Robertsons office

Welcome

Robertsons.
The Insurance Specialists.

We know insurance law. We are also committed to knowing all there is to know about the insurance industry, in New Zealand and internationally. We deliver our clients the best possible service and advice. Plain and simple.

The Firm

Robertsons are insurance law specialists.

Our entire focus is on making sure we provide our clients with the best possible services, resources and advice.

We specialise in all types of insurance law, with a particular focus on liability insurance, from the drafting of liability insurance products (including bespoke policies) to liability risk management and litigation claims handling.

Our team excels at building strong partnerships with our clients. This unified approach lets us achieve the best possible results for our clients.

We provide a claims handling service that sustains the relationships our clients have established with brokers and insureds, optimising our clients opportunities to grow their business over the long term. This is our core business philosophy - everyone is happy.

We are 100% committed to insurance law. We do nothing else but ensure we know everything there is to know about the insurance industry, in New Zealand and world-wide. The insurance industry is our area of expertise; that's the bottom line.

Feedback

We're delighted that Robertsons is included in the latest editions of Chambers and Legal500, but more importantly, we're chuffed that our clients value what we do and how we do it. Thank you!

Legal 500

"Robertsons in Auckland provides an 'efficient service for specialist insurance work and it is worth every penny'... and is 'prompt and thorough with detailed knowledge of insurance issues and the application of policies'. Michael Robertson 'provides detailed advice that assists with decision making' and PI specialist Helen Twomey provides 'excellent, thoughtful and considered advice'. In the strong support team, barrister and solicitor Rachael Woods is 'very diligent and ensures all bases are covered'." See more here.

Chambers

"Sources remark on the team's cohesive and collaborative service to its clients. One individual comments: "They always provide clear and concise feedback on the claim being worked on, and they highlight any wording issues that require more communication and education to our team. They're a true extension of our business."

Another source states: "I have been incredibly impressed by how they respond and support our business. I feel that we have a true partner rather than a service provider."

"Notable practitioner Michael Robertson has almost 30 years of experience in insurance law… He is described by one referee as "technically excellent, very client-focused, and he has a great understanding of our business." See more here

The Team

To be honest, when it comes to claims handling, we consider our team to be the best in the business.

Over many years, we've been able to recruit and, more importantly, retain a truly exceptional team. This is our greatest asset.

They have over 70 years combined experience in insurance law and claims handling, plus the majority of our staff have worked together for the last six years. This means that we can offer a consistency of attitude and approach; impossible to achieve without that longevity.

Profiles

Viewing 1 - 3 of 10

Michael Robertson

d: +64 9 362 7051

m: +64 27 480 1377

e: mrobertson@robertsonslaw.co.nz

Admitted as a Barrister & Solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand in 1988

Michael has spent the last 26 years practising in insurance law, acting for a wide range of domestic and international insurers. He is regarded in the industry as a leader in his field, working in all aspects of liability and general commercial insurance. Michael specialises in professional indemnity (including Directors & Officers liability claims) and liability insurance, drafting policies, risk management and claims resolution across a range of professions and industries. Michael regularly appears in the defence of professionals and on a variety of insurance claims.

Helen Twomey

d: +64 9 362 7052

m: +64 21 726 506

e: htwomey@robertsonslaw.co.nz

Admitted as a Barrister & Solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand in 2003

Helen has practised in insurance law since her admission to the bar and has a strong focus on liability insurance. Helen's practice is mainly directed at claims involving the legal and accounting professions, and the financial services sector (including brokers and Directors & Officers liability claims) - for which she provides claims handling, policy drafting and risk management advice. Helen also leads Robertsons' Health & Safety team defending insureds in respect of WorkSafe investigations and prosecutions. Helen regularly appears in all Courts and before various professional bodies, in particular for solicitors, accountants and financial advisers. She also has significant experience advising these professional groups on their practice risks.

Jennifer Thompson

d: +64 9 362 7053

m: +64 21 045 7619

e: jthompson@robertsonslaw.co.nz

Admitted as a Barrister & Solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand in 1981

Jennifer has practised extensively in insurance and reinsurance areas for over 30 years in both New Zealand and London, where she was a partner in a leading London Insurance law firm. Her areas of practice include professional indemnity, public and product liability insurance (including construction and motor vehicle), aviation liability insurance (including hull, passenger, cargo, baggage and travel/tour operator liabilities), property insurance, business interruption claims and specialist insurance products in personal lines and for corporate insureds. Jennifer provides litigation services, policy and regulatory advice.

Nicola Faulkner

d: +64 9 362 7055

m: +64 27 612 3770

e: nfaulkner@robertsonslaw.co.nz

Admitted as a Solicitor in England & Wales in 2004 and as a Barrister & Solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand in 2011

Nicky joined our team in 2009 from the professional negligence department of a specialist insurance litigation firm in London. Her areas of practice include professional indemnity and liability insurance, with a particular focus on claims against the legal profession, engineers and architects.

Kirsty Perrett

d: +64 9 362 7050

m: +27 269 7069

e: kperrett@robertsonslaw.co.nz

Admitted as a Barrister & Solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand in 2004

Kirsty first joined our team in 2005. In 2008 she went to the United Kingdom where she worked in the professional negligence team at a specialist insurance litigation firm. She returned to our team in 2009 where her areas of practise included professional indemnity, Directors & Officers and public liability insurance.
Most recently Kirsty was Claims Counsel at an insurance company where she dealt with professional indemnity, statutory liability and general liability claims. Kirsty returned again to Robertsons in 2018 and assists ANDO Insurance Group in managing their liability claims.

Whitney Robertson

d: +64 9 362 7057

e: wrobertson@robertsonslaw.co.nz

Admitted as a Barrister & Solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand in 2011

After graduating in 2011, Whitney joined the Robertsons team as a junior litigator where she played an important support role, assisting senior staff as a case researcher. Whitney returned to Robertsons in October 2017, after two years in the UK, during which time amongst other things she worked for a boutique law firm specialising in insurance litigation from the policyholder perspective.

Sophie Pasley

d: +64 9 362 7061

e: spasley@robertsonslaw.co.nz

Admitted as a Barrister & Solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand in 2013

Sophie joined Robertsons in 2013. Sophie has appeared in the High Court, including as junior counsel in a two-week trial, and assisted in preparations for hearings in the Court of Appeal. Sophie is experienced with professional indemnity claims and also has experience in general liability claims across a number of industries, from small claims to large losses where multiple policies may respond. As well as her litigation and dispute resolution work, Sophie has experience in claims handling, dealing directly with insureds and brokers on a wide range of indemnity, liability and practical issues.

Sophie Curlett

d: +64 9 362 7065

e: scurlett@robertsonslaw.co.nz

Admitted as a Barrister & Solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand in 2014

After graduating from the University of Auckland in 2013, Sophie was employed by a barrister with an insurance litigation specialty, initially as a legal assistant working on a number of statutory liability claims, and subsequently as an employed barrister. She joined the Robertsons' team in July 2015 and assists senior staff in matters across all areas of Robertsons' practice.

Magnus Walker

d: +64 9 362 7067

e: mwalker@robertsonslaw.co.nz

Admitted as a Barrister & Solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand in 2017

Magnus joined Robertsons after graduating from the University of Canterbury in 2016. He initially joined the firm as a law clerk and was admitted in August 2017. Magnus assists senior staff in a wide range of matters across Robertsons' practice.

Heather Bridgman

d: +64 9 362 7068

e: hbridgman@robertsonslaw.co.nz

Admitted as a Barrister & Solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand in 2017

After graduating from the University of Otago in 2016, Heather was initially employed at an insurance broker, where she worked in their claims department and supported their in-house counsel. She joined the Robertsons’ team in July 2017 as a law clerk and assists senior staff in matters across all areas of the practice.

Kim Wight

d: +64 9 362 7058

m: +64 21 0269 7000

e: kwight@robertsonslaw.co.nz

Admitted as a Barrister & Solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand in 2009

Kim joined Robertsons in 2021 following her most recent role as a Claims Counsel with an insurer. In that role, Kim handled claims across all financial lines with a focus on the employment disputes liability policy as well as large value and complex professional indemnity claims. Prior to going in-house, Kim worked across both the insurance and employment teams at a large national law firm where her areas of practice included professional indemnity insurance as well as advising on employment matters. Kim assists ANDO Insurance Group in managing their liability claims and also advises on employment disputes.

Grace Williams

d: +64 9 362 7069

e: gwilliams@robertsonslaw.co.nz

Admitted as a Barrister & Solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand in 2019

Prior to joining Robertsons, Grace worked as a solicitor in the property law team of one of New Zealand’s largest law firms. She joined Robertsons in 2020 and assists senior staff in matters across all areas of practice. She has a particular interest in general liability claims and in defamation.

Hannah Mackenzie

d: +64 9 362 7059

e: hmackenzie@robertsonslaw.co.nz

Admitted as a Barrister & Solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand in 2019

After graduating from Victoria University of Wellington, Hannah clerked in a Wellington firm, including appearing in the High Court as junior counsel in a one-week trial to a sole practitioner. Hannah joined Robertsons in 2020 and assists senior staff in matters across all areas of Robertsons’ practice.

Ariane Smith-Becerra

d: +64 9 362 7066

e: asmithbecerra@robertsonslaw.co.nz

Ariane joined Robertsons as a graduate in 2021, having first worked as an office assistant for Robertsons. She has completed her professionals and will be admitted in the next Auckland High Court admissions ceremony.

Matthew Robertson

d: +64 9 362 7048

e: matthewr@robertsonslaw.co.nz

Matthew joined Robertsons as a graduate in August 2021. He has completed his professionals and will be admitted in the next Auckland High Court admissions ceremony.

We Are Hiring

Apply Now

Here at Robertsons, we pride ourselves on our dynamic team of insurance law specialists - a team we believe is second to none.

We truly value our team's commitment to insurance law, teamwork and their ability to build strong partnerships with our clients; this is why we like to cultivate long-term working relationships.

If you share our passion for insurance and would like to enquire about being part of our exceptional team, we welcome your proactive approach. Your call or email to Helen Twomey will be treated in strictest confidence. We look forward to hearing from you.

mchapman@robertsonslaw.co.nz

Contact

Auckland Office

d: +64 9 362 7050

a: Level 2, General Building
33 Shortland Street

p: PO Box 2068, Auckland, NZ

Christchurch Office

d: +64 3 365 2491

a: Ruby Black Building
201-203 High Street
Christchurch

Erica McNamara

Accounts

d: +64 9 362 7064

e: emcnamara@robertsonslaw.co.nz

Mel Chapman

Office Manager

d: +64 9 362 7050

e: mchapman@robertsonslaw.co.nz

STANDARD TERMS OF ENGAGEMENT

These Standard Terms of Engagement (Terms) apply in respect of all work carried out by us for you, except to the extent that
we otherwise agree with you in writing.

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INFORMATION FOR CLIENTS

Set out below is the information required by the Rules of Conduct and Client Care for lawyers of the
New Zealand Law Society (Law Society).

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