Department profile
MinterEllisonRuddWatts

Dispute Resolution

Asia-Pacific Guide 2026 : New Zealand

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MinterEllisonRuddWatts

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About

Provided by MinterEllisonRuddWatts

Our Litigation and Dispute Resolution team is trusted by leading corporates, financial institutions, and government entities to manage risk and resolve complex disputes efficiently. Known for strategic advocacy and commercial insight, the team advises across all forms of dispute resolution – litigation, mediation, and arbitration – with deep expertise in sectors including construction, financial services, insurance, competition, and public law. Our track record includes appearances before the High Court, Court of Appeal, Supreme Court, and Privy Council.

Recent work highlights

  • Booster | Acting for Booster and its directors in an FMA investigation into KiwiSaver investments, advising on regulatory compliance, director interviews, and confidentiality orders in a matter with significant reputational and financial implications.
  • FENZ | Advising Fire and Emergency NZ in the Coronial Inquiry into 18 deaths from the 2023 Auckland floods and Cyclone Gabrielle, involving complex emergency response issues and strategic witness preparation.
  • viagogo | Acting in High Court proceedings brought by the Commerce Commission – the first case against a wholly overseas – based online business – part of a broader international litigation strategy.
  • GrainCorp | Defending criminal charges under the Animal Products Act in a high-profile prosecution involving 12 defendants, novel legal issues, and a six-week trial with no established sentencing precedent.

Clients (9)

  • PricewaterhouseCoopers
  • Westpac Bank
  • Booster Financial Services Group
  • LPF Group
  • Z Energy Group
  • Bathurst Resources
  • BNZ
  • Channel Infrastructure
  • Dassault Systèmes Australia

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Dispute Resolution - New Zealand

Band 2

What the Team is Known For

MinterEllisonRuddWatts' well-resourced group is known for the depth and diversity of its practice, and it maintains an impressive client base embracing high-profile domestic and multinational corporations, leading financial services providers, public sector bodies and prominent individuals. The firm offers significant expertise across a range of commercial litigation matters, including construction, environmental, insolvency and insurance-related disputes, and is well equipped to advise on cross-border mandates both within and beyond the Asia-Pacific region. The group is frequently instructed in connection with regulatory investigations and related court proceedings and on High Court, Court of Appeal and Supreme Court litigation.

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Work Highlights

Provided by Chambers

  • MinterEllisonRuddWatts represented Fire and Emergency New Zealand in the Coronial Inquiry and inquest hearings following the Auckland Anniversary Floods and Cyclone Gabrielle in early 2023, which resulted in 18 deaths.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

  • The team at MinterEllisonRuddWatts were easily able to grasp the issues and carry out excellent analysis to provide sophisticated commentary helpful to our case.

    Dispute Resolution respondentAsia-Pacific

  • They have deep and broad understanding of dispute processes and are highly effective in communicating strategies with clients.

    Dispute Resolution respondentAsia-Pacific

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

  • Stacey Shortall
    Stacey Shortall

    Stacey Shortall

    Stacey Shortall is based in Wellington and, in addition to being active across a broad spectrum of contentious matters, covering environmental, insurance and white-collar criminal issues, she is particularly well-known for her handling of health and safety-related litigation.

    • Stacey is a very sophisticated operator and provides sound, pragmatic advice across legal and non-legal matters.

      Dispute Resolution respondentAsia-Pacific
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  • Andrew Horne
    Andrew Horne

    Andrew Horne

    Andrew Horne is based in Auckland and offers over 25 years of experience in the disputes space, where he focuses closely on matters arising from the financial services, technology and telecommunications sectors.

    • Andrew is always patient, calm and delivers advice that is spot on. He has a great ability to get to the heart of the matter.

      Dispute Resolution respondentAsia-Pacific

    • Andrew Horne is a very strong lawyer, hard working and very enjoyable to work with.

      Dispute Resolution respondentAsia-Pacific
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  • Jane Standage
    Jane Standage

    Jane Standage

    Jane Standage is based in Auckland and offers extensive experience of large-scale domestic and international disputes. Her impressive commercial range covers such areas as class actions, financial services, insurance matters and questions of alleged professional negligence.

    • Jane Standage is commercially aware and very understanding of client needs.

      Dispute Resolution respondentAsia-Pacific

    • She's an excellent black letter lawyer as she is able to apply black letter law to complicated scenarios and figure out a legal response to those issues in an easy to follow manner.

      Dispute Resolution respondentAsia-Pacific
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Ranked Individuals at MinterEllisonRuddWatts (3)

New Zealand

Members

Provided by MinterEllisonRuddWatts

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