Global law firm Clyde & Co has announced the addition of three new insurance partners from Norton Rose Fulbright to its Melbourne, Australia office.
Nicole Wearne, Ganga Narayanan, and Mark Attard all join Clyde & Co in Australia and bring decades of accumulated experience to the firm.
Clyde & Co explains that their practice has a focus on contentious and non-contentious insurance work in the areas of professional indemnity, Royal Commission and inquiries, class action defence and coverage claims work, D&O, life insurance, general liability, property, healthcare, personal injury, contentious regulatory response, and risk advisory.
Partner at Clyde & Co and Head of Insurance in Australia, Marcus O’Brien, said: “As the largest insurance law firm in the world, we are now one of the largest in Australia. Attracting partners of this calibre demonstrates the strength of Clyde & Co in this market. Unlike other firms, we have maintained a focus on the Insurance sector to support our clients. Our new team places us as clear market leaders in all areas of insurance across Australia, and provides our clients with an even stronger offering.”
Michael Tooma, Clyde & Co’s Australia Managing Partner, added: “We have pursued a clear sector-based strategy since joining the Australian market in 2012 with the Insurance industry being a key pillar of that strategy. We are delighted to increase our depth in that industry with the addition of such high profile partners.”
In her new role, Wearne acts principally for local and overseas insurers on professional indemnity, management liability/D&O, and class action defence and coverage claims work.
Narayanan acts for local and overseas insurers and also receives instructions straight from corporate clients across life insurance, general liability, and healthcare.
Attard, explains Clyde & Co, advises professional indemnity, construction, property, management liability, and general insurance matters, alongside policy wording, legislation, risk management, alternative dispute resolution, recoveries and claim management. He also defends planners, accountants, insurance intermediaries, recruitment agencies, owner corporation managers, psychologists, travel agents, real estate agents, and IT professionals.
“Our Australian practice has grown quickly and established itself as market leaders across the sectors in which we specialise. As one of the world’s leading insurance focused law firms, the hire of this team is a real statement of intent and speaks to our strategy of providing clients in our sectors with a full service offering across the cities, countries and regions in which they operate,” said Peter Hirst, Senior Partner of Clyde & Co.
