Tell us about your journey to becoming a partner at W+K
I came over from DLA Piper New Zealand in Feb 2022 alongside Peter Leman, Caroline Laband, Misha Heneghan and the team. It was so exciting and refreshing coming to W+K together and feeling so welcome by everyone here (and reuniting with so many old colleagues of years gone by). I knew pretty early on after the move that this was a partnership I wanted to be involved with. We truly are the leading insurance law firm in Australasia.
What made you decide to become a lawyer?
Watching “The Castle” as a youngster and wanting to make things resolve “on just terms” (Lawrence Hammill QC, The Castle). Still one of my favourite films ever. I’ve also been told by my parents I used to say I wanted to be a lawyer while I was at kindergarten (likely having no idea what one was at the time). But I have been very interested in the law from an early age. Even in my downtime, you’ll find me reading legal novels, watching legal TV shows (British dramas are the best) or following legal news stories.
What do you think is a major issue facing your area of law?
Specialising in property, material damage and business interruption cover, a significant issue I see that no longer feels theoretical is climate change and the impact this is having on the insurance industry and the potential availability of cover for certain areas or risks going forward. The recent myriad of legal issues thrown up by the recent cyclones and floods in the upper North Island are both intellectually stimulating and exciting, but at the same time worrying as the frequency of natural disasters seems to be increasing exponentially.
What’s the best piece of advice (work or personal) you’ve been given?
At the end of the day, just make sure what you do makes you happy.
What do you enjoy most about working at W+K?
It will sound a bit naff, but it really is my colleagues. I feel like I work with family and my best friends all at once.
What do you get up to outside of law?
Summer is tennis, beaches and afternoon beers with friends. Winter is snowboarding when I get a chance to string a few days on the mountain together. Otherwise, I really enjoy just chilling at home or going for long walks with just me and my thoughts.
Complete this sentence – if I wasn’t a lawyer, I would be…
A high school teacher. Likely teaching history or classical studies.