With litigators in over forty jurisdictions to utilise, DLA Piper New Zealand is well-placed to advise on disputes for international clients involving cross-border issues. The firm maintains expertise in commercial and regulatory expertise in contentious contexts. Iain Thain spearheads the practice, bringing significant arbitration and appellate-level litigation experience to the team. Emma Moran brings a regulatory and public law focus, while Cameron McCracken acts in commercial litigation matters. Daniel Street joined the team from Chapman Tripp in July 2023, and Alicia Murray departed in January 2024.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘Cameron McCracken is an exceptionally skilled and pleasant senior associate who is a pleasure to work with.'
'Emma Moran is a leader in the fields of civil litigation and local government law respectively.’
‘This is a harmonious and diverse team. They don't just say they value diversity, they walk the talk.’
‘DLA and their team are excellent at providing us with strong, legal based advice on what we can do around dispute resolution.’
‘They take the time to listen to what we are asking them to look into for us and then provide advice on that basis. We worked with them on a number of occasions, and each time the experience with them has been positive.’
‘The team are specialists in private international law. I have worked with their team in this area and was very impressed.’
‘Ian Thain is an excellent partner in the Auckland litigation department of DLA Piper. He is careful and methodical in terms of his preparation and is a very good barrister in his own right.’
‘The Disputes Resolution team at DLA led by Iain Thain is outstanding. They are extremely good at breaking down complex issues and delivering them persuasively to courts, regulators and the like.’
Key clients
- HCL Group
- Palmerston North City Council
- Helix Energy Solutions Group
- Hazlett Insurance
- Abbott Insurance Brokers
- Foodstuffs North Island and Foodstuffs South Island
- Auckland Council
- Warner Bros. Discovery
- Eke Panuku Development Auckland
- Cornwall Park Trust Board
Work highlights
- Advising Foodstuffs South Island Limited and Foodstuffs North Island Limited Merger Steering Committee, comprised of board members from each of FSSI and FSNI, on the proposed amalgamation of FSSI and FSNI by High Court application.
- Advising HCL/DWS Group on a contract dispute over a Master ICT Agreement with the Department of Internal Affairs.
Lawyers
Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Next generation partners
Junior partners with significant recognition from clients and peers in the market and key roles on multiple matters.
Practice head
Iain Thain
Other key lawyers
Emma Moran; Cameron McCracken; Daniel Street