Friday, 17 October 2025
Insurance and Risk Allocation Under the Contracts of Insurance Act
- The Contracts of Insurance Act 2024 and changes impacting construction insurance
- Practical implications of the Act on the allocation of risk between principals, contractors, and insurers in construction projects
- Challenges in interpreting insurance obligations and their contractual interplay under the Act
- Insurance clauses that align with statutory requirements and minimise exposure to disputes
- Managing indemnity and subrogation rights in multi-party construction contracts
Presented by Melissa Russell, Partner, Hesketh Henry
Chair
Kathryn Lydiard, Barrister, FortyEight Shortland
Description
Attend and earn 0.5 CPD hour
* This interactive online recording includes questions and quizzes requiring critical thinking about the topics, so you have no annual limits to the number of points/hours you can claim with this format of learning. Please verify with your CPD rules
Learning Objectives:
- Understand key reforms introduced by the Contracts of Insurance Act 2024 and their impact on construction insurance
- Learn how to align construction insurance clauses with statutory requirements to reduce legal and financial risk
Presenters
Melissa Russell, Partner, Hesketh HenryMelissa Russell is a Partner with over 20 years of experience working in global insurance law teams across New Zealand, London, Hong Kong, and Singapore. She specialises in construction, property damage, and product liability matters. Melissa has extensive experience in mediations, adjudications, arbitrations, and has trial experience in the High Court of New Zealand. She represents insurers and their insureds in the investigation and defence of a variety of large-loss matters. Melissa also assists insurers with drafting policy wordings (all lines), preparing endorsements, and providing advice on regulatory matters in New Zealand.
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Kathryn Lydiard, Barrister, FortyEight Shortland
Kathryn commenced her legal career in 2012 in the commercial litigation group of a large Auckland law firm focusing on construction litigation. Kathryn appeared as junior counsel before the Weathertight Homes Tribunal and High Court, including a number of appeals and judicial reviews. Kathryn also represented clients in insolvency proceedings and was involved in providing advice on a broad range of contentious issues. From 2017 – 2021, Kathryn worked at two commercial firms in Auckland. Her practice was varied and the subject matter she advised clients on included construction law, breach of contract, debt recovery, intellectual property, insolvency and contempt of court. She also advised clients in drafting and reviewing construction contracts. Outside of work Kathryn enjoys spending time exploring New Zealand and competing in multisport events.
