London Australia
Underwriting

What separates London Australia Underwriting (LAUW) from its many peers in today’s market place is its independent status and best of breed product offerings.

Based in Sydney, Australia, LAUW was established in 2005 by Steve Walker and Declan Rye to write Professional and Financial Lines business exclusively on behalf of Lloyd’s of London Syndicates, offering the highest level of security for clients.

Having now been established for many years LAUW has firmly cemented its position at the head of the market place with a wide choice of innovative products backed up by one of the most experienced underwriting teams in the market.

LAUW’s model focuses on innovation and service. Whilst maintaining a consistent open market presence LAUW can also target specific business sectors and apply a stringent risk selection criterion that ultimately delivers superior and sustainable underwriting results. This in turn benefits brokers and their clients with fair and timely claims settlements and consistent pricing.

Both Walker and Rye have well over 20 years’ experience in the field including 10 years underwriting business for various Syndicates at Lloyds of London.

In addition LAUW’s underwriting personnel and portfolio managers all boast significant experience in the Financial Lines sector in the local Australian market place.

LAUW's core product lines are:

  • Directors & Officers
  • Financial Institutions
  • FinTech
  • Management Liability
  • Professional Indemnity
  • IT Liability (ComTech)

Directors

Steve Walker
Director
Steve has more than 20 years’ experience in underwriting financial lines business, predominantly financial institutions, including 10 years in the London market at various insurance companies and Lloyd’s syndicates.

Declan Rye
Director
Declan has more than 25 years’ experience in both broking and underwriting financial lines business, predominantly professional indemnity, including 10 years in the London market at international broking houses and Lloyd’s syndicates.

Matthew Titmuss
Senior Underwriter
Matthew has been with LAUW since its establishment and underwrites across the professional indemnity and management liability portfolios. He also is responsible for servicing PI facilities at LAUW. Before joining LAUW, Matthew worked at a major international broking house in Sydney and has more than 15 years’ experience.

Neil Barnett
Senior Underwriter
Neil joined LAUW in 2021 and underwrites D&O and management liability portfolios. He has more than 20 years’ experience across the broker, insurer and agency sectors. Neil has more than 15 years’ experience in the Sydney market and worked in the London broker market before arriving in Australia.

Jamie Kennell-Webb
Portfolio Manager Financial Institutions 

Jamie joined LAUW in May 2024 after five years with Liberty Specialty Markets (Asia-Pacific) as Senior Underwriter, NSW D&O Team Leader, Statutory Liability & WHS Portfolio Manager. Before that he was with Marsh in Sydney for 18 months, following a 16-year insurance industry career in the United Kingdom.

Ben Brunker
Underwriter

Ben joined LAUW in August 2024 after 2 years with Brooklyn as Assistant Underwriter.
Before that he was with Europ Assistance as Claims Officer.
Ben enjoys rowing and triathlon in his freetime.