A highly respected insurance litigation and dispute resolution lawyer, Helen’s legal career has been dedicated exclusively to insurance since her admission to the bar in 2003. In that time, Helen has advised and acted on claims against both insureds and insurers under professional indemnity, general liability, directors and officers, associations liability, employment disputes and statutory liability insurance. A tough, talented and trusted advocate, Helen has routinely appeared in civil hearings before New Zealand Courts and various statutory and professional regulatory bodies, in particular for barristers & solicitors, accountants, engineers, financial advisers and real estate agents.

Helen regularly acts and appears for insured defendants in respect of WorkSafe criminal prosecutions under the Health & Safety at Work Act 2015. In addition to liability defence and claims handling work for insurers, Helen’s practice frequently involves providing complex indemnity advice to insurers, including on non-disclosure and avoidance, and issues arising out of an insured’s insolvency. She has drafted and advised on numerous stand alone and combined liability policy wordings and endorsements in the New Zealand market, including for new insurers, managing general agencies and international brokers entering the New Zealand market. Helen is an accomplished and sought-after presenter of risk management and insurance focused seminars to insurers, brokers, insureds and insurance sector industry bodies.

Helen appeared as a leading lawyer in the NZ Lawyer Magazine’s 2021 Insurance Law Superstars, has been individually ranked in Chambers and Partners, and noted as a “Leading Individual” in Asia Pacific Insurance Law in The Legal 500 for a number of years.