Profile
Luke specialises in commercial litigation and arbitration. He regularly acts on matters involving complex corporate fraud, insolvency, judicial review, regulatory issues, contractual disputes, negligence, and company disputes. He appears in the High Court on both substantive and interlocutory matters, including applications for urgent and interim relief.
Luke has a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Laws (Honours) from the University of Auckland and a Master of Laws from Columbia University in the City of New York, where he graduated as a James Kent Scholar.
He has produced a range of peer-reviewed publications on various topics including public and constitutional law, judicial review, negligence, corporate fraud, and regulatory issues.
Luke is a rising star in the fraud and insolvency disputes field. Luke’s calm and considered approach and extensive technical knowledge makes it a pleasure to work with him
Partner of leading Advisory and Restructuring firm
Luke has a unique ability to be fully across the details of matters while maintaining a clear sense of the desired strategic outcomes – as a client, this gives me confidence both that he fully understands what we are trying to achieve, and that all relevant information has been considered in developing a pathway that will lead to the best potential outcome
General Counsel of a major New Zealand company
- James Kent Scholar (Columbia University in the City of New York)
- Dean of Law’s Award of Academic Excellence (University of Auckland)
Experience
Work highlights
Acting for the Reserve Bank of New Zealand
in obtaining liquidation orders for CBL Insurance Ltd, in the first ever exercise of the Bank’s powers to liquidate licensed insurers under the Insurance (Prudential Supervision) Act 2010
Acting for Zespri International
on claims brought against it by its former importer and distributor in the People’s Republic of China
Acting for a major New Zealand company
on a four-year Serious Fraud Office investigation involving cross-border issues
Acting for a minority shareholder and founder of the ‘Rockit Apple’ company
in High Court proceedings to enforce a settlement agreement and restrain oppressive conduct
Acting as foreign counsel
before a Californian seated arbitral appeal panel for a major international distributor
Acting for various Banks, liquidators, receivers, and other institutions
to enforce guarantees and security, realise assets, obtain freezing orders and other interim relief, and to obtain liquidation and bankruptcy orders
Alternate contacts
David Broadmore
Partner, Auckland
David specialises in commercial litigation. He has over 17 years' experience in resolving banking and finance, insolvency, insurance, …
- DDI +64 9 358 7010
- M +64 21 022 72994
Anita Birkinshaw
Special Counsel, Auckland
Anita specialises in litigation and has extensive experience in commercial dispute resolution.…
- DDI +64 9 358 7017
- M +64 21 650 950