Cecily specialises in insurance law and civil and commercial litigation.

Cecily commenced practice in 1993 after graduating from the University of Auckland. She spent the earlier part of her career specialising in commercial litigation at two of New Zealand’s largest commercial law firms, and practised law in the United Kingdom while on her OE. Cecily has specialised in insurance and litigation since joining Fee Langstone’s predecessor firm Jones Fee in 2002, becoming a partner in that firm in 2010.

She regularly advises major New Zealand insurers on policy coverage issues and claims disputes, particularly in the areas of property and business interruption insurance, public and product liability policies, and construction risks including contract works insurance. Cecily also has particular expertise in the drafting and review of policy wordings.

Cecily has significant experience in litigation and resolution of disputes through mediation and negotiation, including claims of significant value and complexity. She has represented clients in defended fixtures in the High Court and District Court, and appeared as counsel in the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court. Areas of specialty include contractual disputes, negligence, construction and engineering issues, Fair Trading Act claims and insurance coverage disputes.

Cecily enjoys the challenge of resolving difficult legal issues, and is focussed on providing legally sound, practical and economic solutions.

“Cecily Brick is a skilled practitioner handling highly complex insurance matters. She is a highly intelligent practitioner who has an almost encyclopaedic knowledge of insurance law. Her opinions tread the difficult line of both showing the nuances of the law while remaining highly practical and commercial. She is a highly effective advocate in trials. I have instructed many of NZ’s insurance lawyers, and Cecily is right at the top.”

“Cecily Brick grasps difficult concepts and is a reliable operator. She delivers what is needed.”

“Cecily Brick offers KC-level performance. She constantly looks to add points of value, communicates brilliantly, keeps the focus properly directed and is calm and confident under pressure.”

— Client testimonials, Legal 500 Asia Pacific Rankings 2020/2023

Work highlights

• Successfully defending the insurer against a claim that cancellation of an insurance policy was invalid, involving issues of the insurer’s contractual right to cancel, agency, ratification and acquiescence. Cecily appeared as lead counsel in the District Court (Henry v Vero Insurance [2018] NZDC 19799).

• Acting for the insurer in the successful defence of a claim in the High Court, Court of Appeal and Supreme Court arising from the Christchurch earthquakes (Prattley Enterprises v Vero Insurance [2017] 1 NZLR 352). The proceeding concerned an attempt to set aside a settlement agreement and re-open an insurance claim including on the basis of contractual mistake, and the appropriate measure of indemnity for loss of a commercial building damaged in multiple earthquakes. The Supreme Court decision is a leading New Zealand authority on measure of indemnity for insurance claims.

• Appearing as lead counsel in the High Court, conducting the insurer’s successful defence to a claim for earthquake damaged contents in a trial over issues of contractual interpretation and expert evidence (Newbery v AA Insurance [2015] NZHC 2457).

• Providing policy coverage advice to insurers on material damage and business interruption issues for some of the largest value commercial claims arising from the Christchurch earthquakes.

• Successful subrogated recovery action against a US company arising from failure of a gas generating turbine, involving issues of US contract law and misleading and deceptive conduct by the vendor.

Professional associations

• New Zealand Insurance Law Association
  

• ADLSI
  

• New Zealand Law Society