MA (Oxon), Inner Temple, Associate
Richard Hargreaves
Richard has an honours degree in Law from Oxford University.  He was admitted to the bar in England in 2010, and started at Wynn Williams in 2012.

Richard is a civil litigator with a focus on insurance law, and acts both for policyholders and insurers in relation to insurance disputes.

 

"I take a very practical approach to factual disputes, and a rigorous academic approach to questions of law."
Contact
Wynn Williams (Christchurch)
Level 5, Wynn Williams House,
47 Hereford Street,
Christchurch 8013,
New Zealand.

Recent Projects

  • Acting for residential and commercial policyholders in the High Court Earthquake List.
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  • Defending professional engineers, builders, building inspectors and real estate agents in disciplinary hearings, District Court, and High Court proceedings.
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  • Defending a leading domestic insurer in numerous High Court Earthquake List proceedings.
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  • Advising regarding methamphetamine contamination and liability for remediation of meth labs.
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  • Appearing in the Court of Appeal for an appellant policyholder in relation to rock fall risk in the Port Hills.
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  • Advising a significant domestic insurer in relation to credit contract indemnity insurance.
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  • Advising lines companies and insurers in respect of significant forest fires and power surges.
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  • Debt recovery work for builders against large, government-backed, construction management companies.
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Recent Articles

10/01/2018

Tenants' liability for damage – High Court ruling

The Court of Appeal in Holler v Osaki confirmed that a residential tenant who damages their landlord's property carelessly can not be sued by their landlord in respect of the damage. In November 2017, the High Court released a new judgment on tenants' liability, in Linklater v Dickinson.

Keep reading...
15/01/2016

Legal Defence Costs and the Limits of Professional Indemnity Insurance

The Court of Appeal confirmed last month that professional indemnity insurers can apply a very strict interpretation of which business activities are insured under a PI policy. Just because an activity is part of a business enterprise does not mean cover applies for any and all professional liability which may arise.

Keep reading...
17/04/2013

Insurance Contracts to be bound by fairness?

On the evening of Wednesday 17 April, Craig Foss, Minister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, proposed without prior announcement an amendment to the Consumer Law Reform Bill, specifically targeted at insurance contracts. A Supplementary Order Paper released on 10 July 2013 makes substantive amendments to the Consumer Law Reform Bill, alleviating the concerns raised in the following article.

Keep reading...
8/04/2013

Behind the media coverage: the impact of O'Loughlin v Tower Insurance

The impact of the Christchurch Residential Red Zone on insurance claims was clarified on Friday (5 April 2013) by Justice Asher of the High Court in O’Loughlin v Tower Insurance.

Keep reading...
24/10/2012

The Insurance and Savings Ombudsman: Challenging your Insurer following the Canterbury Earthquakes

When choosing house insurance, you place your trust in the insurance company.  So when an earthquake damages your home, and the carefully-selected insurer does not respond in the way you expect, the financial loss, disappointment and frustration can be devastating.

Keep reading...

Reported Decisions

  • Kraal v Earthquake Commission [2015] 2 NZLR 589
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Wynn Williams Christchurch
Level 5, Wynn Williams House, 47 Hereford Street, Christchurch 8013, New Zealand.
PO Box 4341, DX WX11179, Christchurch 8140.
+64 3 379 7622
+64 3 379 2467
Wynn Williams Auckland
Level 11, AIG Building, 41 Shortland Street, Auckland 1010, New Zealand.
PO Box 2401, Shortland Street, Auckland 1140.
+64 9 300 2600
+64 9 300 2609
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