Diversified law firm DLA Phillips Fox says its integration with global firm DLA Piper will not dilute its local insurance expertise.

The defection of former DLA Phillips Fox partner Peter Tredinnick and special counsel Belinda Marshall to Moray & Agnew last month has sparked interest in the stability of the company’s insurance operations.

But CEO Tony Holland told insuranceNEWS.com.au that insurance remains a “strong and key fixture” in the firm’s future plans.

Phillips Fox changed its name in 2006 to DLA Phillips Fox following a strategic alliance with DLA Piper, and from May 1 will lose its 140-year association with the Phillips Fox name when it becomes DLA Piper.

Mr Holland says the integration with DLA Piper will open new opportunities for growth, particularly in the wider Asia-Pacific region, but “insurance continues to be our most highly ranked practice in our directory”.

“Our insurance practice will remain a key strength of the firm now and following integration with DLA Piper. It is, and will continue to be, a pre-eminent part of our practice.

“We see particular opportunities to grow in the property, casualty and professional indemnity areas and more broadly across all areas of insurance law.”

While recently losing Mr Tredinnick and Ms Marshall to Moray & Agnew, the company has added five new insurance partners – James Berg, Toby Barrie, Ivan Medak, Samantha Kelly and David Randazzo – in the past financial year.

“Upon integration with DLA Piper, we expect to have more than 500 insurance law specialists and over 1600 dispute resolution lawyers globally,” Mr Holland said.

“Our partners or consultants (are) authorities on virtually every area of insurance law.”