MinterEllisonRuddWatts

Construction and Infrastructure

Chair and Partner

Chair of the MinterEllisonRuddWatts partnership, Janine is a specialist construction, property, and projects disputes lawyer. A sought-after industry commentator and adviser, she is passionate about shaping the construction industry and legal landscape in New Zealand.

Janine acts mainly for principals and consultants, but also advises other participants in the construction and property industry. Her clients include Metlifecare and Generus Living (major New Zealand retirement village owners and operators) and international corporations such as AECOM.

She has particular experience in project disputes and arbitration, having led a number of arbitrations of significant complexity. Janine regularly acts on matters relating to defective buildings and advises on landlord and tenant obligations and contentious rent review disputes. As well as being a seasoned litigator, Janine assists with risk management, aiming to identify and resolve issues before they escalate.

Known for her pragmatic approach, Janine adopts either litigation and/or dispute resolution to achieve a commercially effective outcome for her clients. She excels at navigating complex construction disputes of significant quantum and managing large teams of lawyers and experts. She regularly appears in various dispute forums, including mediation, arbitration, and defended hearings and trials in the High Court and Court of Appeal. Janine also brings governance experience to her work, including in her role as former Chair of Mercy Ships New Zealand from 2017-2022.

Recipient of the Resene Women in Property Award in 2017, Janine is also recognised in major legal directories for her construction expertise.

Janine is actively engaged in thought leadership on issues impacting the property and construction industry. She contributes to several publications, presents widely on complex construction and property issues, and lectures on construction law at both the University of Auckland and Auckland University of Technology. She has served on the Construction Sector Accord Steering Group (2019-2022), and the New Zealand Government’s Building Advisory Panel (as the sole legal appointee) (2017-2022).

English

Trustee, Mercy Ships NZ Independent Director, Black Interiors Fellowship in Arbitration, AMINZ I Arbitrators' and Mediators' Institute of New Zealand Member, Institute of Directors New Zealand Member, Society of Construction Law New Zealand Former Member, Building Advisory Panel, MBIE (2017-2022)

LLB, BA (Psychology), University of Auckland