35 Years Litigator | Business Problem Solver | Tough Love AdvisorI help businesses avoid the courtroom by negotiating smart settlements backed by trial skills.Practice Areas:Company law, trusts, defamation, insolvency, high end divorce, insurance, security enforcement, construction.I’ve contributed to Heath & Whale on Insolvency and authored the New Zealand chapter of Collier’s International Insolvency Guide.Winning takes real experience. I’ve argued cases in the Supreme Court, Court of Appeal, and High Court, with a focus on witness trials, civil juries, urgent interim relief, and commercial disputes. I’ve also led cases in employment jurisdictions, taxation appeals, and construction arbitrations, including in two Pacifica jurisdictions.I lead a team of litigators and two Mandarin speakers. Our network extends to specialists, including KCs, forensic accountants, private investigators, academics, engineers, and valuers. I assemble elite teams for complex, high stakes matters.Recent Successes (Excluding Arbitrations): *=reported2024: Service Foods v Wang & ors – Fraud, dishonest assistance, freezing orders (High Court)2023: Oulton v Stuff – Defamation, defeated responsible communication defence (2-week civil jury trial)2023: Stanley v Link – Cross-border insolvency, recognition order*2023: R v C & ors – Name suppression (High Court)2022: R v Rider – Not guilty careless driving causing injury (3-day trial, forensic engineering evidence)2022: Chen & Zhang v Hart – Defamation, summary judgment (High Court)2021: Taua v Tahi Enterprises Ltd – Contract dispute made by kaumatua (Supreme Court, CoA, High Court)2021: West v Kowhai Intermediate School Board – Employment dispute (9-day trial, 3 years salary, fines)2020: Sanli v Zhang – Multi-party real estate dispute, settled mid-trial (High Court)2018: Finnigan v Ellis – Reckless trading, directors liable for debts* (High Court)2017: Roose v Duthie – Income recognition upon payment* (Supreme Court)2016: Lewis Holdings v Steel & Tube – Parent liable for subsidiary’s debts* (Court of Appeal)2015: High Court – Compensation for business land taken by the government2014: Americhip Inc v Dean – Private international law* (Court of Appeal)If you need a litigator who knows when to fight and when to settle, let’s talk.