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Litigation & Dispute Resolution
Disputes can be unavoidable. When one arises, it is important to manage the risks involved, to know your rights and options, and to have an experienced expert in your corner.
Simpson Grierson has one of New Zealand's leading litigation and dispute resolution practices.
Our specialists provide strategic advice on risk, and advocate for clients when disputes arise. They deliver successful outcomes in a cost-effective and timely manner, whether through litigation or alternative dispute resolution. They have appeared at all levels of New Zealand’s judicial system, and regularly act in other forums, such as Royal Commissions, specialist tribunals, and arbitration.
Simpson Grierson is particularly recognised for its expertise in complex, large-scale disputes, supported by a specialist litigation project management team. We work across a wide range of areas and sectors. In doing so, we focus on understanding our clients’ businesses and providing pragmatic advice that suits their individual needs.
We are also at the forefront of emerging litigation issues, such as the development of a class action regime, and challenges around climate change.
On foreign law and cross-border issues, Simpson Grierson’s exclusive membership of Lex Mundi provides access to a large network of pre-eminent international firms for market-leading advice.
Work Highlights
Financial Markets Authority
We act for the Financial Markets Authority in its largest-ever enforcement action. This involves two separate proceedings against former NZX listed CBL Corporation Limited (In Liquidation), and its directors and chief financial officer, for breaches of initial public offering disclosure requirements and the continuous disclosure regime.
Auckland Council
We acted for Auckland Council in the Supreme Court in relation to judicial review proceedings that challenged the Council’s decision to introduce a targeted rate assessed on commercial accommodation providers. The Court's decision, released in May 2023, found in favour of our client.
Westpac
We are defending Westpac against claims brought against it in relation to the marketing and sale of historic interest rate swaps.
Major local authority
We acted for a major local authority in arbitration proceedings brought against its former insurance brokers. The claim – valued at more than $300 million – alleged that the brokers had breached various duties by obtaining an inappropriate type of insurance cover.
Former non-executive directors of Arowana International Limited
We act for the former non-executive directors of ASX-listed Arowana International Limited in defending a class action by investors in its subsidiary, (former NZX-listed Intueri Education Group Limited), who allege breaches of financial markets obligations.
SKY Television
We acted for SKY Television in High Court litigation that successfully resolved the use of SKY’s sports footage by other New Zealand media entities.
National Storage
We successfully defended National Storage in a High Court trial brought by a competitor, National Mini Storage. National Mini Storage was seeking a permanent injunction to restrain National Storage from using its name to market self-storage facilities. The argument was largely focused around the use of the name on the internet (specifically, using Google searches).
Ministry for Primary Industries
We defended the Ministry for Primary Industries in the High Court so-called "Kiwifruit Claim", which was a $400 million class action for biosecurity breaches relating to the bacterial kiwifruit vine disease Psa-V.
