New Zealand

Top full-service law firm Bell Gully is home to one of the largest and most respected dispute resolution teams in the country, with 12 dedicated litigation partners. The firm regularly features in the country’s most complex and landmark contentious matters. Its class action, insolvency, construction, regulatory and insurance specialties are noteworthy. Wellington-based Rachael Brown and Auckland-based Sophie East and Jesse Wilson are the key partners in Bell Gully's litigation team, leading a team of nearly 50 qualified dispute resolution lawyers. The firm is defending ANZ Bank New Zealand in a landmark class action involving approximately 17,000 customers alleging potential breaches of consumer credit legislation. The litigation centres on claims related to loan disclosure requirements, with plaintiffs seeking significant financial remediation for customers with personal or home loans from a specific period.

Client feedback

"Demonstrated exceptional quality in all aspects, including briefs, arguments, evidence preparation, and coaching. Compared to other counsel, they were significantly better prepared and clearer in their arguments." – Commercial and transactions

Matthew Gale

"Matthew demonstrates excellent communication skills, a strong knowledge of the relevant law, a commendable work ethic, and exceptional accuracy."

Buddle Findlay has an experienced and consistent dispute resolution team, with seven partners permanently based across Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch. Having leading litigators stationed in all three of the country’s city centres gives it a competitive advantage in its relationships with judges and senior practitioners in each area. In addition to a strong commercial litigation practice, the team is known for its insolvency work. Scott Barker heads the dispute resolution group that includes specialists David Broadmore, Sherridan Cook, Willie Palmer, Kelly Paterson and Susan Rowe. The firm is representing Toyota New Zealand in a high-profile consumer class action involving allegations of vehicle manufacturing defects. The representative action concerns potential issues with certain vehicle models, challenging the company's compliance with consumer protection regulations.

Dentons Kensington Swan is highly regarded for its expertise in government and regulatory matters, infrastructure, and commercial litigation in New Zealand. The firm’s Auckland office, led by David Campbell, excels in infrastructure, corporate, and commercial disputes. Under the guidance of James McMillan, it is also a key player in insolvency law, assisting creditors and insolvency practitioners dealing with financially distressed businesses. On the other hand, the Wellington office, led by Hayden Wilson, specializes in public and administrative law litigation. In addition, the firm represents international clients in their interactions with the New Zealand government, including high-profile disputes like Serco's case against the Department of Corrections. In a complex product liability dispute, the firm represented Neway Valve, a Chinese industrial valve manufacturer, in proceedings brought by Channel Infrastructure.

Auckland-based Gilbert Walker is a specialist dispute resolution firm offering a full suite of litigation services for complex commercial disputes and regulatory matters. It often features alongside and against the leading full-service firms and top Queen’s Counsel. During the research period, the firm was active in at least half of the key litigations that dominated press headlines.

Partners and commercial and corporate disputes specialists Matthew Harris, Iva Rosic and Martin Smith lead the team. Recently, they were appointed to a panel as part of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Historical Abuse in State Care and in the Care of Faith-based Institutions in Aoteoroa, New Zealand.

Litigation boutique K3 Legal offers a broad range of litigious representation in tandem with its brand partners K3 Accounting and K3 Consulting. Based in Auckland, the law firm focuses on civil and commercial disputes, but has noteworthy experience in contentious insolvency, property, construction, resource management and relationship property disputes. It is also active in the criminal litigation space. A unique trait of the firm is its growing Chinese clientele, as it has five lawyers, including two directors, and four legal assistants who are fluent in Mandarin.

The four main directors of the disputes practice are James Nolen, Edwin Morrison, Toni Brown and Jeff Walters.

Litigation specialist Lindsay Francis & Mangan specialises in business litigation and arbitration. They are frequently engaged by both international and domestic clients for high-value disputes. Their expertise lies in corporate and commercial matters, particularly complex contract disputes, corporate governance, securities and competition litigation, and regulatory defence, as well as cross-border litigation and arbitration cases. Timothy Lindsay and Kim Francis are prominent figures within the firm, known for their exceptional expertise. In a high-profile commercial dispute, the firm represented Macquarie Capital in proceedings against SkyCity Entertainment Group concerning the termination of a long-term asset concession. The litigation involved a disputed compensation payment of NZ$240 million ($149 million), stemming from a significant infrastructure development.

Client feedback

"Rigorous in their approach, efficient, proactive, and excellent at developing and executing strategies." – Commercial and transactions

Kim Francis

"Kim is a superstar – diligent, intelligent, and perceptive. He excels at managing files and client relationships."

Timothy Lindsay

"Tim is a great communicator and highly efficient."

Morrison Mallett is a specialist commercial law advisory practice with operations in Auckland and Wellington. The firm’s litigation team acts for clients on a wide range of commercial litigation matters, including appearing in the High Court, Court of Appeal and Supreme Court. In addition to regularly acting as lead counsel in court proceedings, the team also works closely with senior barristers and King’s Counsel to provide litigation support to enhance client outcomes.

The firm’s lead litigation partner, Michael Morrison, is regarded as one of the country’s pre-eminent private practice litigation specialists. Morrison also appears before arbitrators and tribunals and regularly represents clients in mediations.

Notable commercial disputes include the firm advising Mudajaya Group in relation to international debt recovery of substantial sums hidden in New Zealand following alleged fraud in Malaysia; advising Evan Williams and related entities on complex dispute regarding development of plaintiff’s land in Weiti Bay, Auckland; acting for Warkworth Retail, a shareholder/secured creditor in the defendant company, Warkworth Holdings, in successfully seeking urgent appointment of an interim liquidator by order of the High Court; and advising Farmers Trading Company on resettlement of trust assets. 

In June 2022, the firm hired Oliver Gascoigne from Buddle Findlay as partner.

The rest of the clients the firm worked with during the research period are confidential.

Oliver Gascoigne

“Oliver Gascoigne provides clear strategic insight coupled with a hard-working and effective approach to complex disputes.”

“Hard working, effective and insightful.”

Morrison Partners is a specialist commercial law advisory practice based in Auckland, emerging from the separation of Morrison Mallett in October 2023. The firm focuses on delivering comprehensive legal services across various complex commercial litigation domains, including contractual disputes, business ownership issues, company law, directors' duties, property development, corporate insolvency, and professional negligence matters. Cameron Fraser leads the firm's litigation team, bringing substantial experience in resolving complex commercial disputes. The firm is representing Ara Weiti Bay Development and related entities in a complex litigation concerning land development in Weiti Bay, Auckland. The case addresses intricate legal issues including misrepresentation, mortgagee powers, and contractual interpretation.

Client feedback

"Morrison Partners excels in commercial disputes, particularly those involving finance, company law, and property developments. They combine sharp legal expertise with a practical, results-driven approach, offering the quality of work expected from a top-tier, large full-service firm with the accessibility of a boutique firm. Top-class lawyers." – Commercial and transactions

"Very thorough, with great attention to detail. Professional in communications with clients and other lawyers, and skilled in applying legal principles to real-life issues." – Family and matrimonial

Ben Morrison and Cameron Fraser

"Ben Morrison and Cameron Fraser are highly intelligent experts in their fields. They are also extremely hardworking and punctual, consistently delivering work to a high standard and on time."

Russell McVeagh is a leading litigation practice operating across New Zealand, specializing in complex dispute resolution matters. The firm's dispute resolution group has established significant expertise in high-stakes litigation, including class actions, cross-border disputes, NZX-listed matters, insurance challenges, construction project disputes, and insolvency litigation. Kirsten Massey leads the national litigation practice, bringing extensive expertise in commercial litigation with strengths in class actions and financial services disputes. Nathaniel Walker complements the team's capabilities, offering strategic litigation advice across private and public law domains, with notable experience in Supreme Court advocacy and complex equity and trusts matters. The firm is advising ASB Bank on a high-profile proceeding involving consumer lending practices and disclosure requirements.

Client feedback

Nathaniel Walker

"Creative, with deep knowledge in insolvency, trust, and commercial disputes. Highly responsive and focused, with the ability to mobilize resources within his firm to provide family and immigration law support."

"A great addition to a multi-jurisdictional legal team working on a high-stakes shareholder dispute. His expertise in handling insolvency, trust, and family disputes proved crucial in securing a favorable result for the client. Extremely responsive and easy to work with."

Disputes boutique Wilson Harle has a stable, respected offering that focuses on high-end commercial litigation. It is known for handling complex and high-value trust disputes, defamation and media litigation, as well as contentious commercial regulation matters. Its offering covers the full spectrum of industry sectors, from media, insurance and telecoms to construction and healthcare. The firm frequently receives referrals from other top-tier players in the market. Four partners are key figures at the firm: Chris Browne, Ian Denton, Allison Ferguson and Felicity Monteiro. The firm represented the former directors of Intueri Education Group in a significant class action concerning share trading representations. The proceeding, which involved multiple defendants and was originally set for a lengthy trial, centred on allegations of misleading information during the company's initial public offering.

Client feedback

Chris Browne

"He is extremely smart and considers problems from every angle imaginable. He comes up with solutions when there appear to be no options."

Felicity Monteiro

"Felicity is fantastic to work with. She and her team are efficient, commercial, and thorough. Felicity takes the time to really work through complex legal issues as well as providing top-notch litigation support. She is also an excellent advocate in her own right. She is warm and lovely to deal with and has a great manner with clients as well. I would recommend her unreservedly."

Jonathan Schwarcz

"Understands the tribunal space, is straight-talking, and personable."