The Policyholder Podcast: Presented by Fenchurch Law
The Policyholder Podcast, presented by Fenchurch Law, the podcast that aims to bring insights from a variety of guests with different perspectives on the insurance market, in a way that’s relevant to policyholders, and the brokers who represent them.
The Policyholder Podcast: Presented by Fenchurch Law
S1E3 - Meet The Team: Matt King
Meet Matt King, the newest Associate in Fenchurch Law’s Singapore office.
In this episode, Matt shares his career journey from training at a global firm to embracing the world of insurance coverage disputes, reflects on his experiences at Fenchurch Law so far, and reveals his favourite Southeast Asian travel experience.
Hello and welcome to a new podcast series hosted by Fenchurch Law. The series aims to introduce every member of our four offices in a short, informal podcast. Today I'm delighted to be joined by Matt King, who joined the Singapore office in 2025. A very warm welcome, matt. Thanks, drew. Thanks for having me.
Speaker 1:So before we dive into the pod, let's start with some quickfire questions. Eat in or eat out? Eat out, work from home or work from office Office? Favourite holiday destination Spain. And Netflix or YouTube Netflix. So the highly observant listeners will note that we're in the same room and sadly that does not mean I'm in Singapore. It means that Matt's in London because we've just had our kickoff day, which is where the whole office sort of get together for an off-site. And Matt, we only met two days ago, but it's fair to say, we bonded it over a doom visit to a local shop on the outskirts of Newbury which transpired have been closed for months. But, matt, it is great to have you on the pod and, officially, fenchurch Law's newest joiner. That's right, yeah. So question one is how long have you worked at Fenchurch Law?
Speaker 2:Yes, as you alluded to, I'm pretty new, so I've been at the firm for just two months now. And how long have you lived in Singapore? A bit longer than two months, nine months. So I'm still pretty new to the whole Singapore thing as well.
Speaker 1:I'm enjoying it. Yeah, no, I'm sure I mean I've never been, but I'm desperate to go. What was the reason for your move out there nine months ago?
Speaker 2:So I moved out because my wife was offered a role out there and the opportunity to go and live and work abroad was just too good to say no to.
Speaker 1:That's fair enough. I mean, it's something that I think I'm very, very open to, but sadly haven't actually been asked to do it yet. So could you give us a brief synopsis of your working life?
Speaker 2:up to now? Sure. So I trained at Herbert Smith Freehills. I went in thinking I was going to be an M&A lawyer, but that's where I developed my interest for working in disputes. I ended up doing most of my training contracts there in contentious seats. I then went on to join Mitchell Moores where I worked for three years in a broad commercial disputes practice. I did everything from trademarks and patents to corporate and shareholder disputes and breach of contracts and debt enforcement claims. So I was introduced to Fentchurch Law when I moved to Singapore and I came in as an insurance industry novice, but I'm embracing the opportunity with everything I've got, yeah it's a weird and wonderful world.
Speaker 1:uh, insurance coverage disputes and I think a lot of people don't. Actually, I mean, I'm one of the few people who probably would, who was going to end up in insurance law because my father was an underwriter, my mum was a broker, but I think a lot of people sort of naturally fall into it and then discover it's actually a very, very interesting area, especially, I think the coverage disputes. I think insurance litigation is is fascinating. So I mean, I think those two firms you mentioned I imagine they were both in London, that's right, yes, yes. So in your opinion, because they're obviously both kind of national firms or obviously herbert herbie's is very much international what's the biggest difference between working in a big firm and a small firm?
Speaker 2:I think one difference that's very noticeable um somebody in the sort of early stages of their career is that a smaller firm, the opportunities are really there for you to shape your career in a way in which you want.
Speaker 1:The converse that a big firm is maybe you're more expected to go down a pre-established path well, I mean that couldn't not that's seriously true in singapore, obviously, because there's three of you guys well, three and a half, because I think david technically heads it up, but obviously he's spending most of his time here. So I know, I think the opportunities in financial or singapore are crazy, even I mean I know that's me saying that from the london office, which where that you know, you can obviously grow very quickly because it's far less prescribed, which is, I think, what you're alluding to it at the big boys. So obviously you mentioned that you're, um, you're new to insurance coverage disputes, so in some ways this is an unfair question because we've only been doing them for about seven weeks. But what have you found most interesting about policyholder coverage disputes in your short time here?
Speaker 2:I think the coming in. One of the things that you really notice is there is a great depth of of law which is unique to insurance insurance coverage disputes. One of the reasons why I got into working in disputes is because I really enjoyed the nature of structuring an argument around black letter law. So having all that law that I'd not come across before is is both a is both a daunting prospect and a great challenge for me and an exciting challenge for me.
Speaker 1:Yeah, no, it's well, it's so true. I mean there's, it's got its own, its own legislation and it's, and so much, its own cases. I mean so few, so few cases, that which are sort of household names.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and a depth from from the 19th century up to up to now yes, I mean it's quite fun when you or the textbook, sometimes referring to legislation that was sorry, not legislation referring to judgment some of which are from the 18th century exactly it's a bit sort of like I can't imagine this pissing that in a skeleton, but you do occasionally, um, and they, it's a.
Speaker 1:It's a weird and wonderful world for sure. So, matt, I've been's been really great to catch up with you. And the final question is based around the fact that Singapore is often seen as a great springboard for traveling around that part of the world. So you've been there for nine months. I'm sure you've got lots more things on your to-do list, but what's your favorite place you visited in Southeast Asia thus far?
Speaker 2:Well, firstly, I've got to shout out singapore, because it's a great place to visit as a tourist, as well as a great place to live and work, um. But but otherwise, I've just got back from a holiday in the komodo national park, which is a group of islands in indonesia, um, where I got to get up close and personal with some komodo dragons no way yeah, yeah, and snorkeling with manta rays and sea turtles. So it was a real once in a lifetime experience oh, I'm seriously jealous.
Speaker 1:Um, that sounds awesome. Well, matt, thanks so much.
Speaker 2:And when you, when you, when you're off, when you're flying out I'm flying friday night, which, for those not listening contemporaneously, is in a couple of days. I'll have been in london week.
Speaker 1:Yeah well, you're probably only just getting over your jet lag now, Quite Anyway, Matt, thanks so much for coming on.
Speaker 2:Thanks very much, Drew.
Speaker 1:Looking forward to working together more closely in the future, hopefully.
