‘Well-known for its leading litigation practice’, Bell Gully houses a team of experienced practitioners who frequently appear as senior counsel in trials and appeals at all levels of the New Zealand court system. The group also represent clients in arbitrations, mediations and other forms of dispute resolution. The ‘first-class’ team’s workload includes corporate and commercial disputes, regulatory investigations and government inquiries, as well as cases concerning public law, insurance, Māori law, tax and white-collar crime. David Friar, who is praised for his ‘exceptional knowledge and understanding when advising on insurance claims’, heads the practice with the support Wellington-based deputy leader Rachael Brown, who specialises in Māori law and employment disputes. Tim Fitzgerald is a key contact for insolvency and regulatory investigations, while Jenny Stevens handles litigious competition law matters. Other key names to note include Wellington-based Kirsty Dobbs, Blair Keown, Sophie East, who has demonstrable capability in banking litigation, class actions and arbitrations, and the ‘articulate’ Jesse Wilson, who assists clients in construction disputes. The ‘strategically astute’ Brad Ward was promoted to partner in January 2022, while Simon Ladd left to Shortland Chambers in December 2021. All named practitioners are based in the firm’s Auckland office, unless stated otherwise.

Counting major corporates, financial institutions and public sector entities among its key clients, MinterEllisonRuddWatts’ caseload regularly includes large-scale commercial litigation, ranging from regulatory investigations and insolvency to banking and finance, agriculture, energy and insurance-related disputes. In Auckland, Jane Standage, who ‘provides clear, pragmatic and strategic advice’ to clients in relation to investigations by regulators (including the Financial Markets Authority, Commerce Commission and Reserve Bank) jointly leads the practice alongside Wellington-based Richard Gordon, who has experience in banking and insolvency litigation. Also in Wellington, Stacey Shortall is noted for her expertise in handling the interplay between regulatory investigations, criminal prosecutions and civil lawsuits, while Auckland-based Andrew Horne and Nick Frith specialise in insurance disputes. Other key members of the team include Sean Gollin, who operates from the firm’s Auckland office and has a broad civil and commercial litigation practice, and Wellington-based Briony Davies, who handles public law disputes. Oliver Skilton left the firm in April 2022 to join Mills Lane Chambers.

With offices in Auckland and Christchurch, Anthony Harper acts for domestic and national clients in commercial, construction and insurance litigation, and has demonstrable experience in health and safety disputes, which continues an area of growth for the practice. In the firm’s Auckland office, Dan Hughes leads the team and specialises in construction and insolvency cases in New Zealand, while Christchurch-based Peter Woods focuses on property claims for earthquake damage in Canterbury and Marlborough, in addition to representing clients in contractual, construction, defamation and insurance-related disputes. Other key members of the team include the Auckland-based Lynne Van, a specialist in insolvency litigation.

Dentons Kensington Swan’s national dispute resolution practice offers ‘constructive advice’ and ‘gets to the heart of the issue’ in disputes pertaining to government and regulatory cases, as well as infrastructure and commercial litigation. In the firm’s Wellington office, practice co-leader Hayden Wilson is noted for his expertise in public and administrative law litigation, and has demonstrable experience acting for various government agencies in New Zealand. The Wellington-based practice, which includes public law specialist Linda Clark, has a strong track record in media and defamation cases, in addition to ADR, with key clients including The New Zealand Medical Council and Engineering New Zealand. The Auckland office, which is led by David Campbell, handles infrastructure, corporate and commercial disputes, and houses James McMillan, who is a key contact for insolvency disputes, and senior associate Patrick Glennie, who ‘work diligently through all issues, providing clear and concise advice’.

DLA Piper New Zealand is noted for its ‘in-depth knowledge’ in insurance litigation, and counts regulatory disputes, including contentious competition law and financial services matters, as well as public law and retail-related litigation, in its caseload. In the firm’s Auckland office, ‘standout litigator’ Iain Thain leads the team, and has demonstrable experience in competition and regulatory mandates, consumer law, property and insolvency cases. The practice, which is commended for its ‘well-coordinated pro bono litigation services’, includes Auckland-based Alicia Murray, who handles competition law and insolvency disputes. Emma Moran, who is frequently supported by solicitor Cameron McCracken, oversees the team in Wellington and resolves commercial disputes in the public law, construction, insurance and life sciences sectors.

Russell McVeagh’s ‘proactive’ team has demonstrable experience in large-scale class actions and contentious matters pertaining to construction projects, in addition to restructuring and insolvency litigation, regulatory investigations and ADR cases. In the firm’s Auckland office, Kirsten Massey chairs the practice and focuses on class actions, financial services litigation and professional negligence cases, while Marika Eastwick-Field is a key contact for insurance disputes. The Auckland office is also home to Polly Pope, who advises on class actions, construction and banking litigation, and senior litigator Malcolm Crotty. In Wellington, Chris Curran is noted for his expertise in public law and commercial disputes, judicial reviews and cases relating to IT projects, while ‘energetic and talented’ Nathaniel Walker focuses on contentious insurance matters.

Noted for its strong capability in insurance litigation, Fee Langstone’s practice, which is primarily based in the firm’s Auckland office, ‘provides excellent technical advice, while retaining a pragmatic and commercial approach’, and counts disciplinary complaints, regulatory investigations and class actions in its caseload. Phillipa Fee is a ‘leading figure in the insurance space’ who jointly leads the practice alongside ‘commercially-minded litigator’ Russell Stewart, who acts for solicitors and barristers, chartered accountants and auditors in disciplinary proceedings. Craig Langstone covers a broad range of disputes, from public liability, professional indemnity and D&O to property and cyber insurance cases, while ‘meticulous’ Pauline Davies is a key contact for litigious maritime and aviation matters.

The ‘commercially-focused, knowledgeable and tireless litigation team’ at Auckland-based firm Hesketh Henry focuses on contentious matters arising out of the construction, insurance, trade and transport, trusts and employment sectors. Christina Bryant has experience in construction and property disputes, with a focus on civil claims and regulatory investigations, while Nick Gillies acts for some of New Zealand’s largest civil and vertical contractors and specialist subcontractors. ‘Tenacious’ Helen Macfarlane is another key contact for contentious construction matters, as well as insurance disputes. Glen Holm-Hansen, who focuses on construction and insolvency litigation, jointly leads the practice alongside employment expert Alison Maelzer.

One client praises Lane Neave as ‘an absolute go-to firm for litigation and insolvency advice in the South Island, no matter how large or complex the case is’. In the firm’s Christchurch office, ‘outstanding lawyer and court advocate’ Ben Russell, who leads the team, advises clients on a range of commercial issues, from contentious contract and property matters to trusts, insurance, insolvency and shareholder disputes. The Christchurch office is also home to Rebecca Scott, an ‘impressive talent on the rise’ who has experience in litigation concerning electricity and agribusiness issues, as well as consultant Simon Clay. In Auckland, special counsel Hayley McKee joined the team from Meredith Connell in September 2021.

Tompkins Wake’s ‘straightforward, hard-working and efficient’ litigation team primarily operates from the firm’s Hamilton office, acting for national clients in disputes relating to dairy industry regulation, insurance, property, aviation and agribusiness issues, among others. The practice also advises local government entities, including Hamilton City Council and South Waikato District Council, on a broad range of contentious issues, from commercial and property disputes to judicial reviews and electoral matters. Praised for his ‘sharp mind and excellent strategic thinking’, the team is headed up by James MacGillivray. Kate Cornegé, experienced in dairy, energy and telecoms-related disputes, is a further key member of the team. The Auckland-based Chen Jiang joined the practice from Glaister Ennor in October 2021.