Nick advises on, and works to resolve, public law and commercial disputes. He has broad dispute resolution and civil litigation experience in New Zealand and the United Kingdom, having previously worked at large commercial law firms in Wellington and London, as well as working as a junior barrister at a highly-regarded Wellington chambers. Nick’s experience covers matters involving judicial review, tort, contract claims, and other regulatory matters including regulatory prosecutions.
Recent and notable work:
Commercial Disputes:
Acting for a public sector entity defending a multi-million dollar claim against it in contract, tort, and under the Fair Trading Act, by a former supplier.
Advised the joint venture entities developing the Dogger Bank Wind Farm, the world’s largest offshore windfarm, and the entity developing Beatrice Offshore Wind Farm, on various actual or potential disputes with its contractors.
Acted for some of the UK’s largest construction contractors (Bouygues UK, Wates, and Kier) on several major Building Defects claims related to the fire safety of high-rise residential development.
Advised the developer of a large luxury hotel in London in relation various disputes with its contractors.
Acted for a New Zealand local authority in a multi-million dollar arbitration against a large international insurance broker, claiming negligence and breach of contract.
Advised Transpower on a major pricing dispute.
Public Law and Judicial Review:
Acting for a significant charitable incorporated society in defending a judicial review of the process it followed to adopt a new constitution.
Represented the Attorney-General and appeared in the High Court as junior counsel in Henderson v Attorney-General [2022] NZHC 816, a judicial review relating to the Crown's prerogative to stay criminal proceedings.
Acted for the Ministry of Education to defend an appeal of a regulatory direction issued to a school ([2022] NZDC 15502).
Assisted with advice to two significant iwi trusts on various actual or potential civil claims and trusteeship issues.
Helped to successfully defend an application for disclosure of the New Zealand National Party's donor list in a criminal proceeding (R v Ross [2022] NZHC 1436).
Regulatory Prosecutions:
Acted for the Electricity Authority on a complaint against an electricity industry participant.
Advised the Ministry of Primary Industries on evidential sufficiency for the prosecution of fisheries offences.