Australian-based insurance law firm Wotton + Kearney continues to expand with the opening of its eight office across Australia and New Zealand. The new office, in Canberra, has taken a team from Sparke Helmore, lead by Catherine Powers, a leading insurance lawyer.
Wotton + Kearney’s expansion follows an equity injection from private equity firm Straight Bat, who took a 30 per cent interest in the law firm in June this year and has seen an expansion to 340 lawyers across both Australia and New Zealand, where it has offices in Auckland and Wellington.
It also recently opened in Adelaide. The firm’s press statement on the Canberra opening is below.
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Wotton + Kearney – Wotton + Kearney is opening its eighth office in Canberra, having attracted experienced insurance litigator Catherine Power and her team from Sparke Helmore. The move into Canberra continues the firm’s strong growth trajectory as the largest specialist insurance law firm across Australia and New Zealand.
The eight-strong team, led by Partner Catherine Power, includes Gemma Burke (SC), Cindy Lim (SC), Emma Bozic (SA), Rachel Walls (SA), Denisa Zezulka (Solicitor), Wendy Bradford (Practice Manager) and Sheridan Martin (Legal Admin). The majority of the team join the firm on 1 August 2022 and will move into a new office at 17 Moore St, Canberra in September when the fit-out is complete.
“We have been keen to grow our government and insurance practice to support our clients in Canberra for some time but didn’t want to do so without the right team and leader to spearhead our move. With the arrival of Cath Power, arguably one of the most respected insurance lawyers in Australia, and her team who join us from Sparke Helmore, we are confident we have done just that,” said Chief Executive Partner, David Kearney.
Catherine is recognised in both the Best Lawyers list and in Doyle’s Guide and is known for her work advising on a wide range of insurance claims for large insurers and the Commonwealth. Her expertise spans public liability, institutional abuse, property damage, professional indemnity and medical negligence claims.
“I’m thrilled to be joining Wotton + Kearney, a firm whose growth and success I’ve keenly observed for many years. The firm’s committed focus on the insurance industry and the genuine engagement fostered with clients is unrivalled in the market. I’m excited to grow the firm’s Canberra presence, building on the phenomenal talent of the team I have joining with me.”
David Kearney added: “With Catherine and our new team in Canberra, and with our recent office opening in Adelaide, we now offer our clients unrivalled insurance law coverage across the ANZ region”.
Wotton + Kearney now has more than 340 dedicated insurance lawyers, including 62 partners, across Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Canberra, Wellington and Auckland. To meet insurers’ needs, the firm also has an active presence in the London and Singapore markets and provides broader international coverage through its founding membership of Legalign Global – the largest global alliance of law firms focused on the insurance market.
