ZISTHLP’s team (the “Team”) consists of lawyers who have a well-established track record in handling insurance and reinsurance disputes. The Team have been actively involved in various litigation matters in substantial and complex cases, both in Malaysia and in Singapore. The experience in insurance litigation work includes all major classes of insurance and reinsurance business.

ZISTHLP’s lawyers have acted as Counsel in a variety of litigation matters including fire claims, various marine hull claims, cargo claims, freight forwarders defences, bankers’ blanket bonds, contractors all risks claims, erection all risk claims, machinery breakdown claims, professional indemnity, negligence actions, errors and omissions and directors & officers’ liability claims. The Team have also been engaged to advise and act on matters involving, among others, substantial claims under fidelity guarantee and money policies. The insurance and reinsurance practice of the Firm handled by the Team traverse specialist insurance claims involving power plants, oil & gas and energy too.

The Team have also provided advisory and consultancy work on various aspects and issues of insurance law and practice that goes beyond the shores of Malaysia. These include, among others, established institutions such as, American Express Bank, Mastercard, J P Morgan and Schlumberger. The advisory and consultancy work extends to regulatory and procedural matters as well. Examples of advisory work done on complex issues include the various regulatory framework required to set up insurance businesses under various models, issues relating to the effect and interpretation of statutory provisions such as the Insurance Act in Malaysia.

The Team is also committed to providing, on a regular basis, seminars and workshops, touching on various issues on insurance law and practice. For example, they were involved in presenting a major seminar to the state government, corporate, business and insurance community in Sarawak on issues of Directors & Officers’ liability.

ZISTHLP’s lawyers in previous practices have also been engaged in designing insurance products, and drafting of various policy wordings for insurance companies, both in Malaysia and in the Asia Pacific Region.

The Team incorporates a Motor Defence Unit which undertakes motor defence work for many insurers. The Motor Defence Unit manages this area of practice according to strict Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). The performance of the unit is monitored and appraised by the clients through agreed Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). The management of this area of work is imbued with various experiences and practices gained in other jurisdictions.

The Team, through the Motor Defence Unit presently handles motor defence work for leading motor insurers particularly in large and complex claims. We are currently on the panel of 6 insurers. The clients include AmGeneral Insurance Berhad, Allianz General Insurance Company (Malaysia) Berhad and AIG Malaysia Insurance Bhd.

The Team also receives regular instructions from Singapore-based insurers to handle motor defence work of claims involving Singapore registered vehicles in Malaysia. Amongst these insurers are AVIVA Ltd, ERGO Insurance Pte Ltd and EQ Insurance Co. Ltd.

The Team’s motor defence work further includes regular instructions from Singapore solicitors for claims arising in Malaysia.

An overall objective of the Motor Defence Team in the Team is to reduce the claim as much as possible, whatever the circumstances of each case. Done within the expectations of the client and in line with the SOPs and KPIs, this overall objective underlines the principled approach of the Firm which will not be compromised.

In the process, the Team also seeks to develop the law in the area and set precedents.

The various classes of insurance and reinsurance expertise and experience are in: