“Matthew Atkinson has a strong experience in the insurance industry. He brings calm, measured and reliable advice.”

“Matthew Atkinson is very solid and you can rely on him to get the job done.”

— Client testimonials, Legal 500 Asia Pacific Rankings 2020

Matthew graduated from the University of Otago in 1994.  He began his career in the insurance and reinsurance industries in both claims and underwriting before moving to private practice in 2005.   Matthew became a partner of Fee Langstone in 2015.

Matthew brings a unique understanding of the insurance industry to his work as a civil litigator.  He specialises in the defence of claims against professionals and the resolution of indemnity issues. Throughout his career, Matthew has focused particularly on claims against solicitors, accountants and other professionals.

Matthew has significant court and dispute resolution experience, having represented clients at all levels in the New Zealand court system.  Matthew also has considerable experience with disciplinary complaints and proceedings against professionals.  He has represented clients facing charges in both the Lawyers and Conveyancers Disciplinary Tribunal and the New Zealand Institute of Chartered Accountants Disciplinary Tribunal.

Matthew also specialises in the defence of companies and individuals facing prosecution under regulatory provisions, frequently as insureds under a statutory liability policy. 

Matthew has presented a webinar for the Auckland District Law Society on fiduciary relationships and a series of seminars for insurance organisations on the impact of the application of the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering of the Financing of Terrorism Act 2009 to lawyers, accountants and real estate agents.  The provisions of that Act applied to those professions from July 2018.

Work highlights

• Defending and resolving numerous claims against solicitors, accountants, engineers and other professionals.

• Assisting and representing solicitors and accountants facing disciplinary complaints, including representing clients before the Legal Complaints Review Officer, the New Zealand Lawyers and Conveyancers Disciplinary Tribunal and NZICA's Disciplinary Tribunal.

• Successfully representing the insurer of an earthquake damaged building in Parkin v Vero Insurance New Zealand Ltd [2015] NZCH 1675.

• Defending a firm of forestry consultants accused of negligence in Blackmount Forest Limited v Trinity Foundation (Services No.2) Limited.
  

• Successfully defending a pre-purchase inspector in professional negligence proceedings – Newton v Stewart [2013] NZHC 970.
  

• Representing an insurer in respect of a claim on a professional indemnity policy in Timtech Chemicals Ltd v QBE Insurance (International) Ltd – successful in both the High Court and Court of Appeal.
  

• Defending a professional negligence claim brought against a firm of patent attorneys – The Baby Hammock Co Ltd v A J Park Law [2012] NZHC 1061.
  

• Defending the auditor of a failed finance company in civil proceedings and a disciplinary complaint.
  

• Representing numerous insured defendants in respect of charges laid against them under the Resource Management Act, Fair Trading Act and Health & Safety in Employment Act.
  

• Representing numerous solicitors and accountants in respect of charges laid against them by professional bodies.

Professional associations

New Zealand Insurance Law Association