Wynn Williams has one of the strongest civil litigation teams in the country. We have a nationwide reputation for our record of successful representation at the highest levels.
If you are faced with litigation, either in your business or personal life, our litigation team can apply our commercial insight and unrivalled experience to your case. We’re skilled at developing innovative and successful strategies to ensure the best outcome.
We’re experienced at representing clients in complex litigation before the Privy Council, Supreme Court, Court of Appeal and High Court. Over the years our firm has also produced several of the country’s leading Judges.
We provide leading expertise in all fields of civil litigation, including: commercial, banking and securities, insolvency and credit recovery, fiduciary and trust law, torts, land, Maori law, and judicial review.
Our reputation is built on best-practice, and delivering solutions for you with integrity and responsibility. If there’s an issue you’d like to discuss, please contact a member of our litigation team below.
- A Building Society collapse involving $40m.
- A major Serious Fraud Office (SFO) prosecution involving intellectual property.
- Successful prosecutions for Canterbury Regional Council arising from collapse of Opuha Dam in South Canterbury, and a serious high-country fire.
- Defence and successful advocacy for four female childcare workers acquitted during the Christchurch Civic Crèche case.
- Senior Counsel for insurance company on successful appeal to the Court of Appeal in arson case.
- Counsel in the Family and High Court pursuing claim against property of convicted murderer for the benefit of his murdered wife’s estate.
- Acting as counsel for Save Our Arts Centre in the highly publicized litigation Save Our Arts Centre v The Arts Centre of Christchurch Trust Board, the University of Canterbury, and the Christchurch City Council.
- Successful representation of Te Rununga o Ngai Tahu before the Privy Council in the case of Ngati Apa Ki Te Waipounamu Trust v The Attorney General and Ors [2006] UK PC 49.
- Acting as counsel in the Supreme Court in the leading case on fiduciary obligations, Chirnside v Fay [2007] 1 NZLR 433.
- Acting as counsel in the decision of ANZ National Bank v Macpherson Properties Ltd CIV 2008 409 561 on rectification and transfer fraud.
- Acting as counsel in multiple negligent valuer and negligent solicitor cases.
- Acting as counsel in Celibriala v Inwood CIV 2008 409 120 to restrain a sale of land for failure to comply with a right of first refusal.
- Acting as counsel for specialist medical practitioners against an errant director for breach of fiduciary obligations in a joint venture.
- Arbitration of a claim for $3m relating to Cathedral Junction.
- The high-profile defamation case of Consedine v Muldoon.
- The leading solicitor's negligence case of Mouat v Clark Boyce (Privy Council).
- The leading case on fiduciary obligations (Chirnside v Fay).
- Being appointed by the High Court to act as counsel for Canterbury Policy Holders in the liquidation of Western Pacific Insurance Limited (In Liq) to seek payment of moneys from reinsureres for the benefit of those who suffered loss in the Canterbury Earthquakes
- Acting as instructing solicitor on the high profile dispute involving the involvement of Cr. Aaron Keown in the appointment of the new Chief Executive for the Christchurch City Council
- Acting successfully in New Zealand's leading case on the taking of evidence for use in a foreign country - Hagaman v Fairbank (2010) 20 PRNZ 68(CA)
- Lengthy arbitration under the Public Bodies Leases Act.
- Major case against Bank and receivers for breaches of obligations.
- A successful resource consent application to build and operate a café in the Living 1 zone in Christchurch.
- A successful Resource Consent application for the discharge of 1080 and pindone in the Canterbury Region.
- Senior Counsel for AMI in proceedings where insurance company successfully resisted insurance claim from fire damage to leaky home because of insured’s involvement in arson.
- Counsel for Christchurch City Council in complex civil litigation over alleged land transfer fraud.
- Counsel for property owners in High Court and Court of Appeal in dispute over neighbours application to obtain access over their land.
- Advice on Valuer Negligence cases for a major lender.
- Arbitration for a State-Owned Enterprise.
- Acting for Policy Holders for a Collapsed Insurance Company.
- Acting for Professional Indemnity Insurers.
- Successfully obtaining without notice injunctions freezing defendants' assets.
- Provided advice on the Securities Act that led to a successful prosecution by the Securities Commission.
- Acted on a civil claim under the Securities Act resulting in a significant settlement.
- Provided advice on insurance and other issues arising from the Canterbury earthquakes.
- Heavy involvement in the high profile dispute about the building of a music school at the iconic Christchurch Arts Centre.
- Provided advice on intellectual property issues, including involving breach of copyright and passing off.