Why insurance law?
Because it is interesting, challenging and provides an opportunity to help people. Helping people is why I became involved in the law.
How would you change the industry?
I would reform
EQC so that insured parties only had to deal with their insurers, as my experiences in Christchurch have shown that the current system could be improved.
Best advice you’ve ever been given?
You can learn something from everyone you meet.
What’s the strangest case you’ve ever worked on/been involved with?
The cases I have been involved in relating to the Canterbury earthquakes have all been unique and interesting. Outside of insurance law I have always found professional negligence cases interesting, such as claims against financial advisors with which I have had good success.
If you were prime minister for one day, what would you do?
Put more resources in to the Canterbury Recovery with the aim of creating an easy to access, well designed and sustainable city, and I would provide more protection for New Zealand’s iconic beaches/surf breaks.
What’s been the highlight of your career?
Aside from getting great results for clients, being responsible for the management of the Canterbury office of Grimshaw and Co, and being able to grow the business from being in the office by myself to the current team.
What’s your favourite style of coffee?
Long black.
Union, league, soccer or other?
Other – surfing. The majority of my holidays are spent exploring the surf breaks of Indonesia, and I am always more than happy to share a surf story over a beer or coffee.
If you could invite three people to dinner, dead or alive, and excluding family or friends, who would they be and why?
Ernest Hemingway – He would have some amazing stories to tell;
Kelly Slater – the most successful professional surfer of all time;
Steve Jobs – I think everyone could learn something from Steve Jobs.
Complete this sentence: if I wasn’t in insurance law I would be…
Involved in design or architecture.
