction reforms are set to reshape liability, insurance settings and compliance across the sector. An...
17/06/2026

MBIE’s latest construction reforms are set to reshape liability, insurance settings and compliance across the sector.

Antony Holden, Misha Henaghan, Mathew Francis, Richie Flinn, Katie Shanks and Sam Hider break down the key updates, from proportionate liability to earthquake-prone buildings and self-certification, and what they mean in practice.

Read Here: https://www.wottonkearney.com/mbie-updates-the-construction-sector-on-proportionate-liability-earthquake-prone-buildings-self-certification-and-more/

For directors and executives, the regulatory and enforcement environment is sending a consistent message in 2026 – gover...
28/05/2026

For directors and executives, the regulatory and enforcement environment is sending a consistent message in 2026 – governance obligations are personal, active and increasingly enforced.

In our first D&O, Financial Institutions and Regulatory Update, we cover decisions, penalties and outcomes including executive liability across the sector.

Antony Holden, Caroline Laband, Michael Cavanaugh and Sophia Lynch share these developments to help you anticipate risk, sharpen governance and stay ahead of emerging issues.

Read here: https://www.wottonkearney.com/do-financial-institutions-and-regulatory-update-may-2026/

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