The last twelve months saw Moray & Agnew cement its position as Australia's premier specialist insurance firm.

Moray & Agnew differentiates itself by providing full east coast coverage with genuine insurance specialisation. Over 80% of the firm's 170 lawyers practise exclusively in insurance advice and litigation.

This specialisation, combined with large offices in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Canberra and Newcastle, sets Moray & Agnew apart from all its competitors. Moray & Agnew receives instructions from Australia's major general insurers together with numerous Australian boutique insurers, brokers and underwriting agencies. General insurers from the United Kingdom, United States and continental Europe also regularly instruct Moray & Agnew on matters arising in Australia or throughout the South Pacific.

Significant client work

The firm lived up to its promise that 2008 would be a year of consolidation and 'getting down to work'. Moray & Agnew finalised in excess of 4,500 litigated matters on behalf of general, life, government and statutory insurer clients, totalling over $500 million.

Highlights include:

• Acting in a A$150m Federal Court class action arising from the suspension of the manufacturing licence of Pan Pharmaceuticals
• Providing insurance coverage policy advice to the directors and officers insurer of large corporate collapses including Lehman Bros (Aust) Ltd, Lift Capital and Opes Prime
• Successfully defending a A$2.4m complex mortgage fraud claim on behalf of a finance broker
  Advising a large Australian insurer on compliance requirements in writing risk in a specific line of medical negligence insurance
  Assisting a European insurer on registering in Australia as an overseas foreign insurer
  Drafting new policies for an Australian insurer in innovative risk areas

Substantial expansion

Moray & Agnew's continued specialisaton in insurance law and litigation saw the firm grow substantially against market trends. The insurance market is highly regulated and price sensitive, resulting in many large firms reducing or eliminating their insurance divisions. By contrast, Moray & Agnew has strengthened its insurance practice, resulting in growth and profitability across the firm as a whole.

Highlights include:

Securing insurance industry leader: The firm developed its capability in corporate governance and compliance with the appointment of new partner, Mikaela Reynoldson, in its Melbourne office, effective 1 May 2009. Mikaela has previously held senior roles at leading insurers, and is a former nominee for the Telstra Business Woman of the Year Award. Her dynamic and highly experienced approach will enable Moray & Agnew to provide comprehensive services to its clients across all key areas including compliance, risk management, claims management and litigation.

Strengthening insurance practice in Brisbane: The firm appointed British-born Charles Hartley as a special counsel. Charles joined the firm in March 2009. With 12 years' experience he specialises in medical negligence claims on behalf of public and private hospitals, medical practitioners and allied health care providers in both England and Australia

Bolstering insurance practice in Sydney: The firm appointed new partner Alex Bolton who brought with him a team of six. Alex has over 31 years' experience, and specialises in product and public liability, directors and officers liability, catastrophic injury and compulsory third party claims. Alex and his team added further depth to the firm's thriving insurance practice.

Areas of expertise

• Regulatory compliance and risk
• Policy advice, drafting and interpretation
• Directors and officers liability
• Class actions
• Medical negligence
• Marine insurance
• Life and disability insurance
• Product liability
• Professional indemnity
• Reinsurance
• Construction and all risk
• Builders warranty
• Coronial inquests and inquiries
• Catastrophic accident claims 
• Compulsory third party
• Workers compensation
• Captive insurers / self insurers
• Dust and toxic tort litigation
• Property damage
• Public liability
• Sports insurance
• Travel insurance
• Bloodstock insurance

National Contacts

Geoff Connellan, Partner
Office - Sydney
Ph: (02) 9234 4506
E: gconnellan@moray.com.au

Suzanne Wallace, Partner
Office - Sydney
Ph: (02) 9234 4536
E: swallace@moray.com.au

Bill Papastergiadis, Partner
Office - Melbourne
Ph: (03) 8687 7358
E: bpapastergiadis@moray.com.au

David Flint, Partner
Office - Brisbane
Ph: (07) 3225 5905
E: dflint@moray.com.au

Andrew Muller, Partner
Office - Canberra
Ph: (02) 6210 4205
E: amuller@moray.com.au

Peter Utiger, Partner
Office - Newcastle
Ph: (02) 4911 5412
E: putiger@moray.com.au