Veronica is a Special Counsel in our litigation team. She provides advice and advocacy on civil and commercial disputes and has particular expertise in insurance law and disputes.
Why our clients choose Veronica:
Our clients value the technical skill and wide-ranging experience that Veronica brings to her work. She provides pragmatic and commercial advice that is based on sound legal analysis, and prioritises regular communication with her clients to ensure that their objectives, priorities and needs are understood and met.
Veronica’s journey:
Veronica joined Young Hunter in July 2026.
She has an honours degree in law (first class) and was admitted in New Zealand in 1997 and Australia (New South Wales) in 2012.
Veronica has extensive civil litigation and insurance experience. She has worked in private practice law firms in New Zealand and overseas and in insurance companies in both the private and public sector.
Her law firm experience includes previously being a partner in the insurance litigation team of a national firm based in Auckland. Her insurance work for clients in New Zealand and overseas has included:
advising on policy interpretation;
resolving insurance claim disputes;
defending liability claims;
taking subrogated recoveries on behalf of insurers; and
assisting insurance companies with managing complex and challenging insurance claims.
Veronica’s advocacy experience has included appearing as counsel in New Zealand and Australia. In New Zealand she has appeared as counsel in defended hearings, trials, and appeals in the District Court, High Court and Court of Appeal. She has also represented and advocated for clients at mediations, settlement conferences, and in direct negotiations between the parties to disputes.
Her insurance law and insurance industry experience includes previous roles as:
Litigation Manager for IAG New Zealand Ltd (trading under the NZI, AMI, Lumley, Lantern, and Swann brands); and
General Counsel for the crown-owned insurance company Southern Response Earthquake Services Ltd.
Veronica is on the National Committee of the New Zealand Insurance Law Association and has presented seminars at New Zealand Law Society and insurance industry conferences on various civil litigation and insurance subjects.
Outside of work:
Veronica enjoys working on creative projects and making the most of the many recreation facilities and opportunities that Christchurch has to offer.
Veronica’s values:
Veronica is passionate about the law and the way in which insurance helps individuals, professionals, companies and communities recover from unexpected misfortune. She values honesty and integrity and is an able and fearless advocate who prioritises the needs and objectives of her clients.
- Civil litigation and dispute resolution
- Insurance
- Professional discipline
- Corporate and commercial
Appearing in the High Court as counsel for an international currency exchange and money remitter in the first defended civil pecuniary penalty hearing for breaches of the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism Act 2009. (Department of Internal Affairs v Qian Duoduo Ltd [2018] NZHC 1887.)
Appearing as counsel for AMI Insurance in a High Court trial for a multi-party dispute about the cause and insurance cover available for a fire that escaped from a burn pit on a rural lifestyle block and caused widespread damage. (New Zealand Fire Service Commission v Legg & Ors [2016] 3 NZLR 685, [2016] 19 ANZ Insurance Cases 62-114.)
Appearing in the Court of Appeal as counsel for Allianz Insurance in a dispute about whether the owner of the Warners Building in central Christchurch was insured (as an interested party) under a special risks policy that the operator of the Novotel Hotel had arranged with Allianz to cover its leasehold interest in the building. (HHR Christchurch NTL Ltd v Crystal Imports Ltd [2015] NZCA 28.)
Appearing in the District Court as counsel for a forestry and earthworks contractor sentenced for breaches of the Resource Management Act. (Waikato Regional Council v Corboy Forest Management Ltd [2015] NZDC 21655.)
Appearing as counsel for insurance broker Aon in a High Court trial defending a negligence claim by the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries for a transitional gap in professional indemnity insurance cover (created by a change in policy wording) that resulted in MAF not having insurance cover for a successful claim against it by a sawmiller. (Attorney-General v Aon New Zealand Ltd HC Wellington CIV-2005-485-1814, 10 April 2008, Mallon J.)
Appearing in the Court of Appeal as counsel for solicitors who successfully defended allegations they had breached solicitor undertakings during confidential settlement discussions for a litigated dispute. (Marine Mooring Consultants Ltd v Munro (2004) 17 PRNZ 310.)
Appearing in the High Court as counsel for a barrister who successfully appealed against a District Court order awarding costs against the solicitor personally after he had represented a legally-aided losing party at trial. (Hughes v Ratcliffe (2000) 14 PRNZ 690.)
