A specialist insurance law firm has announced three new partnership appointments this week as it reacts to surging conditions in the SME market.
Wotton + Kearney has named Allison Hunt, Edward O’Brien and Andrew Brennan as its latest partners with each of the promotions internal and Melbourne-based.
Both O’Brien and Brennan were appointed to build the firm’s capability in the growing Australian SME market in response to client need to provide comprehensive and tailored solutions to the sector.
O’Brien specialises in financial lines including directors and officers, professional indemnity and management liability and had regularly acted as coverage and/or defence counsel for a range of entities from small to medium enterprise business to high profile claims, including class action litigation.
Brennan specialises in both domestic and international construction-related matters and has represented a number of insurers in defence of claims against architects, structural and geotechnical engineers, building surveyors and draftspersons.
The moves also reflect the firm’s commitment to diversity as Hunt’s appointment increases the percentage of women in W+K’s partnership team to 30%.
A highly experienced insurance lawyer, Hunt has practiced exclusively in the sector for over 10 years. Her core areas are general liability and financial lines with broad expertise in professional indemnity and management liability claims across a range of industries. She also has specialist expertise in sensitive injury claims related to dust diseases and institutional abuse.
“We would like to welcome our new Melbourne contingent of Allison, Edward and Andrew to the partnership, acknowledging that each of them have excelled across a broad range of criteria,” said W+K chief executive partner David Kearney.
“While each has been promoted on merit, we are particularly delighted to be promoting our first Melbourne female partner to the team,” he said.
