Australian and international experts will examine a range of legal issues at the first Sir Ninian Stephen Insurance Law Masterclass, to be held in Melbourne on May 23.

The event will cover topics such as directors’ and officers’ insurance, liability of intermediaries and measure of indemnity.

The class will also address the post-contractual duty of utmost good faith, an area of law highlighted by Sir Ninian – a former governor-general, Supreme Court judge, High Court justice and barrister in the insurance area.

“Given Sir Ninian’s involvement in insurance law over many years, we thought it would be a fitting honour to… see if we could use his name,” event co-ordinator Mikaela Reynoldson told insuranceNEWS.com.au.

Sir Ninian, 90, returned to the legal field after his term as governor-general and presided over international tribunals investigating war crimes.

Speakers at the masterclass will include Reinsurance Group of America Senior VP and International Counsel Ian Enright, Clayton Utz partner Fred Hawke, University of Exeter professor Rob Merkin and University of WA professor Brenda McGivern.

The Australian Insurance Law Association is presenting the event, along with the University of WA and UK institutions the University of Southampton and University of Exeter.

The masterclass will be held at the Crown Palladium, and organisers say it could pave the way for an annual event.