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Global insurance law firm DLA Piper has appointed Brad Cuff and Misha Henaghan (pictured) as new partners in New Zealand.
Cuff and Henaghan are both experienced litigators, with in-depth backgrounds in insurance law.
Henaghan has a wealth of experience, which spans: assisting medical practitioners in complaints; professional negligence claims involving brokers, product and public liability, and regulatory work (including investigations), among others. She predicts further increases in insolvency disputes and cyber breach incidents. Artificial Intelligence, she suggests, is so advanced that it could give rise to novel liability issues if or when something goes wrong with the use of this technology.
“Urgent clarification is required on whether the existing law is adequate to deal with these issues and what regulation is required to ensure the safe development of these technologies,” she noted.
Cuff holds extensive experience in insurance and civil litigation in New Zealand and Australia. He is a solicitor of the High Court (Australia); Supreme Court of New South Wales; and Barrister and Solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand. His background acting for clients includes: litigation, arbitration, investigations, disputes, inquests and disciplinary proceedings.
“In the wake of the Christchurch earthquake, New Zealand is no longer sheltered from litigation funders and the types of proceedings they bring,” Cuff said. “As practitioners we will need to adapt and change as will our civil procedure rules to deal with them.”
DLA Piper New Zealand country managing partner Martin Wiseman, meanwhile, said Cuff’s and Henaghan’s addition to the network of insurance partners throughout DLA Piper brings the benefit of global expertise and insights to local clients.
“This adds to our bench strength as the only global law firm operating in New Zealand,” he added.
