Qualifications
BA, LLB (Hons), University of Auckland; LLM, St John’s College, University of Cambridge
Admitted
2001, New Zealand
Justin is head of the firm’s national Litigation practice and is known for managing and resolving complex commercial litigation and disputes.
He has frequently appeared as counsel in civil proceedings in the High Court, Court of Appeal and Supreme Court, in international and domestic arbitrations, and before specialist tribunals such as the Intellectual Property Office of New Zealand.
Justin is one of New Zealand’s leading media and intellectual property lawyers, with extensive experience in defamation, privacy, patent, copyright and trade mark litigation.
A member of Te Waka Ture, the firm’s Māori Legal Group, Justin has advised many iwi, including Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei, on governance, Treaty of Waitangi, and Māori land issues.
He has lectured at the University of Auckland at both undergraduate and postgraduate level in corporate transactions, iwi governance and intellectual property law. He is the author of the New Zealand chapter of International Copyright Law, published by Globe Law and Business.
He is recognised for his expertise in dispute resolution and intellectual property by Legal 500 Asia Pacific and Chambers Asia Pacific.
Recent highlights
- Acting as counsel to Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei in its landmark Supreme Court win upholding rights of ahi kā and mana whenua in Tāmaki Makaurau in judicial review proceedings against the Crown.
- Acting as counsel in numerous defamation proceedings, including the rare experience of appearing in a lengthy defamation jury trial, and succeeding in the Supreme Court in a qualified privilege defence.
- Acting as counsel to NZX-listed Skellerup defending the Omni Bridgeway funded Alucobond class action, including defeating the plaintiffs’ applications for opt-out orders in the Court of Appeal, and opt-in orders in the High Court.
- Acting in the interlocutory phases of the James Hardie product liability class action litigation.
- Acting as senior counsel in complex commercial disputes for the Zuru group of companies, including intellectual property, commercial and corporate opportunity matters.
- Acting as counsel to Fisher & Paykel Healthcare in long-running, complex patent litigation.
- Acting in both the High Court and Court of Appeal in the landmark Hosking privacy litigation.
Affiliations
- Intellectual Property Society of Australia and New Zealand.
Justin is highly intelligent and is an experienced litigator that we trust. He works tirelessly to ensure the best possible case is put forward.Chambers Asia-Pacific
