Samantha O’Brien and Michael Gill

DLA Piper has been awarded Law Firm of the Year at the Australian Insurance Industry Awards. The firm was announced the winner of the category featuring finalists Barry.Nilsson. Lawyers and HWL Ebsworth Lawyers.

On the same night, Michael Gill, a DLA Piper consultant and former partner with 38 years at the firm, was awarded the ANZIIF Lifetime Achievement Award.

“DLA Piper has shown itself to provide exemplary legal support to Australia’s insurance industry and to be truly deserving of the prize of Law Firm of the Year. In such a regulated environment, having quality legal services is crucial to the governance and running of any insurance company,” said Prue Willsford, CEO of the Australian and New Zealand Institute of Insurance and Finance.

The Australian and New Zealand Institute of Insurance and Finance and founding partner Asia Insurance Review said DLA Piper won the prize for the broad range of insurance-related legal services it provides and the ongoing commitment of the firm to its insurance practice.

Mr Gill was recognised for his commitment to the development of insurance law in Australia and abroad, his thought leadership and pro-bono work.

“These are fantastic and momentous wins for us as a firm, particularly given our long-held strength in insurance locally and as a global firm committed to this important sector. It is incredibly satisfying to be recognised as the leading law firm by those that matter most – fellow members of the insurance industry,” Samantha O’Brien, DLA Piper’s Joint Insurance Sector Leader – Australia, said of the win.

The Awards were announced at a ceremony in Sydney last Wednesday.

The full list of winners is:

The post DLA Piper dominates at national insurance awards appeared first on AdviserVoice.

Prue Willsford

The Australian and New Zealand Institute of Insurance and Finance and founding partner Asia Insurance Review are pleased to announce the winners of the 2014 Australian Insurance Industry Awards. The winners were honoured at a ceremony in Sydney last night.

Winners included Allianz Australia for Large General Insurance Company of the Year, Aon as Large Broker of the Year and CommInsure as Life Insurance Company of the Year. Small and medium-sized enterprises were well represented, with National Transport Insurance (NTI) taking out two awards. The Innovation of the Year prize awarded two winners, CelsiusPro(Aust) Pty Ltd for farm insurance products for the developing world and Gratex International for developing operations and business systems.

Prue Willsford, CEO of the Australian and New Zealand Institute of Insurance and Finance, said there was significant emphasis on customer service and satisfaction from all who submitted for the Awards.

“Every year we see insurers and those operating in the insurance market focus more and more on customer service, responsiveness to customer needs and customer retention. We judge the Awards on a number of factors including innovation and achievement, but the fact that the industry is focusing so much on the consumer shows that despite operating in extremely difficult circumstances, companies want to keep their policyholders happy.”

“These Awards are about recognising excellence but they are also about celebrating being part of a collegial, supportive professional community that does its utmost to produce great results,” Ms Willsford said.

The full list of winners is:

The post Australian Insurance Industry Award winners announced appeared first on AdviserVoice.

Prue Willsford

The Australian and New Zealand Institute of Insurance and Finance (the Institute) and founding partner the Asia Insurance Review are pleased to announce the finalists of the 2014 Australian Insurance Industry Awards.

This year, the Institute received a record number of submissions for 15 categories, ensuring a highly competitive selection process.

“The Institute, Asia Insurance Review and the Awards judging panel were thrilled with the number and quality of submissions for this year’s awards. In selecting our finalists, it was clear that Australia has a high achieving, innovative and dynamic insurance industry. This can only be a good thing for our industry, our community and our economy,” said Prue Willsford, CEO of the Australian and New Zealand Institute of Insurance and Finance, the Award host.

The finalists for each category are:

Claims Provider of the Year

• CGU
• National Transport Insurance (NTI)
• Suncorp Group
• Swiss Re

Underwriting Agency of the Year

• Brooklyn Underwriting
• GT Insurance
• UAA

Service Provider to the Insurance Industry

• Gratex International
• JB Hi-Fi
• Taylor Fry

Innovation of the Year

Budget Direct

• Celsius Pro (Aust) Pty Ltd
• Gratex International
• Insurance Box and SSP

ANZIIF Women’s Council Employer of the Year

• Allianz Australia
• Suncorp Group
• Swiss Re

Generation I Youth Development and Employer of the Year

• Aon
• BT Financial Group
• Sportscover

Small Broker of the Year

• Consult Insurance Solutions Pty Ltd
• Parmia Insurance
• Simplex Insurance Solutions

Medium Broker of the Year

• Planned Cover
• Roderick Insurance Brokers Pty Ltd
• Scott Winton Insurance Brokers

Large Broker of the Year

• Aon
• Marsh
• Willis Australia

Small – Medium General Insurance Company of the Year

• CommInsure
• National Transport Insurance (NTI)
• Westpac General Insurance Limited

Large General Insurance Company of the Year

• Allianz Australia
• Suncorp Group
• Zurich Australian Insurance Limited

Law Firm of the Year

• Barry.Nilsson. Lawyers
• DLA Piper
• HWL Ebsworth Lawyers

Life Insurance Company of the Year

• AIA Australia
• CommInsure
• MLC

The winners will be announced at the Australian Insurance Industry Awards in Sydney on 20 August 2014.

The post Finalists announced for 2014 Australian Insurance Industry Awards appeared first on AdviserVoice.