Acknowledging that insurance legal work was waning, Moray & Agnew national chairman Brian Agnew explained that it is this factor that encouraged them to “roll out” the firm, which will continue to specialise exclusively in insurance work. Agnew also attributed the firm’s decision to expand to the reduction in the number of insurers, who are writing business in Australia via mergers and acquisitions. “The remaining insurers are naturally writing more business and seek to run their portfolios in an efficient and streamlined manner. Many of them are looking for a one stop legal shop,” he said.

Moray & Agnew Melbourne office managing partner Brett Weir also noted pressure from clients for Connery & Partners to offer services outside Victoria. “To do this, we needed cutting edge legal practice management systems plus a tie-in with solicitors in other states who not only specialised in insurance law, but enjoyed a high reputation,” he said.

The Moray & Agnew network now exists in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Canberra and includes over 90 solicitors, all of whom specialise in insurance law.