Specialist lines insurer Liberty International Underwriters (LIU) has opened an office in Perth, rounding out its coverage of the Australian market.

LIU, part of US insurer Liberty Mutual, previously served the WA market with a fly-in, fly-out approach from its other Australian offices in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Adelaide.

The move is designed to take advantage of the booming WA economy, and in particular opportunities in the construction, resources, energy and property sectors which Liberty feels can be best capitalised on with a local, on-the-ground presence.

“The West is the engine room of the Australian economy,” Dominic Fogarty, VP Casualty and LIU’s regional head for WA and SA, said in a statement.

“The growth areas in WA align neatly with our expertise and appetite in the energy, construction, marine, specialty casualty and casualty product lines.”

To staff the Perth office Liberty earlier this year appointed Matt Gibbs from the local market to the role of Senior Underwriter, Energy Fire Construction; while Lachlan Mitchell, Senior Underwriter Casualty has transferred from Liberty’s Adelaide office, and Jaime Asher, Senior Underwriter Specialty Casualty, has moved to WA from its Melbourne operation.

“We’re big believers in the importance of having adequate authority within the local offices,” Mr Fogarty said. “This means that brokers and their clients will obtain a quicker response from experienced underwriters who intimately understand their risks.”