Insurance: Policyholder
Asia-Pacific Guide 2025 : Australia
Band 1
Email address
[email protected]Contact number
+61 2 9225 5000Chambers Review
Herbert Smith Freehills offers a comprehensive insurance service, including representation in high-profile disputes as well as advice on regulatory compliance and risk management. Its insurance team predominantly acts for corporate policyholders on claims across a number of industries, including the financial services, construction and resources sectors. The insurance team also provides risk advice relating to transactional insurance issues and the transfer of insurance assets. Herbert Smith Freehills abstains from pursuing a contentious insurer defence practice, so as to provide policyholders with a conflict-free service against insurers, and leverages the resources of its global network to advise on insurance issues with cross-jurisdictional aspects, both within and beyond the Asia-Pacific region.
Work Highlights
- Herbert Smith Freehills advised Australian Unity on all aspects of its acquisition of IOOF.
Strengths
Provided by Chambers
"HSF isexceptional at expert report procurement and analysis in the context of legal liability/entitlements and translating to commercial reporting and concise legal advice."
"Its strengths would be responsiveness, technical and strategic knowledge and commercial thinking and rationale."
"HSF isexceptional at expert report procurement and analysis in the context of legal liability/entitlements and translating to commercial reporting and concise legal advice."
"Its strengths would be responsiveness, technical and strategic knowledge and commercial thinking and rationale."
Notable Practitioners
Mark Darwin is based in Brisbane and offers over three decades' experience in the contentious insurance space, being particularly well-known for his representation of policyholders making business interruption and other claims upon their insurers.
Guy Narburgh acts extensively for policyholders on contentious, advisory and transactional mandates, being particularly well-known for his knowledge of D&O liability issues.
"I've engaged Guy frequently on high-value, high complexity and critical instructions. He is a consistent, reliable and efficient performer."
"Guy is an excellent lawyer with deep industry experience translated well into his advice. He is very responsive and his advice is on point and pre-empts the concerns that may arise down the line."