Vanessa Ma

Special Counsel

Vanessa is an experienced senior lawyer with over 18 years in practice in the specialised area of insurance law. She has dedicated her career to representing major insurance companies in New Zealand.

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Vanessa’s practice areas encompass fire and general, maritime, material damage, earthquake claims, defective buildings and subrogated recovery. She works closely with experts in marine surveying, engineering and quantity surveying to deliver comprehensive and effective legal support to insurers.

When it comes to resolving insurance disputes, Vanessa has appeared in the High Court, at JSC’s and mediations. In addition to her litigation work, she provides policy advice, indemnity opinions and policy drafting services.

Vanessa is known for her pragmatic, client-focused approach, always seeking to understand her clients’ goals and concerns so that she can provide the most effective legal support.

Vanessa is Duncan Cotterill’s representative on the Global Insurance Legal Connect (GILC) Marine Special Interest Group.

Recent highlights

  • Representing an insurer and homeowner in the High Court in respect of a defective building claim following the Canterbury Earthquake Sequence.

  • Representing an insurer in respect of a High Court proceeding in respect of indemnity issues.

  • Drafting a Material Damage and Business Interruption policy for small businesses.

  • Representing and the provision of advice to an insurer in respect of fraudulent claims.

Insights

Travelling overseas? What are your rights if you are injured on a plane, or your bags are lost?

1 November 2023

Chambers and Partners - Insurance & Reinsurance 2024 New Zealand chapter

23 February 2024

Tanya Wood features in Sparke Helmore's 2023 Construction Update

20 December 2023

We're driven by our values

They drive our client relationships and connections with our community, and underpin our achievements.

Enterprising

  • Vanessa completed a ten-month secondment to an insurer where she provided advice on policy wording as well as general insurance and commercial matters.

  • She is a committee member of the Maritime Law Association of Australia and New Zealand.

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