COVID-19: Implications for insurers – A Legalign Global Report

The significant impact of the coronavirus pandemic is being felt worldwide. For the insurance sector, the exposures created by the coronavirus are significant as an international event of this size and complexity carries a range of insurance risks, including first party and supply chain business interruption, event cancellation, travel and liability claims. Legalign Global’s alliance […]

Million dollar dismissal claims

Traditionally, multi-million dollar payouts in employment litigation were only awarded to executives of large corporates and high-profile public figures. With the evolution of the General Protections provisions in the Fair Work Act 1999, “average workers” are now regularly seeking – and winning – high levels of compensation and damages through adverse action claims. W+K’s EPL specialist […]

Ducking for cover – will ISR extensions offer protection from the new coronavirus?

The 2019 Novel Coronavirus has now been declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern by the World Health Organisation (WHO) – only the sixth time the WHO has made such a declaration. An international event of this size and complexity carries a range of insurance risks. While impacts on some lines of insurance remain […]

Informed Insurance: 2020 Predictions Report

We are pleased to share our latest Legalign Global thought leadership publication, Informed Insurance: 2020 Predictions, which has been launched in our region today. Aimed at supporting the global insurance market in preparing for the opportunities and challenges ahead, the report includes over 80 predictions by senior lawyers at the Legalign Global alliance firms, including Wotton […]

The critical role of decision makers in adverse action claims

The recent Full Federal Court of Australia decision, Australian Red Cross Society v Queensland Nursing Union of Employees [2019] FCAFC215, serves as a timely reminder of the importance of “decision maker” evidence in adverse actions claims. In this update, Wotton + Kearney’s Chris Mossman and Lisa Schumacher look at employers’ exposures around decision makers and ways […]

Wotton + Kearney recruits national EPL practice leader

Wotton + Kearney is pleased to announce the appointment of Chris Mossman, a highly regarded workplace lawyer and commercial litigator, as a Partner and new leader of the firm’s Employment Practices Liability (EPL) practice, based in Sydney. Cain Jackson, leader of the firm’s Financial Lines practice commented: “In looking for a senior specialist to lead […]

New Zealand’s new Privacy Act edges closer

The long-awaited legislative overhaul to New Zealand’s privacy framework contained in the Privacy Act 1993 is on track for commencement on 1 March 2020. The Privacy Bill, which contains a comprehensive suite of reforms, has recently passed its second legislative reading. New Zealand’s new privacy framework will be based on the same OECD principles that […]

Insurers face a double blow from cyber fines and claims in Australia

With anticipated new data protection laws and significant investigations underway, Australia appears set to create a data protection regime with high penalties and serious potential for third party claims. Increased enforcement, penalties and third party claims will create a rapid increase in exposure for insurers – and may put the question of whether cyber fines […]

Emerging General Liability Trends Update

Welcome to Wotton + Kearney’s snapshot of the key trends and emerging risks in general liability insurance in Australia. In this edition we look at the impact of recent significant matters, including the Lacrosse cladding fire litigation conducted by our Melbourne team, the ongoing risk of concussion claims and prison authority liability claims. We also […]

#MeToo is not over: sexual harassment claims to stay in the spotlight in 2019

Claims for sexual harassment have risen significantly in Australia during the past year, and they will keep rising. The recommendations from the National Inquiry into Sexual Harassment in Australian Workplaces could mean new claim types emerge. A rise in claims, combined with the renewed focus on sexual harassment, will cause businesses to increasingly take out […]