Wynn Williams has one of the strongest dispute resolution teams in the country. We have a New Zealand wide reputation for delivering successful results with integrity and responsibility. 

If you are faced with a dispute, either in your business or personal life, our team can apply its 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 cases 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 expertise in all areas of dispute resolution:
  • Commercial and contractual disputes
  • Real estate and leases
  • Contentious trusts and estates
  • Relationship property
  • Care of children and family
  • Employment and Health & Safety
  • Arbitration
  • Insolvency and credit recovery
  • Professional and product liability
  • Judicial review and public law
  • Intellectual property
  • Maori
  • Construction
We are recommended as a Leading Firm for Litigation & Dispute Resolution by The Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2020, Chambers Asia-Pacific 2020 and Chambers Global 2020 legal guides.  A client describes the team as "efficient, empathetic, commercially savvy and focused on achieving good results." Another comments that "there is a high level of partner engagement and proactiveness."

A previous Chambers directory described the team as "one of the strongest dispute resolution teams in the country with a New Zealand-wide reputation for delivering successful results with integrity and responsibility"

If you need advice on a dispute, please get in touch with any of our team below.

Reported Decisions

  • Watherston v PGW Rural Capital Limited [2020] NZCA 329.
  • McNeish v Arthur [2019] NZHC 3281.
  • Gloria Jean’s Coffees International Pty Ltd v Daboko Limited [2020] NZHC 29.
  • McLaughlin v McLaughlin [2019] NZHC 2597, [2019] NZFLR 299.
  • Gloria Jean’s Coffees International Pty Ltd v Daboko Limited [2019] NZHC 1097.
  • Nielsen v Earthquake Commission [2019] NZHC 629.
  • Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society of New Zealand Inc v Northland Regional Council [2019] NZHC 449, [2019] NZAR 587.
  • JK Trading Limited v Rimpro-Tec Ltd (in liq) [2019] NZHC 376.
  • Watherston v PGW Rural Capital Limited [2019] NZHC 22.
  • De Lage Landen v Crafar [2017] NZHC 2709.
  • Butterfield v Public Trust [2017] NZCA 367, [2017] NZAR 1439, (2017) 23 PRNZ 575.
  • De Lage Landen Ltd v Crafar [2017] NZHC 1419.
  • Beneficial Finance Ltd v Brown [2017] NZHC 964.
  • Re Burnett Mount Cook Station Charitable Trust [2016] NZHC 2669, (2016) 4 NZTR 26-024.
  • Cain v Mettrick [2019] NZAR 668
  • Cullen Group Limited v Commissioner of Inland Revenue (2019) NZTC 24-003
  • McLaughlin v McLaughlin (2018) 4 NZTR 28-033, [2019] NZAR 286
  • Commissioner of Inland Revenue v Cullen Group Ltd (2018) 28 NZTC 23-059
  • Darlow v Raymond [2017] 3 NZLR 353
  • Southland Regional Council v Hardegger [2017] 2 NZLR 852
  • Greig v Hutchison [2015] NZFLR 587
  • J v J [2015] NZAR 861
  • Satterthwaite v Gough Holdings Ltd [2015] NZCCLR 15
  • Dalian Deepwater Developer Ltd v Dybdahl [2015] 3 NZLR 260
  • Holler v Osaki [2014] 3 NZLR 791
  • Great Christchurch Buildings Trust v Church Property Trustees [2014] 3 NZLR 236
  • Great Christchurch Buildings Trust v Church Property Trustees [2013] 2 NZLR 230
  • Howe v Keown [2011] NZAR 764
  • F M Custodians Ltd v Pinot Rouge New Zealand Ltd [2011] 12 NZCPR 155
  • Hagaman v Fairbank [2010] 20 PRNZ 68 (CA)
  • Kain v Hutton [2008] 3 NZLR 589 (SCNZ)
  • Kowhai Mainland Roof Coatings Ltd v Newman [2009] DCR 211
  • Cutler v Oceanside Developments Ltd [2009] DCR 645
  • Cousins v Heslop [2007] 18 PRNZ 677
  • Waitikiri Links Ltd v Windsor Golf Club Inc [1998] 8 NZCPR 527
  • Oldfields Ashphalts Ltd v Grovedale Cool Stores [1994] Ltd [1998] 3 NZLR 479
  • Stavefield Holdings No 29 Ltd v Nathan Securities Ltd [1993] ANZ ConvR 597
  • Grainger v Rossendale Holdings Ltd [1989] 2 NZLR 389
  • Independent Fisheries Ltd v Minister for Canterbury Earthquake Recovery [2013] 2 NZLR 397
  • Church Property Trustees v Attorney-General [2013] 2 NZLR 428
  • Independent Fisheries Ltd v Minister for Canterbury Earthquake Recovery [2012] NZAR 785
  • Reynolds v Peter [2010] 20 PRNZ 774
  • Chirnside v Fay [2007] 1 NZLR 433
  • Ngati Apa Ki Te Waipounamu Trust v Attorney General of New Zealand and others [2007] 2 NZLR 80
  • Chirnside v Fay (No 2) [2005] 3 NZLR 689
  • Shepherd v Disputes Tribunal [2004] NZAR 319
  • Chirnside & Rattray Properties Ltd v Fay, Supreme Court [2004] 3 NZLR 637, [2005] 3 NZLR 689) (CA)
  • Kraal v Earthquake Commission [2014] 3 NZLR 42
  • C v Legal Complaints Review Officer [2013] NZAR 398
  • Kain v Wynn Williams & Co [2013] 1 NZLR 498 (CA)
  • Sisson v Standards Committee(2) of the Canterbury-Westland Branch of the NZLS [2013] NZAR 416
  • C v Legal Complaints Review Officer [2012] NZAR 924; (2012) 21 PRNZ 270
  • Dominion Finance Group Ltd (in Rec and Liq) v Body Corporate 382902 (2012) 7 NZ ConvC 96-003
  • Wynn Williams & Co v Kain [2011] 3 NZLR 709
  • CAA v Griffiths [2010] DCR 169
  • PGG Wrightsons Ltd v Mid Canterbury Real Estate [2009] DCR 515
  • Williams v Cazemier [2009] 11 NZCPR 79
  • Lowe v Brankin (2005) 6 NZCPR 607
  • R v B [2003] 2 NZLR 777, (2003) 20 CRNZ 308
  • Brankin v MacLean [2003] 2 NZLR 687
  • Canterbury Regional Council v Newman [2002] 1 NZLR 289
  • Morris v Templeton (2000) 14 PRNZ 397
  • Hall v Warwick Todd Ltd (2000) 9 TCLR 448
  • Newman v Canterbury Regional Council [2000] NZRMA 420
  • Official Assignee v Brodie (2000) 15 PRNZ 89
  • Halswater Holdings Ltd v Selwyn District Council [1999] ELRNZ 192
  • Tubbs v Futurity Investments Ltd and Buchanans Foundry Ltd [1998] 1 NZLR 471
  • R v Guy (1996) 13 CRNZ 589
  • R v S (1995) 13 CRNZ
  • King v Wilkinson (1994) 2 NZ ConvC 191,828
  • A v District Court (1993) 11 CRNZ 335
  • Savin v De Vere(1986) 3 NZ ConvC 99,703
  • Anglian Sales Ltd v South Pacific Manufacturing Co Ltd [1984] 2 NZLR 249, (1984) 2 NZCLC 99,220
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Recent Projects

  • Representing an investor in a failed technology company in High Court proceedings against the directors of the company for breaches of the Companies Act, Securities Act and Fair Trading Act (Banks v Farmer & Ors).
  • Advising a property development company in High Court proceedings against a commercial tenant that backed out of a commercial property transaction (Northlake Investments Ltd v Wanaka Medical Centre Ltd).
  • Successfully defending an appeal against a strike-out decision. The Court of Appeal agreed with the High Court on the interpretation of the limitation provisions in the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Act 2003 (CCCFA) and held that the claim by Mr Watherston was appropriately struck out in the High Court: Watherston v PGW Rural Capital Limited [2020] NZCA 329.
  • Representing an investor in a failed online trading fund in High Court proceedings against the fund providers and financial advisers for breaches of contract, negligence, the Fair Trading Act and the Financial Markets Conduct Act (Shallard v Hamilton & Ors).
  • Successfully defending a claim that two wills were “mutual wills” in that they created a constructive trust over the estate of a deceased which was held for the benefit of others: McNeish v McArthur [2020] NZHC 1611. Successfully obtaining an award of costs following this judgment: McNeish v McArthur [2019] NZHC 3281.
  • Defending a commercial landlord in arbitration proceedings before a retired High Court Judge brought by commercial tenants in respect of extensive latent water damage to premises, and defending a subsequent application to appeal to the High Court (KKDS Ltd v S&G Three Kings Ltd).
  • Successfully arguing that there was consideration in a varied agreement by the practical benefit test. This case arose in the context of a franchise agreement of a fixed term. The plaintiff alleged repudiation. This judgment was the second hearing following an interim judgment: Gloria Jean’s Coffees International Pty Ltd v Daboko Limited [2020] NZHC 29.
  • Acting for a large investment management company in negligence claims against tax advisers.
  • Acting for beneficiaries of a trust in seeking an interim injunction restraining steps being taken by trustees in a situation of conflict: McLaughlin v McLaughlin [2019] NZHC 2597, [2019] NZFLR 299.
  • Acting for New Zealand shareholders in a dispute with overseas shareholders over the control of a company and decisions in relation to major transactions.
  • Advising an education provider on negligence claims against solicitors.
  • Acting for the purchaser of a large foodstuffs business in High Court proceedings over a dispute under the sale and purchase agreement.
  • Advising a commercial lender on claims against a co-lender under the Fair Trading Act.
  • Representing a commercial tenant in arbitration proceedings brought by a commercial landlord alleging breaches of the lease.
  • Advising a national transport company on product liability claims against an equipment supplier.
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