Wotton Kearney - New Zealand

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

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/

Earlier this week, Wotton Kearney was proud to attend and sponsor the NZUAC Expo in Ōtautahi | Christchurch.It was a gre...
21/05/2026

Earlier this week, Wotton Kearney was proud to attend and sponsor the NZUAC Expo in Ōtautahi | Christchurch.

It was a great opportunity for our team to connect with underwriting professionals from across the industry, share insights, and take part in valuable discussions on the challenges and developments shaping the market. During the rapid roundtables, Sam Hider and Kerry Moor summarised the key legislative and regulatory changes anticipated by the insurance industry over the next year, and were pleased to receive some insightful questions.

A big thank you to NZUAC for hosting another great event, and to everyone who stopped by to chat with our team throughout the day.

We look forward to continuing the conversations.

AI-generated citations in court submissions are no longer a hypothetical risk – they are happening, and the New Zealand ...
06/05/2026

AI-generated citations in court submissions are no longer a hypothetical risk – they are happening, and the New Zealand Supreme Court has taken notice.

In Jones v Family Court at Whangārei [2026] NZSC 1, the Court identified multiple hallucinated authorities in a leave application – including real case names paired with fabricated citations, and genuine matters with no direct relevance to the application.

Antony Holden, Managing Partner of WK New Zealand, examines what the decision means for practitioners, the risks of unchecked AI use in legal proceedings, and the safeguards every lawyer should have in place now.

Read the full article here: https://www.wottonkearney.com/when-ai-goes-to-court-lessons-from-jones-v-family-court-at-whangarei/

Last week in Christchurch | Ōtautahi, Wotton Kearney and our clients took to the greens at Papanui Bowls Club for a grea...
26/04/2026

Last week in Christchurch | Ōtautahi, Wotton Kearney and our clients took to the greens at Papanui Bowls Club for a great afternoon of lawn bowls, friendly competition, and good company.

From perfectly weighted shots to some near misses, there was no shortage of action. Congratulations to the combined WK and Delta Insurance team for taking out first place!

With the shift into the cooler months, it was a great chance to step away from the desk, connect with clients, and enjoy some relaxed time together in the sunshine.

Thank you to everyone who joined us for a great afternoon on the green.

We're proud to announce that Senior Associates Caitlin Barclay (Tauranga) and Sam Hider (Christchurch) have been named 2...
20/04/2026

We're proud to announce that Senior Associates Caitlin Barclay (Tauranga) and Sam Hider (Christchurch) have been named 2026 Future Legal Leaders by NZ Lawyer.

The award celebrates high-performing young lawyers across New Zealand who demonstrate outstanding professional achievement, leadership potential, and a meaningful contribution to the legal industry – and Caitlin and Sam have done exactly that.

It’s great to see talent across our Tauranga and Christchurch teams recognised, and the positive impact their work continues to have for our clients in the Bay of Plenty, the South Island, and across Aotearoa.

Congratulations to Caitlin and Sam on this well-deserved achievement!

Address

Level 8/21 Queen Street
Auckland
1143

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5:30pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

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+6493771854

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