General Insurance

Locally and internationally, unrivalled merger and acquisition activity has caused significant market consolidation. International insurers are expanding within the domestic market and domestic insurers are contemplating regional growth amidst the extreme potential presented within the Asia-Pacific region. The growing competition sees insurers demand efficiencies across all facets of their increasingly regional business to competitively meet the evolving demands of the market and increasing sophistication of consumers. At the same time, the industry continues to grapple with emerging risks and challenges posed by rapidly evolving climate, societal and technological change.

HWLE’s national general insurance team is well equipped to partner with participants in the insurance field to face these industry changes. We have a long connection with the market, having advised on all aspects of insurance and reinsurance. The firm has one of the largest insurance claims and advisory teams in Australia, providing claims advice and assistance to major general insurers, specialist insurers, underwriting agents, reinsurers, life insurers and brokers. We act for participants in both the Australian market and overseas market, including London-based insurers.

We combine the benefits of an insurance-focussed practice with the broader enhanced service offering that comes from being part of a full service law firm, drawing on other areas of expertise where relevant to our insurance practice. Our firm’s financial model is unique and enables us to deliver services to the insurance industry at competitive rates.

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How we can assist

Our national team is nimble and experienced to adapt to the constant changes and challenges in the general insurance landscape. We are able to identify the emerging trends impacting the sector and collaborate to develop sophisticated approaches. We are actively participating in emerging and growing areas of practice such as employment practices liability, technology liability and cyber risk.

Whilst a large part of our core insurance practice is claims based, we also undertake transactional work for our clients. This includes advising and drafting policy terms and conditions, assisting with portfolio transfers, restructuring reinsurance arrangements and advising in respect of insurance product dissemination.

We offer advice and representation across a diverse range of general insurance products including in the areas of public liability, professional indemnity, directors & officers, property, industrial special risks, contractors’ all risks, business interruption, energy, management liability, employment practices liability, work, health and safety and medical malpractice. We also offer advice in respect of specialist products including sickness and accident policies and personal accident schemes and life insurance products.

We act on matters ranging from high volume, non-complex matters to large, complex and high value insurance related claims.

General Insurance

Our experience

  • Professional indemnity claims Against solicitors, accountants, insolvency practitioners, auditors, financial planners, mortgage brokers, stockbrokers, trustee companies, fund managers and other finance professionals, financial institutions, valuers, real estate agents and insurance brokers.
  • Building and construction professionals Claims against building and construction professionals including project managers, architects, structural engineers, design and construction engineers, project verifiers, geotechnical engineers, building consultants and building surveyors.
  • Liability claims Involving a range of different insureds including shopping centres, clubs, hotels, construction companies, hospitals, property owners, mining companies and many others.
  • Class Actions Including mass toxic tort and product liability class actions, catastrophic personal injury, fatality and dust diseases claims.
  • Other Claims Including media, technology and cyber related claims.
  • Directors & officers Matters ranging from small disputes involving SME companies through to large shareholder class actions.
  • Catastrophic natural and manmade events Including major floods, bushfires, storms and catastrophic explosions.
  • Long tail claims Including alleged systemic organisational abuse.