The ‘truly collaborative legal team’ at Bell Gully is praised for its ability to ‘cover a wide range of tricky issues’ across a host of complex commercial disputes. Counting large New Zealand corporates, financial institutions, and government agencies among its key clients, the team’s caseload regularly includes class actions, regulatory investigations and disputes, construction disputes, defamation and media disputes, and white collar crime cases. Leading the department is Sophie East , who has particular expertise in class actions, banking and finance litigation, arbitration, and all aspects of corporate disputes. East is supported by Wellington-based deputy leader Rachael Brown, who specialises in public law, including Māori legal issues, as well as employment law. David Friar, lauded by clients for his ‘depth of enquiry and understanding’ and strong courtroom advocacy, focuses on complex commercial disputes, insurance litigation, and corporate and insolvency disputes. Jenny Stevens is a key contact for competition law-related disputes and other sector specific economic regulation, while Kirsty Dobbs is recommended for her expertise in contract and construction disputes. The ‘hard-working’ Tim Fitzgerald is a key port of call for retail banks, listed entities, and other corporate and insolvency practitioners on some of their most complex disputes. Blair Keown specialises in contentious issues relating to the financial markets, while Jesse Wilson is particularly experienced in takeovers and securities law.

Chapman Tripp boasts an esteemed team of highly regarded partners and is noted for its leading expertise in intellectual property, climate change, construction, and class action disputes. The team is well-positioned to advise its diverse roster of clients, comprising off-shore multinationals and New Zealand entities, such as Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei Trust, on significant commercial disputes before all levels of court. The practice is steered by Justin Graham, who has extensive expertise in defamation, privacy, patent, copyright, and trade mark litigation. Consultant John McKay is a key contact for clients hailing from the construction sector, including contractors, principals, engineers, financiers, suppliers, and manufacturers. Laura Fraser advises clients on a broad range of contentious corporate and regulatory breach issues, while Nicola Swan is noted for her experience before international arbitral tribunals and in domestic courts.

Housing a ‘first-class’ team, boutique firm LeeSalmonLong is praised for its ‘laser focus’ and ‘excellent mix of academic understanding and practical skills’. Based in Auckland, the practice counts major corporates, NGOs and political organisations among its key client base, all benefitting from the team’s experience in leading witness trials and appeals, including appearing before the Supreme Court. Pro-bono matters form a prominent part of the practice, which advises some of the world’s leading institutional organisations. The ‘personable’ Michael Heard is noted for his commercial, contractual, and contentious insolvency work, while the ‘brilliant’ Tim Mullins consistently appears at all levels of the higher courts and certain specialised tribunals. ‘Polished performer’ Rachel Keane is praised for her ‘excellent client and witness management skills’. Daniel Nilsson has a specialist media law practice, regularly acting for both media organisations and individuals in defamation cases, while David Bullock has particular expertise in company and contractual disputes. Isaac Hikaka has left the firm to join the bar.

Well-regarded for its ‘wide range of knowledge’ and ability to ‘provide a solution to complex problems’, the team at MinterEllisonRuddWatts regularly acts on critical and high-profile commercial litigation for large corporates and financial institutions. The practice offers expertise across the full spectrum of commercial litigation matters, including banking, environmental, insolvency, technology, and insurance-related disputes. In Wellington, Richard Gordon, who is a key port of call to New Zealand’s main trading banks, jointly leads the practice alongside Auckland-based Gillian Service, who specialises in people risk management for businesses. The ‘very acute and intelligent’ Jane Standage is regularly instructed on some of New Zealand’s most complex litigation and is lauded by clients for her ‘excellent judgement’. Andrew Horne is noted for his expertise in commercial disputes, corporate and regulatory issues, and technology-related disputes, while the ‘outstanding’ Stacey Shortall is frequently instructed to conduct internal reviews and self-assessments for clients and their boards. Nick Frith is another key contact, recommended for his focus on insurance disputes across all areas of the industry. Senior associate Olivia De Pont is also recommended.

Highly regarded for its ‘high standard of advice’ and ‘practically balanced’ approach, Simpson Grierson's litigation practice works with large New Zealand companies and international businesses on complex commercial, regulatory, and public law proceedings. The practice houses an ‘expert team’ that possesses capabilities across a wide variety of disputes, including class actions and litigation funding, data protection, media, IP and corporate governance-related cases. Practice head John Shackleton acts on major commercial and public law arbitrations, regularly assisting clients with resolving disputes through mediation and negotiated settlements. Key contact Anne Callinan has a particular focus on competition, consumer, and financial markets law, regularly assisting clients in relation to numerous investigations and civil and criminal proceedings. Jania Baigent acts on major commercial cases involving complex contractual, tortious, fair trading, and intellectual property disputes, while Richard Lange is a key port of call for major corporate, local authority, and private individual clients on a range of commercial disputes.

Praised for its ‘exceptional abilities in all aspects of litigation’ Anthony Harper is focused on general commercial litigation, with particular expertise in insurance, health and safety, distressed assets and construction litigation. At the helm sits Dan Hughes, who has a track record of acting on some of the leading construction and insolvency cases in New Zealand. Christchurch-based Peter Woods handles a wide range of mandates, from commercial property and company law disputes, to defamation and IP infringements, while Lynne Van has particular expertise in insolvency and restructuring.

Buddle Findlay houses a ‘high quality national litigation team’ across the firm’s Auckland, Christchurch, and Wellington offices and is widely praised for its ‘pragmatic, commercial advice’. The ‘talented’ team expertly handles a wide range of disputes, from financial services and property-related disputes, to insolvency litigation and class actions, among others. The practice is steered by Scott Barker, who has over three decades of experience in commercial and insolvency litigation. Auckland-based David Broadmore is noted for his advocacy skills and commercial judgement, having successfully represented clients in many significant disputes. ‘Very strong performer’ Kelly Paterson specialises in insurance, insolvency, and construction litigation, while Olly Peers acts on a wide range of commercial litigation matters. Liam Edginton departed the practice in August 2023.

‘A sizeable team with good breadth and depth’, Dentons New Zealand‘s national dispute resolution practice is actively involved in disputes spanning a wide range of areas including, but not limited to, civil, commercial, and competition-related cases, as well as construction and infrastructure, corporate and intellectual property law litigation. In the firm’s Auckland office, practice co-head David Campbell, praised for his ‘exceptional advice and strategic guidance’, specialises in commercial and civil litigation, with a particular focus on competition law, pharmaceuticals product liability, and liability insurance. Wellington-based Hayden Wilson also leads the team and is recommended for his experience handling complex commercial and public law disputes; Wilson has appeared as counsel in the Court of Appeal, High Court, District Court and a range of tribunals. The ‘diligent’ senior Amberley James is also noted.

DLA Piper New Zealand boasts a ‘very strong’ litigation team, praised by clients for its ‘technical expertise’. The firm, noted for its strong global presence, has demonstrable experience in multi-jurisdictional commercial disputes, as well as public law and regulatory proceedings. Practice head Iain Thain, described by one client as ‘one of the best litigation lawyers and advocates in NZ’, specialises in competition and regulatory matters, and has a broad practice in general commercial litigation, encompassing complex contractual disputes and judicial reviews. Alicia Murray is noted for her ‘great expertise and experience in insolvency, competition, and general commercial matters’, while the ‘highly professional’ Emma Moran has a particular focus on commercial litigation, contentious construction, healthcare, and public law disputes.

‘Top litigation boutique’ Gilbert Walker is praised by clients for its ‘uniform high quality amongst its partners and associates’. The team serves a diverse roster of clients, comprising major corporates, banks, professional firms, and insurers. Matthew Harris, Iva Rosic, and Martin Smith collectively lead the practice from its Auckland office. The ‘commercial and robust’ Harris regularly appears as lead counsel in first instance and appellate hearings, including against parties represented by Queen’s Counsel, while the ‘outstanding’ Rosic has particular expertise in large-scale commercial disputes, regulatory investigations and insurance litigation. Smith is a key port of call for clients seeking assistance at trial and in other defended hearings and appeals.

Russell McVeagh is praised for its ‘exceptional’ ability to ‘take complex legal issues and distil down clear and concise advice to be able to guide strategy’. The team is regularly involved in significant high-profile disputes, including large-scale class actions and contentious matters, across a wide range of sectors. The practice is steered by Kirsten Massey, who is a highly experienced commercial litigation and dispute resolution specialist, with particular expertise in class actions, financial services litigation and professional negligence disputes. Key contact Malcolm Crotty is a trusted adviser for critical and strategic litigation matters, while the ‘impressive’ Marika Eastwick-Field is noted for her contentious and advisory expertise in M&A, banking and financial services, capital markets, property, and leasing disputes. Nathaniel Walker has a proven track record in all levels of the New Zealand court system and routinely receives instructions at the top of the market.

Wilson Harle is a specialist litigation firm that fields a ‘very talented’ team of individuals and is praised for its ‘high-quality service’. Based in Auckland, clients turn to the team for its wide-ranging capabilities in commercial disputes, public law litigation, regulatory cases, defamation claims, and media disputes. Chris Browne has more than four decades of experience as a litigation lawyer, and is noted for his broad commercial litigation and public law practice. Allison Ferguson is recommended for her experience in handling matters arising from directors’ obligations, media law, telecommunications, regulatory matters, and negligence, while Ian Denton‘s practice includes contract, tortious, and trade practices disputes. Lauded for her ‘timely, insightful and pragmatic’ advice, Felicity Monteiro works on a broad range of commercial and civil disputes, including regulatory matters, complex contractual disputes, trust-related mandates, and white collar crime. Guy Tompkins is also recommended.

Spread across the firm's Auckland, Wellington, Nelson, Christchurch, and Queenstown offices, Duncan Cotterill is well-positioned to advise its domestic and international client base on regulatory, commercial IP, employment, and insurance-related disputes. Jonathan Scragg co-leads the practice from the Wellington office and is noted for his expertise in commercial, insurance, and public law disputes. Practice co-leader Ayleath Foote is based in the Christchurch office, and is noted for her work in highly sensitive matters and her specialism in trust-related disputes. Brian Nathan is a key port of call to insurers seeking assistance on claims and regularly defends prosecutions under health and safety legislation, while Tanya Wood is recommended for her expertise in insurance, construction, and cyber litigation.

Noted for its ‘deep understanding of the insurance industry and insurance law’, Auckland-based Fee Langstone is variously praised for its ‘friendly, formidable, practical and reliable’ advice. The practice counts complaints, regulatory investigations, and class actions in its key caseload. The team is jointly led by the ‘truly outstanding’ Philippa Fee and Craig Langstone. Fee regularly represents insurers and their clients in property damage claims, while Langstone is routinely engaged by insurance companies in dispute resolution matters. The ‘client-focused’ Russell Stewart is noted for his expertise in professional indemnity litigation, defending claims against solicitors and barristers, accountants, investment bankers, and engineers.

Hesketh Henry is well-placed to advise its diverse portfolio of clients on contentious matters in targeted industries, including construction, insurance, employment, trade and transport, and property. The practice is jointly steered by Auckland-based partners Alison Maelzer and Glen Holm-Hansen. Maelzer provides expert advice in all aspects of employment law, with a particular interest in disciplinary issues, while Holm-Hansen has in-depth experience in complex construction litigation. The team has been strengthened by the arrival of senior associate Ariana Stuart who joined from Dentons New Zealand in February 2023.

The litigation team at Lane Neave is praised for its ‘broad range of speciality lawyers’ and ‘very pragmatic’ approach. The practice advises a range of clients, from large companies and publicly owned entities, to smaller businesses and individuals. Spearheading the practice is commercial litigation and insolvency expert Ben Russell, who has been praised for his ‘spot on strategic advice’. Rebecca Scott is noted for her experience in a range of commercial and civil litigation disputes, while new hire James Cochrane (previously at Stace Hammond) has significant banking and finance, insolvency, and insurance experience.

Mallett Partners has a solid focus on corporate M&A and dispute resolution – on the disputes front, Ollie Gascoigne is a key contact for litigation and arbitration. He is hailed as ‘an excellent lawyer with a keen sense of strategy and an excellent team‘.

The ‘tight-knit team’ at Morrison Partners is highly praised for its ability to offer clients ‘practical advice’. The specialist commercial law advisory practice handles a wide range of commercial litigation matters, including appearing in the High Court, Court of Appeal, and Supreme Court. Cameron Fraser heads the practice.

Fielding a ‘strong’ dispute resolution team and praised for its ‘good depth of talent and the ability to handle almost any matter’, Tompkins Wake offers advice to clients in disputes relating to dairy industry regulation, insurance, property, aviation and agribusiness issues. ‘Stand out litigator’ James MacGillivray leads the team and is noted for his expertise in diverse sectors, from aviation and local governance, to the dairy industry. Kate Cornegé, described as an ‘excellent strategist’, specialises in general corporate and commercial dispute resolution.

The ‘exceptional’ dispute resolution team at Wynn Williams is lauded for its ‘depth within the team’, and ‘good balance of seniors and juniors’. The practice is well-positioned to act for its diverse roster of clients on complex and high-value commercial and civil disputes. Joshua Shaw and Rebecca Saunders jointly steer the practice. Shaw is is noted for his specialist expertise in regulatory and disciplinary prosecutions, while Saunders is recommended for her focus on the construction industry, advising a diverse range of clients from large commercial entities and local government bodies, to contractors and sub-contractors. Key contact Shane Campbell is praised for his ‘impressive grasp of wide areas common law and statutory regulation.’