Connect with meHongi is an experienced insurance and commercial litigator specialising in construction, property and transport-related insurance matters, including complex coverage disputes, professional negligence claims and subrogated recoveries.
Hongi has a keen understanding of the legal and strategic issues involved in high-stakes claims across the construction, energy, infrastructure and maritime sectors. He regularly advises insurers on coverage, defends in liability claims, and secures favourable outcomes in subrogated recoveries, leveraging his expertise to manage intricate cases involving major loss and liability concerns.
He has also been integral in precedent-setting outcomes in the superior courts in Australia — in state Supreme Courts and Federal Courts (including the appellate courts).
Construction & Insurance Litigation
- Acting for insurers in a high-stakes $50 million coverage dispute under an Industrial Special Risks policy related to extensive damage at a large apartment building, which involved complex allegations of design defects.
- Advising and defending insurers in a complex $5 million professional negligence claim related to fire system defects through strategic expert engagement and claims analysis to minimise insurers’ liability exposure.
- Advising insurers in a complex $47 million coverage dispute under an Industrial Special Risks policy involving business interruption losses for a gold mining operation.
- Acting for insurers in subrogated recoveries for a significant fire damage claim exceeding $5 million impacting a commercial building in Sydney.
- Acting in a significant multi-party Federal Court COVID-19 business interruption insurance test case proceeding, assisting in defining coverage triggers for pandemic-related claims and supporting a precedent-setting decision with third party funding involvement.
Marine & Transport
- Defending crew on behalf of protection & indemnity clubs and shipowners against pollution-related statutory prosecutions.
- Acting for a cruise line in class actions involving COVID-related passenger claims, handling extensive eDiscovery and collaborating with IT experts to meet Federal Court standards and streamline the litigation process.
- Assisting vessel owners in a Federal Court vessel arrest and judicial sale proceeding with international complexities, coordinating with foreign stakeholders to protect client assets effectively.
Other
- Successfully negotiating settlements in directors & officers indemnity disputes involving defence costs for civil and criminal proceedings, providing efficient resolution for commercial entities and not-for-profit organisations.
- Defending insurers in the transport and construction sectors in liability claims for property damage and personal injury.
- Assisting in a Supreme Court application to appoint receivers for an incorporated association with an estimated $150 million in outstanding debts to protect officeholder interests.
- Construction and Infrastructure
- Professional Liability
- Property – Commercial
- Property – Major Loss
- Subrogated Recoveries
- Construction & Infrastructure
- Energy, Mining & Power
- Industrial & Commercial Property
- Marine & Transport
- Australian Insurance Law Association
- Law Society of New South Wales