Primary Areas of Practice
Insurance Law
Profile
After admission to the Bar, Crossley practised civil and criminal litigation at Cairns Slane for 4 years.
He then moved inhouse to New Zealand Insurance as its sole inhouse lawyer. He came to head an inhouse legal team of 5 lawyers and eventually became Head of Claims. As well as advising NZI in relation to insurance claims, he performed several additional roles, including being company secretary, privacy officer and a trustee of the staff superannuation fund. The highlight of his career was becoming responsible for drafting all NZI’s policy wordings. This gave him a unique insight into underwriting and insurance product development.
After 18 years inhouse at NZI, Crossley decided to move back to a law firm. He started as Special Counsel at what is now DLA Piper in 2002. He moved to becoming a general partner and then an equity partner. He continued to specialise solely in insurance law, acting for many general, life and health insurers, reinsurers, underwriting agents, and insurance brokers. He has acted for many syndicates at Lloyd’s of London in relation to large commercial earthquake claims. He particularly specialises in policy drafting and policy coverage advice.
In 2018, Crossley moved to be a partner with Keegan Alexander bringing with him over 34 years of experience specialising in insurance law and insurance practice.
He is a Senior Associate with the Australian and New Zealand Institute of Insurance and Finance. He is a member of the New Zealand Insurance Law Association and he writes a regular column in the Insurance Brokers Association of New Zealand’s publication CoverNote. He is also an expert providing advice on iNavigator’s online Ask the Expert forum.
Crossley is ranked in Chambers Asia-Pacific 2018 in Band 1 (highest) for New Zealand. Chambers noted he specialises in insurance policy drafting and coverage disputes across all insurance lines. One referee described his strength across the insurance space: “He has good engagement and is very committed to the industry. He also has a depth of knowledge across a broad base.” He acted for a Lloyd’s of London syndicates in relation to material damage claims for five commercial buildings insured under a single policy.
Crossley is also ranked as a Leading Individual for Insurance in Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2018. Legal 500 praised Crossley as a “standout practitioner” with “a wide breadth of insurance industry knowledge and a pragmatic approach”.
