Profile
“I will continue to empower and encourage my staff to perform at their best as I have done for the last decade. I will continue to advocate for my clients, embracing new technology and being open to business and industry changes”
Ken Dixon,
Dixon Insurance Services
Kate Sheppard said, “We must be ourselves at all risks.” These words motivated Isabella Clarke, along with Charlotte Griffin, to establish Kate Sheppard Chambers in 2020. Kate Sheppard Chambers is now the third largest barristers chambers in Aotearoa and provides a supportive and collegial space for women to practise in the way that best suits them.
Isabella is a highly capable civil litigator. She has experience in commercial and contractual disputes, Te Tiriti o Waitangi and public law litigation. Her key strengths include oral and written advocacy, meticulous analysis and presenting complex concepts simply. She enjoys leading cases as well as working in larger teams. For her, one of the best things about being an advocate is that there is always something left to learn.
Isabella aims to promote and connect women in the law. She is inspired by the next generation of lawyers and feels privileged to watch the career progress of the recipients of the Kate Sheppard Chambers Scholarship for research into women and the law.
Much has been achieved since women won the right to vote. Much is yet to be achieved. Isabella dreams of the day when the legal profession truly represents all those who call Aotearoa home.
PO Box 10 318, Wellington 6140
021 1064816
isabella.clarke@kschambers.co.nz
linkedin.com/in/isabella-clarke9
katesheppardchambers.co.nz/isabella-clarke/
Isabella Clarke
Barrister
Kate Sheppard Chambers
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Milestones
“To be able to give back to the community is rewarding and fulfilling. I am honoured to be in a position where I can raise funds for those less fortunate and in need”
Ken Dixon,
Dixon Insurance Services
2008–2010
2011–2014
2014–2020
Present
Present
2008–2010: Graduate/Solicitor at Russell McVeagh
2009: Barrister and Solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand
2008–
2010
Assistant Crown Counsel at Crown Law Office
2011–
2014
2014–2020: Crown Counsel at Crown Law Office
2020: Joined Independent Bar and established Kate Sheppard Chambers with Charlotte Griffin
2014–
2020
Committee member of the Wellington Women Lawyers’ Association since 2018
Barrister at Kate Sheppard Chambers since 2020
Present
Chair of the Board of the Competition Law and Policy Institute of New Zealand since 2019
Chambers 2023 Antitrust/Competition
Finalist in the 2023 APAC Women in Business Law Awards – Antitrust/Competition Law
Present
Assistant Vice President and Senior Broker at MJ Hall & Company since 2018
Present
Milestones
Aug 2022
Milestones
Sept 2021
Feb 2022
Apr 2022
Jul 2022
Aug
2022
Suncorp Bank introduces Solar Home Bonus offer for customers who are choosing renewable energy for their homes
Sept 2021
Month-on-month market share growth commences
Feb 2022
Suncorp Bank wins the Canstar award for most outstanding value in investment loans
Apr 2022
Suncorp Bank wins Money Magazine’s Bank of the Year and Business Bank of the Year awards for the fifth year in a row
Jul 2022
Suncorp Bank’s turnaround times are the lowest they have ever been. The lender becomes Australia’s first certified carbon neutral bank for both its operation and transaction services
Aug 2022
Milestones
How does he distinguish himself among fellow brokers?
“I believe all brokers are working very hard in a difficult market,” he says. “However, I have demonstrated continued growth, advocacy and performance on my client’s behalf, which is now recognised [for 10 consecutive years] in the Elite Broker awards.”
In 1990, Dixon got started with FAI, working in claims and as a team leader. From the late 1990s up until 2003, he worked at FAI and Suncorp in underwriting and as an area manager at VACC, CGU (South East Queensland). From 2003 to 2012, he got into broking and eventually started Dixon Insurance in 2013. Since then, he’s accumulated numerous acccolades, including Elite Broker, Diversity and Equity, and Fast Broker awards.
During the pandemic, Dixon challenged insurers over the Quarantine Act application to insurance wordings. His argument was that the Quarantine Act does not apply as an exclusion, as the Biosecurity Act was invoked by the Morrison Government, and this was not a subsequent amendment to the Quarantine Act. The test case in the Appeals court was won for Dixon’s client with a unanimous five-judge verdict.
He remains focused on transport, manufacturing, motor trade, engineering and large farm clients.
What are his plans for the future?
On a business level, “more of the same. I will continue to empower and encourage my staff to perform at their best as I have done for the last decade. I will continue to advocate for my clients, embracing new technology and being open to business and industry changes.”
On a personal level, Dixon invests significant time, effort and funds, along with his GT3, to support many charities through his passion for motorsport. From participating in and sponsoring the Thunderbolt Run (which provides tens of thousands of dollars in support for Beyond Blue and Prostate Cancer), to organising and running the Track Knights for Amira charity night where 28 Exotic Supercars raised funds through passenger laps in wet conditions, Dixon states “this is our time to give back to the community and those in need. My friendships and association with those seeking to do the same, allows us to contribute to those less fortunate and raise funds and awareness”.
He adds: “To be able to give back to the community is rewarding and fulfilling. I am honoured to be in a position where I can raise funds for those less fortunate and in need.”