Wotton + Kearney has taken a major step towards achieving its global ambitions by becoming the first major Australian insurance and risk law firm to set up a substantive base in Singapore.

The move reflects the importance of Singapore as a regional hub for the London and European insurance and reinsurance markets and gives Wotton + Kearney a platform to service the Infrastructure, Power Gen and Renewable Energy growth across the region when the Singapore office opens in June.

David Kearney, Chief Executive Partner, Wotton + Kearney said Singapore would become Wotton + Kearney’s 10th office across the Asia Pacific region and its first in mainland Asia.

“Our move to Singapore reflects the global nature of the insurance industry and the importance of Singapore as a regional insurance hub. Our growth has always been client driven and we know that an expanded Asian offering will make us a better business partner for our insurer clients which provide insurance to businesses across the region,’’ Mr Kearney said.

Wotton + Kearney’s new Singapore practice will be led by Ben Nicholson, who will join the firm from Kennedys Singapore, together with partner Tom Morrison. Mr Nicholson is a leading insurance and reinsurance lawyer who specialises in property, energy, engineering and infrastructure risks. He has extensive experience in the Asia Pacific region and also advises on disputes in the UK, the Middle East and North Africa.

Adam Chylek, Head of Property, Energy and Infrastructure, Wotton + Kearney said Singapore was a key jurisdiction in the global insurance network and “is turning out to be the glue between the London/European insurance markets and Australia”.

“All of the significant international insurers and reinsurers have a base in Singapore, and many of them are our established clients, so it makes sense for us to invest heavily in the region. I think we’re the first major Australian insurance law firm to head from Australia and invest in Asia, the traffic is normally the other way around, with London insurance firms heading south.’’ Mr Chylek said.

“I am genuinely excited about partnering with what is unquestionably the No. 1 team in the Singapore insurance market, and what that means for the breadth of legal services Wotton + Kearney will be able to deliver across the region. And we are committed to looking at further international moves at the right time.’’

Founded in 2002, Wotton + Kearney has grown from two partners to 76 partners and over 360 lawyers across offices in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Canberra, Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch. Revenue has grown by 71.6 per cent from FY20 to FY23.