We’ve received this rather sad press release from Australian firm Holman Fenwick Willan this morning
Our condolences to Mr Duff’s family, colleagues and the firm
Holman Fenwick Willan is deeply saddened to announce that John Duff, a leading insurance and reinsurance Partner, passed away suddenly at his home on Monday 9 May 2011. John was promoted to Partner at the firm in 1987. He was 54.
John specialised in insurance and reinsurance dispute resolution involving complex international property, casualty, energy, marine, aviation, alternative risk transfer and captive disputes. His practice covered a range of insurance and reinsurance disputes across a multitude of jurisdictions, most notably the USA, Bermuda, Australia, the Middle East and North Africa. He was regularly listed as a leading lawyer in the key insurance directories and played an instrumental role in developing and growing the firm’s Insurance and Reinsurance practice.
Richard Crump, the firm’s Senior Partner, said: “This is a particularly sad day for me personally and for the firm. I have known John for nearly 30 years and we were promoted to Partner at HFW at the same time. There is no doubt that John was one of the leading reinsurance lawyers of his generation and will be sorely missed by his colleagues, friends and clients all over the world. Our thoughts and condolences are with his family at this sad time.”
Paul Wordley, head of the firm’s Insurance and Reinsurance practice said: “John was a world-class lawyer and highly respected both within the firm and by his contemporaries. He was a leading force in the firm’s (re)insurance practice and I thoroughly enjoyed growing the business with him over the last 20 years, since he recruited me to the firm. As a personal friend and a top-class lawyer he will be greatly missed.”
Kind regards
Holman Fenwick Willan LLP