Make sure to visit us at the Statewide Mutual Risks Conference 2025 in Sydney!
Protecting Australia's councils with 20+ years of insurance expertise and a team of 500+ lawyers who understand local government risks inside out. From public liability and cyber threats to planning disputes and councillor liability – we partner with councils nationwide to navigate complex insurance landscapes and deliver swift, cost-effective resolutions.
Your strategic legal partner in insurance risk management
With more than 20 years specialising in insurance claims, we understand the dynamic relationships that exist between mutuals, their members, underwriters, claims handlers and lawyers.
We appreciate that as one of your legal partners, we play a significant role in ensuring cost containment and the spread of risk. We focus on delivering consistent, quality legal services, meeting service standards, resolving claims quickly and anticipating your underwriter’s requirements.
Comprehensive coverage across all council risk areas
With a team of over 500 lawyers lead by a Partnership of 94, we have extensive experience in the types of claims involving councils and councillors. Our team has experience working with councils involving: public liability (personal injury and property damage) claims, planning, DA‘s and other certifications, employment liability claims, WHS and industrial disputes, environmental claims including contamination and flooding issues, councillors and officers, and in particular, representing them at ICAC and parliamentary inquiries, claims involving defamation and reputational damage.
Trusted by councils and insurers across Australia
Our team works with NSW Government, icare, 30 NSW councils and for a large number of other insurers supporting councils around Australia. We know and already work with your primary insurance partners which means we can readily meet your underwriters' requirements. Our relationships with insurance mutual members and claims teams are characterised by proactive communication, pragmatic, clear advice, reliable reporting and reserving, insights into key issues and available defences, and value-added services.
OUR EXPERTISE
Public Liability and Personal Injury
WK is a market leader in defending personal injury claims across multiple sectors, with a reputation for managing large complex personal injury claims that involve reputational or business implications for both insurers, brokers and their insureds. Our team defend more than 800 personal injury claims a year, and have been instructed on several test cases in the courts.
Cyber, Privacy and Technology
WK have one of the country's leading teams in cyber and tech, including specialists in incident response, disputes, advisory and regulatory issues. As experienced cyber incident response managers, we have established a panel of expert vendors to help investigate and advise on the technical and commercial actions required to mitigate exposure following a breach.
Defamation and Employment Liability
Our expert team also includes leading specialists in employment liability claims involving discrimination, enterprise bargaining, general protections and unfair dismissals as well as all areas of media law including defamation, pre-publication advice, litigation, privacy, contempt of court, suppression, urgent injunctions, privilege and breach of confidence.
Councillors and Officers
In the ever-evolving social environment, ensuring that your C&O policies provide adequate coverage is an essential first step. We advise many insurers and self-insured corporate clients on coverage, appropriate policy wording and endorsements to reflect the risks faced by their largest insureds
Wotton Kearney acknowledges the traditional custodians of the lands on which we work, and pay our respects to Elders past and present.
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