Civil and commercial litigation | Dispute resolution

Overview

We work closely with our clients to successfully resolve disputes

Our litigators are effective, decisive, and achieve a high impact for clients. We provide timely and strategic advice to minimise litigation risk. We are experts in using all forms of alternative dispute resolution to deliver results, including mediations and expert determination.

Our national reach offers clients a distinct advantage. Across the country, our team works seamlessly with clients on major litigation to deliver a formidable national response.

As a full-service firm, our experience spans the breadth of commercial and public law.

We have experience at all levels of the New Zealand courts

Clients frequently call upon our market-leading skills in arbitration and in court to resolve disputes. We act in domestic and international arbitrations, and at all levels of the New Zealand courts. We have experience before the High Court, Court of Appeal, Privy Council, and Supreme Court. We also have experience before a broad range of tribunals and decision-makers.

We work across all kinds of disputes and with all regulatory bodies

We are highly regarded for our work in:

Company and commercial disputes
Competition law matters
Construction and property disputes
Defending significant class actions
Financial services and insolvency
Insurance
Intellectual property
Judicial review and administrative law
Trust and equity disputes.

We have successfully worked with organisations in regulatory investigations and prosecutions, including with the:

Commerce Commission
Overseas Investment Office
Serious Fraud Office
Financial Markets Authority
Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment
Department of Internal Affairs
Environmental Protection Authority.

Contact us to see how we can help.

Guide to litigation in New Zealand

We have put together a guide providing an overview of the New Zealand court system and litigation.

Download the Guide to Litigation in New Zealand

"Buddle Findlay’s ‘dedicated’ team has a ‘strong capability’ in financial services and insolvency litigation, and counts class actions, as well as property, construction and climate change-related disputes, in its caseload."

Legal 500 Asia-Pacific

"The strengths we have particularly noticed are the bringing together of individual specialists as a team, the excellent communication and the high responsiveness."

Chambers Asia-Pacific

"The legal minds I have worked with in the dispute resolution team at Buddle Findlay are seriously impressive. Their ability to absorb significant volumes of information quickly and analyse highly complex legal claims and distil that information into clear and concise advice has been invaluable. The team is thorough but not at the expense of the client. They represent excellent value for money and are a pleasure to work with."

Legal 500 Asia-Pacific

Experience

Sector / Expertise

Work highlights

New Zealand Steel greenhouse gas emissions

We acted for for New Zealand Steel in the High Court, Court of Appeal, and Supreme Court in defence of a claim seeking an injunction to cease or reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Southern Response class action

We acted for Southern Response in the High Court, Court of Appeal, and Supreme Court in defending and resolving a nationally significant class action which sought NZ$300m in damages related to the Christchurch earthquakes.

Cryptopia

We acted for the liquidators of Cryptopia in the High Court on complex claims issues for cryptocurrency worth approximately NZ$170m arising in connection with the exchange's insolvency.

Zespri prosecution

We acted for Zespri in the High Court, Court of Appeal, and Supreme Court in successfully prosecuting a novel claim for NZ$12.5m involving complex jurisdiction and damages issues, claiming breach of contract and the Plant Variety Rights Act following unauthorised supply and licensing of golden kiwifruit in China.

Reserve Bank of New Zealand prudential supervision powers

We acted for the Reserve Bank of New Zealand in the High Court in first ever exercise of its prudential supervision powers to appoint interim and permanent liquidators to insurance firm CBLI which had liabilities in excess of NZ$1.2b.

Landcorp Farming judicial review

We acted for Landcorp Farming in the High Court, Court of Appeal, and Supreme Court in a complex judicial review relating to decision-making of state-owned enterprises in the context of the Treaty of Waitangi.

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Our team

Partner | Special Counsel | Senior Associate | Senior Solicitor

Bridie McKinnon

Partner, Wellington

Bridie has over 15 years' experience in a range of litigation matters in New Zealand and the United Kingdom.…

Litigation and dispute resolution