Hugh acts for insurers and their insureds across various sectors, with a focus on indemnity advice, professional liability and disciplinary, directors and officers and construction claims. He is a former Judges’ Clerk to the High Court at Auckland and has previously worked as a civil litigator for law firms in New Zealand and Australia. Hugh has undertaken post-graduate studies in law at the University of Toronto and New York University.
- Providing coverage advice to insurers and excess layer insurers in relation to various “leaky building” claims, including advice on the meaning and timing of “property damage” and the operation of “defective product” and “wet building” exclusions.
- Acting as defence counsel for architects, architectural designers, structural and geotechnical engineers in numerous “leaky building”,subsidence and defective repair claims.
- Acting as defence counsel for solicitors, valuers and brokers in various negligence claims.
- Defending solicitors against complaints to the Law Society alleging over-charging and negligence.
- Defending a solicitor in judicial review proceedings challenging Law Society determinations and successfully obtaining permanent name suppression.
- Advising insurers and, where applicable, defending insureds following large product liability claims, including in relation to vessel collapses, failures of reinforcing steel and failure of cladding.
- Providing coverage advice to excess layer insurers in relation to a representative action again carpet manufacturers following an issue of securities to the public.
- Acting for the insurers of finance company directors involved in civil proceedings and regulatory investigations by the Financial Markets Authority and Serious Fraud Office.
- Providing business interruption and material damage coverage advice to insurers following earthquake and methamphetamine-related damage.
- Acting for an insurer in relation to a policy dispute over business interruption loss caused by a Maui gas pipeline disruption.
- Acting for insurers on various subrogated recoveries.
Areas of Expertise
- Directors + Officers Liability
- Product Liability + Recall
- Professional Liability
Industry Representation
- Construction + Infrastructure
- Financial Institutions + Services
- Professions + Business Services
- Manufacturing + Consumer Goods
- Professional Disciplinary
- Property + Energy
Professional Affiliations
- New Zealand Insurance Law Association