Insurability issues in consultancy contracts - Auckland

About

We've joined forces with the Society of Construction Law to bring you this in-person panel discussion on insurability issues in consultancy contracts.

Our panellists come from different sectors of the construction industry and will explore the types of clauses that might raise insurability issues in consultancy agreements and why it matters. 

The discussion will cover topics like:

• Liability versus insurance
• Warranties, fit for purposes and buildability
• Heightened duty of care
• Indirect and consequential losses

About the presenters

Charlotte Kuhn - Senior Legal Counsel, Holmes Group

Charlotte is Senior Legal Counsel at Holmes Group and a member of the ACE New Zealand Legal Advisory Group. She advises Holmes’s structural, civil and fire engineering businesses in New Zealand, Australia and the United States on legal and commercial risks in consultant contracts. Charlotte believes that contracts should fairly allocate risk and promote good project outcomes. Prior to joining Holmes Group, she worked in the construction team of a large New Zealand law firm providing advice to clients on front-end issues and disputes.

Gavin Shaw - Business Director – Construction Sector Advisory, Beca

Gavin is an experienced capital project delivery professional with over 25 years of experience in business leadership roles. He has a proven track record of establishing high-performing businesses and teams and delivering major projects and programs. Gavin is passionate about shaping construction sector outcomes and setting up significant capital programs for success, delivering better outcomes not only for clients but also for the construction sector and New Zealand as a whole. With experience in both horizontal and vertical construction sectors, Gavin is an advocate for building integrated teams that are motivated to deliver shared project outcomes. He brings a delivery-focused leadership approach, technical understanding, and design and construction management skills to the teams and projects he works with. As an advisor to clients and the construction industry, Gavin leverages his experience to provide strategic advice, and his involvement was instrumental in the formation of the NZDF Defence Estate and Infrastructure program alliance.

Emily Walton - Barrister, Bridgeside Chambers

Emily is a general civil litigator with specialist expertise in insurance and construction work. Earlier this year Emily moved to the independent bar where she practices at Bridgeside Chambers after over a decade in partnership with a large national firm. Emily developed an interest in engineering and architecture through her involvement in Canterbury earthquake claims. This evolved into acting for engineers, architects and other construction professionals (and often their professional indemnity insurers) defending negligence and defective building claims around the country. Recently, Emily had an epiphany that her earthquake disaster experience can really help those affected by the Auckland Anniversary Weekend floods and Cyclone Gabrielle. She has been providing pro-bono assistance to people in Titirangi, Muriwai and Hawke's Bay, as well as ACE and Engineering New Zealand.

Sam Jack - General Counsel & Company Secretary, Ōtākaro Ltd

Sam is a leading New Zealand construction and commercial lawyer, with 20 years of experience in New Zealand and the UK. He has acted for principals and contractors on a wide range of construction and infrastructure projects and disputes, as well as health and safety, competition law and M&A matters. Sam recently joined Ōtākaro Ltd as its new General Counsel & Company Secretary, leading the Legal & Risk team as the company transforms into a Central Crown infrastructure delivery agency.

Amanda Halfacree - Deputy Head of Financial & Professional Risks and Group Broking Manager for Corporate Wellington, Crombie Lockwood

Amanda has been a specialist liability broker and underwriter for 17 years. She has experience in both the New Zealand and Australian markets, including all relevant liability lines such as Professional Indemnity, Statutory Liability, General Liability, Trustees Liability and Directors and Officers cover. She started her career in New Zealand as a broker at Marsh before moving into underwriting at AIG New Zealand, AIG Australia and CGU Australia. Seven years ago she returned to New Zealand and to broking with Crombie Lockwood’s specialist Financial And Professional Risks team (FINPRO). In 2020 Amanda was named Insurance Business Broker of the Year. Amanda has managed both large and small teams for over 10 years and currently holds a national role as Deputy Head of FINPRO as well as Head of the Wellington Corporate Team. She has proven capability in large (and multinational) account placement, management and claims handling and advocacy. Amanda has experience with all parties to the construction contract including principals, contractors and consultants and provides liability advice and services to many of Crombie Lockwood’s largest construction-related clients. She is a member of both the Crombie Lockwood Construction and Cyber Liability Practices.

Register

To attend this free Auckland-based event, register here

This Auckland event will also be live-streamed. If you can't make the event in person, register to watch it online. We'll email you the live stream link closer to the event date.