WR Berkley has opened a new office in Melbourne, appointing former QBE Senior Underwriter Paula Ritchie to manage its new Collins Street office.

It’s the US-based company’s third office in Australia, with the Sydney office being opened in 2007 and the Brisbane branch in July last year. However, WR Berkley has been trading in Australia since 2003.

The local arm of the company is run through its Europe operation, offering professional indemnity and some product and public liability lines.

The company’s Australian reinsurance business is managed through another structure.