September 2014

PROFILE: John Edmond

Insurance a ‘key driver’ in commercial litigation

John Edmond “fell into” insurance law, but is very glad he did.

“The ever-changing landscape of insurance is one of the key drivers of much commercial litigation before the courts. [And] members of the insurance industry are great fun to work with.”

John, AILA’s NSW chair, is managing partner of Clyde & Co Australia.

He began his career in the United Kingdom in 1995 after graduating from King’s College, London. He was a graduate lawyer with Clyde & Co, working for a year in shipping before launching a career in insurance law.

John moved to Australia in 1998 and joined Allens. He became a senior associate in 2000 and a partner in 2004, heading the insurance practice from 2009. He then established Clyde & Co Australia in 2012.

He has worked in all areas of insurance law, including professional indemnity, financial institutions, D&O and general liability. He advises on cyber risks, claims and policies, product launches, Privacy Act breaches, insurance disputes and commercial litigation.

John has been chair of AILA’s NSW chapter since 2012 and involved with AILA since 1999.

He has a passion for insurance law education and sees AILA’s importance as teaching insurance law fundamentals to those who seek education in the area and helping members to be “on top of relevant legal developments across all classes of business”.

He thoroughly enjoys the opportunity AILA gives him to network with his insurance and legal peers.

John says the engine of AILA’s activities is its various sub-committees. He has chaired the NSW education sub-committee and worked with the state committee, first as treasurer and now as chair.

He appreciates AILA’s “vibrant mix of insurance and legal professionals” who have “fresh ideas on how to meet education needs for AILA members”.

John told Resolve he was “really pleased” with how AILA NSW’s Young Professionals network had grown. “It has been going for seven years now and it continues to go from strength to strength.”

His hobbies are golf, travelling, and following English sporting teams around the world. He is passionate about cricket and rugby and, being originally from Essex, says he could not give up his ardent support of England in those sports, whether they win or lose.

He moved to Australia for “the lifestyle, the people, the climate and the opportunities”, and admires Captain James Cook for “planting his flag in this fantastic country”. He met his Australian wife, Kristen, a stockbroker, on a golf course.

John spends most of his free time with Kristen and their two children, five-year-old Kasia and three-year-old Anders, and their pet rabbit, Peter.

He says he is “still coming to terms” with the fact his children support Australian sporting teams over England.

While his job sees him travelling frequently to the UK, the US, China, Hong Kong, Singapore, and around Australia, John’s favourite holiday destination is New Zealand, for its “clean air, nice people, good food and great wine”.

When asked what advice he would have given himself at the age of 18, John said: “Keep planning the next stage, but take the time to enjoy what’s around you now.”