Experienced Civil Litigator
About Me
I am an experienced civil litigator with 18 years of experience in respected boutique insurance litigation firms and as a barrister.
I specialise in tort and contract law. I have managed complex engineering and building defects claims. For over seven years I acted for councils in NZ, including Queenstown, (as pictured). I have acted both for, and against, various professionals alleged to be negligent.
I have acted for public and private entities, and for individuals.
I have appeared in NZ courts at all levels, and in specialist tribunals.
Recently I have acted for QBE Fiji and for the insured to recover uninsured losses from engineers in an international arbitration under the ACICA Rules (settled before hearing), and I have also acted for foreign company plaintiffs suing a well known NZ company in long running High Court litigation.
I am currently representing homeowners in relation to various liability and claim issues resulting from a landslide.
My Experience
Barrister
August 2015 – current
Two complex claims with quantum over $30m. Acted for insurer in arbitration and for foreign plaintiffs in NZ High Court.
Senior Associate
Heaney & Partners, Auckland
April 2008 – June 2015
Acting for councils of NZ. Acting for and against insurers and corporates in a variety of claims including earthquake claims. Management of multi-party litigation claims of up to $21m.
Trial preparation experience including: researching factual and legal position; legal analysis; interviewing and briefing witnesses; drafting pleadings and writing submissions; advocacy in all courts and tribunals as both sole and junior counsel to QC; alternative dispute resolution at mediations, judicial settlement conferences, negotiation and settlements.
Litigation Solicitor
McElroys Barristers & Solicitors, Auckland
January 2004 – April 2008
Various litigation, insurance-based. Professional negligence issues relating to solicitors, real estate agents, engineers, brokers, valuers, financial advisors. Employment and education law issues (including employment issues of school staff) and acting for Boards of Trustees.
Sole counsel in ERA hearings and mediations. Second counsel in successful Employment Court appeal defending a school’s competency process and a justified dismissal. Junior counsel to QC defending historic abuse claims with limitation issues.
Law Clerk/Solicitor, Jones Fee Barristers & Solicitors (now Fee Langstone)
November 2000 – December 2003
Professional negligence claims including claims against solicitors, engineers, valuers, brokers and real estate agents, plus other insurance-based litigation including research on defamation claims.
Junior counsel in HC hearings.
Professional achievements
Supreme Court:
Defended successful interlocutory application to bar appeal and strike out claim, Nielsen v Auckland Council.
Junior counsel to QC in Osborne v Auckland Council – defended judicial review of statutory interpretation, with limitation issues and Building legislation.
Court of Appeal:
Defended interlocutory applications – sole counsel.
Defended judicial review appeal – sole counsel.
Junior counsel to QC on insurance policy interpretation issue.
High Court:
Defended interlocutory applications – sole counsel.
Judicial review and responding to appeals – sole counsel.
Junior counsel to QCs in trials and HC appeals.
Other forum:
Employment Relations Authority Hearings – sole counsel.
Weathertight Homes Tribunal, adjudications.
Mediations
Arbitration
