I specialise in litigation and dispute resolution of commercial and civil matters. I have extensive experience in New Zealand’s courts as well as alternative dispute resolution including mediation and arbitration, both in New Zealand and abroad.

I have particular interest and expertise in commercial disputes, building and construction disputes, employment disputes, and alternative dispute resolution.

My recent experience includes:

Commercial Disputes

  • Representing the directors and majority shareholders of a New Zealand company in a successful application for an ex-parte mandatory injunction and indemnity costs against a minority shareholder to protect the company’s commercial interests.
  • Acting for a company in a dispute with a minority of its shareholders involving interpretation of the shareholder agreement and complex expert financial analysis and valuation.
  • Acting for a company to obtain urgent injunctive relief to allow a significant Auckland construction project to continue. This matter involved a number of parties and was factually and legally complex.

Trust Disputes

  • Representing the majority trustees of a high-value trust in relation to an injunctive application brought by a trustee seeking to restrain the trust from engaging in a large commercial project.
  • Acting for a beneficiary of a family trust in an application to remove and replace trustees. The litigation involved beneficiary rights, trustee duties, and the question of property ownership.

Employment

  • Advising companies on employment matters including restructures, compliance with New Zealand employment legislation, union negotiation, and employment disputes.
  • Acting for a significant employer in jurisdictionally complex proceedings involving the application and enforcement of confidentiality agreements.
  • Representing an employee on appeal to the Employment Court involving close analysis of internal company policies and their application to the question of unjustified dismissal.